I was performing some long overdue file organization chores today. Basically, I was dragging files I'd saved off 4 different internal and external hard drives to a Seagate external Firewire 400GB drive that is about 1.5 years old and not heavily used. I wanted to begin to organize my files in order to then move them to a new Maxtor 1TB (2x500GB) drive that I plan to use as my primary backup drive, mirroring one drive onto the other. I am running Mac OS 10.4.9 on a Mac G5.
Things were going fine. I was getting impatient, so after a couple of hours of transferring files, I dragged three or four large files over the Seagate 400 icon and began transferring them simultaneously. Everything was fine, but I got a message about 1/2 way through transfering these files that the Seagate was full and could not copy any more files. I hit ok in the window that came up for each of the 3 files.
When I first tried to open the Seagate 400, and half a dozen times since, two things happen, either--1) the computer screen grays back (although I can see the list of files on the screen) and tells me the computer is shutting down unexpectedly, and tells me I must hold down the power button and restart my computer, or, 2) the window where my list of files should be is blank, although at the bottom it says that there is 798MB of room still on the HD (this gives me hope that the files are still intact and on the hard drive).
I am sick, I am distraught, and I am trying to figure out what to do next. This would be a huge loss for me personally, of course. I have roughly 20% of my files backed up on DVD's, but 80% reside on this Seagate HD which I can't open.
I also tried opening the drive by plugging it into my 12" Powerbook, but same thing happens.
I have relied on my fellow posters for important solutions in the past, and I will be eternally grateful to anyone who can suggestion a solution to this situation.
Thanks in advance.