Today, Jan. 22, Windows advised me that, due to corruption, I must format external HDD letter A.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
As many times as I hit Cancel the message reappeared.
What that meant was that ALL my recent data resided on A's backup, letter B.
Scary!
![Eek-Blink :-8](./images/smilies/icon_eek_blink.gif)
Multiple restarts accomplished nothing.
As usual when I have a tough decision to make, I decided to "sleep on it" (like Meat Loaf).
So I shut the machine down, and we both took a nap.
Upon awakening, I pushed the power button and then began leafing through an unread magazine, while it was booting.
Next, I double-clicked Computer and immediately noted that matters had worsened: the HDD no longer appeared, which meant I couldn't format it even if I decided to.
![Pull Hair Out :pull:](./images/smilies/hairpull.gif)
![Brick wall ](*,)](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif)
So I once again shut down completely.
Lo and bedhold! upon booting from the second complete shutdown the drive reappeared -- and is now functioning normally
![Yahoo! :yh:](./images/smilies/yahoo.gif)
Any lesson to be learned here?