Just Another Hard Drive Problem

Well, what is it about External Hard Drives?  Seems I have a box filled with unusable Drives . . .  Now I can add a 2T Seagate "Go Flex" Desk drive to the list

This drive is about 2 years old han has lots of valuable backup data stored on it.  It suddenly decided that it would not show up on my Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Laptop.  When I enter "Computer" it lists the other drives, but not this one.  Occasionally, it pops up a box asking if I would like to format the drive.  Of course, I do not want to lose all my data.

(See attached JPG Image of notification)

The drive spins up and gets warm, but . .?  Any Ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Top,

Sorry to hear that another external hard drive seems to have "bitten the dust"

I'll give you a link below to your topic back in June this year where you will find some good information:

https://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=131507#entry886227

In broad terms the fault is likely to arise, either in the caddy and its USB cable, or the hard drive that is inside it.(so trying a known good working cable may be a wise first step.)

I would be inclined to try your external hard drive in several different computers, using different operating systems just to see if a fault with your USB port or cable is a likely culprit….

If you can't get it to be recognised in any of the machines you try then its pointing  toward a fault in the caddy or its cable and or PCB or the hard drive that is inside.

If you dismantle the caddy it should be easy to remove the hard drive, and then this can be tested using an inexpensive converter cable. ( Just 2 or 3 dollars USA) However if you have a boxful of these drives then using an inexpensive hard drive docking station may be an idea for you to consider.(25 dollars or so USA)

We use quite fancy ( and expensive!) docking stations in the workshop in order to access data from practically any type of drive likely to be found in most modern Personal Computers..

However…

I have had a look on a well known American auction site and this is the sort of thing that may be suitable:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/All-in-One-2-5-3-5-SATA-IDE-HDD-Docking-Station-Clone-Hard-Drive-Dock-USB-HUB/140993822158?hash=item20d3e2fdce

However please make sure before making any purchase that you have checked out the bona fides of the seller and the specification to ensure that both meet your requirements. You may prefer a more expensive item manufactured in the USA by a firm or company that has a good local reputation and who may provide you with an after sale service.

If you are unsure on any of this it might be wise to ask your local competent, friendly computer technician to guide you on the best options for you, taking into account all your particular circumstances.

Regards

paws

Let me say, "Thanks" for your prompt reply.  I shall take your advice and see if I can bring it back among the living.

Is there a way to get past the Windows Syetem window that requires you to Format the drive without actually formating the drive and thus losing all the data on the Drive?

Is there a way to get past the Windows Syetem window that requires you to Format the drive without actually formating the drive and thus losing all the data on the Drive?

Yes, the first thing is to try different computers…. the message you are receiving indicates that your current machine cannot read the drive…this may be caused by the machine concerned or the drive.

If you format the drive, as you know all the data on it will be cleared, so do not do that unless under expert guidance and after a comprehensive evaluation of the situation.

It might be worthwhile downloading an .iso of a Linux distribution, burn it as an image, boot from it and see if Linux can read the drive

Details of Linux Puppy from here: ( there are otherdistro's but this is a relatively small download and easy to use)

http://puppylinux.org/main/How%20to%20download%20Puppy.htm

Regards

paws

Again, paws, my thanks.

Hi Top,

Sorry to hear that another external hard drive seems to have "bitten the dust"

 

I'll give you a link below to your topic back in June this year where you will find some good information:

https://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=131507#entry886227

 

In broad terms the fault is likely to arise, either in the caddy and its USB cable, or the hard drive that is inside it.(so trying a known good working cable may be a wise first step.)

 

I would be inclined to try your external hard drive in several different computers, using different operating systems just to see if a fault with your USB port or cable is a likely culprit….

 

If you can't get it to be recognised in any of the machines you try then its pointing  toward a fault in the caddy or its cable and or PCB or the hard drive that is inside.

 

If you dismantle the caddy it should be easy to remove the hard drive, and then this can be tested using an inexpensive converter cable. ( Just 2 or 3 dollars USA) However if you have a boxful of these drives then using an inexpensive hard drive docking station may be an idea for you to consider.(25 dollars or so USA)

 

We use quite fancy ( and expensive!) docking stations in the workshop in order to access data from practically any type of drive likely to be found in most modern Personal Computers..

However…

I have had a look on a well known American auction site and this is the sort of thing that may be suitable:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/All-in-One-2-5-3-5-SATA-IDE-HDD-Docking-Station-Clone-Hard-Drive-Dock-USB-HUB/140993822158?hash=item20d3e2fdce

 

However please make sure before making any purchase that you have checked out the bona fides of the seller and the specification to ensure that both meet your requirements. You may prefer a more expensive item manufactured in the USA by a firm or company that has a good local reputation and who may provide you with an after sale service.

 

If you are unsure on any of this it might be wise to ask your local competent, friendly computer technician to guide you on the best options for you, taking into account all your particular circumstances.

Regards

paws

Good one, awesome advice!