External hard drive suddenly having issues

The following is what disk utility gives me
Verifying volume “disk1s1”
** /dev/disk1s1
** Phase 1 - Preparing FAT
** Phase 2 - Checking Directories
Unable to read directory (Input/output error)
Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.
Verify and Repair volume “disk1s1”
** /dev/disk1s1
** Phase 1 - Preparing FAT
** Phase 2 - Checking Directories
Unable to read directory (Input/output error)
Volume repair complete.Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
Error: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.
it was fine ince we got it less then 3 months ago, then the other day after OSX warned me that I had filled the internal HD (oops) I went to access this hard drive, and it showed no files. cleared some space on the internal, reboot, and it said the external was corrupt. tried it on my Power book g4 and got the same. though I noticed that on my PowerBook, it said it was Fat32 (which it is) where as the computer it was on (a newer intel Mini) is reporting it as fat.
any idea *** the problem is?

also, that was the first time I had tried to access it that day

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OS X Mountain Lion: If you don’t have permission to use a disk
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
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http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But others that may work…
Drive Genius…
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php
TechTool Pro…
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83

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External hard drive suddenly having issues

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