Computer can't detect external hard disk

T

titntat

New member
My computer stopped detecting the external hard disk suddenly. I tried locating the drive in disk management but it is not showing up there. Please advice. Thanks.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Compaq CQ3280D
OS
Windows 7 home premium 32bit
CPU
Intel (R) Core(TM) i3 CPU
Memory
4gb
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hi, Welcome to Sevenforums

Did you try connecting it to other available USB ports, and make sure the both side plugs are well fitted?

Kevin
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    MSI
    OS
    Windows 11 Prerelease
    CPU
    CORE i5 10400
    Motherboard
    MSI H510M Pro
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 750Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Curved 24"; Samsung TV 50"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Vi-Gen NVMe 256GB
    WD 3 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    Seagate 4TB
    PSU
    Power Striker
    Case
    VBR
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    2MBPs
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Apple MacBook
    OS
    BigSur
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13 "
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
Hey Kevin. I've tried other USB ports. The hard disk will vibrate for awhile upon plugging it in, then it'll stop. Both sides are fitted well. Thanks
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Compaq CQ3280D
OS
Windows 7 home premium 32bit
CPU
Intel (R) Core(TM) i3 CPU
Memory
4gb
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
You might have to start a simple way determining which side is actually have the problem.
Plug other USB device to your PC or Plug you External HDD to other PC and see the result.

Btw, it's advisable to fill the system specification (seen below your post), or through your user CP.

Kevin
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    MSI
    OS
    Windows 11 Prerelease
    CPU
    CORE i5 10400
    Motherboard
    MSI H510M Pro
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 750Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Curved 24"; Samsung TV 50"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Vi-Gen NVMe 256GB
    WD 3 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    Seagate 4TB
    PSU
    Power Striker
    Case
    VBR
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    2MBPs
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Apple MacBook
    OS
    BigSur
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13 "
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
Hi I've tried plugging the external hard disk to the other laptop. Same problem. The external hard disk vibrates for about 15seconds then goes dead.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Compaq CQ3280D
OS
Windows 7 home premium 32bit
CPU
Intel (R) Core(TM) i3 CPU
Memory
4gb
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
I'm afraid it sounds very much as though the drive has failed on you.

Depending who the drive manufacturer is, you may be able to get the drive replaced under warranty.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion Elite 495UK
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz
Motherboard
MSI 2A9C (CPU1)
Memory
8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP2310i
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1x1954GB Hitachi HDS22020ALA 330 (RAID), 1x1954GB Hitachi External for backup and storage
PSU
460W
Case
HP Elite
Cooling
Air cooled
Keyboard
Logitech K750 solar-powered keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M180 mouse
Internet Speed
2Mb
Other Info
Pure Avanti Flow Internet Radio with iPod Dock, 64Gb iPod, HP USB Speakers, Sony MDR-V500 Headphones, Sony Vaio F-Series Laptop
Ah. That's bad. Thanks for the help given Kevin and seavixen.

Is there any way to recover the files inside the hard disk?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Compaq CQ3280D
OS
Windows 7 home premium 32bit
CPU
Intel (R) Core(TM) i3 CPU
Memory
4gb
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
It depends on the damage area. If certainly only the removable circuit that run the HDD is damaged, then the HDD can be accessed by dismantling the removable case, take out the HDD and plug it to HDD powerline and any free SATA port on your motherboard (just like normal HDD). But if, it is the hard drive itself damaged. A tiny possibility there. If you dont feel like to do it yourself, you shall find someone who can be an assistant in doing so. You may still have your luck.

Kevin
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    MSI
    OS
    Windows 11 Prerelease
    CPU
    CORE i5 10400
    Motherboard
    MSI H510M Pro
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 750Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Curved 24"; Samsung TV 50"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Vi-Gen NVMe 256GB
    WD 3 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    Seagate 4TB
    PSU
    Power Striker
    Case
    VBR
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    2MBPs
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Apple MacBook
    OS
    BigSur
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13 "
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
Thanks a lot for your help. Really appreciate it!
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Compaq CQ3280D
OS
Windows 7 home premium 32bit
CPU
Intel (R) Core(TM) i3 CPU
Memory
4gb
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
If you do take up Kevin's excellent suggestion you may be able to get back some, if not all your data using this data recovery utility.

Recuva - Download

It once helped me out big-time when it recovered 5,000 images I thought I had lost for ever.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion Elite 495UK
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz
Motherboard
MSI 2A9C (CPU1)
Memory
8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP2310i
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1x1954GB Hitachi HDS22020ALA 330 (RAID), 1x1954GB Hitachi External for backup and storage
PSU
460W
Case
HP Elite
Cooling
Air cooled
Keyboard
Logitech K750 solar-powered keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M180 mouse
Internet Speed
2Mb
Other Info
Pure Avanti Flow Internet Radio with iPod Dock, 64Gb iPod, HP USB Speakers, Sony MDR-V500 Headphones, Sony Vaio F-Series Laptop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    MSI
    OS
    Windows 11 Prerelease
    CPU
    CORE i5 10400
    Motherboard
    MSI H510M Pro
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 750Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Curved 24"; Samsung TV 50"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Vi-Gen NVMe 256GB
    WD 3 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    Seagate 4TB
    PSU
    Power Striker
    Case
    VBR
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    2MBPs
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Apple MacBook
    OS
    BigSur
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13 "
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top