Windows 7: External hard drive controller going bad

crgibson · 19 Jan 2012

This morning I had an error in my Event Viewer/system log.

"The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk5\DR5."

My questions: is the controller on the disk or a part of Win 7? How do I repair/replace the controller?

I had the same message about another disk 2 days ago and yesterday that disk turned up as bad.

Thanks for any help.

whs · 19 Jan 2012

If you want to salvage the disk (provided it is really the controller that went on the blink), you can always take it out of the box and put it into an external enclosure. That has the advantage that you can run it from USB3 or eSata given the right enclosure.

crgibson · 19 Jan 2012

That's the question. It already is in an external usb box. Now where is the controller? In the external box, on Win 7 system or part of the usb port driver?

whs · 19 Jan 2012

The 'Controller' is usually in the box or the enclosure. Try another enclocure.

crgibson · 19 Jan 2012

I will order a new enclosure and give it a try. Thanks for the replies.

crgibson · 20 Jan 2012

Put the hard drive into another enclosure and everything is now working.

Thanks for the help.

whs · 20 Jan 2012

That's good. You are welcome.

Windows 7: External hard drive controller going bad

External hard drive controller going bad problems?