External Hard Drive Problem

make your choice here

i recommended Recuva though

i wish you gud luck mate

ACWN said:

Thanks, kucing, but after some poking around, trying to do Tim's suggestion I found out that unfortunately because our computers cannot fully access the drive, the only way to recover the data is to send it in to have someone physically recover the data. I'm guessing by opening it up and pulling the drive out to read it.

We're beginning to think its the USB hub in the back of the drive that has been damaged because if you move it, it unplugs on his system. Something got yanked and broke off inside, possibly. So I guess our only option is to try and Macgyver a set up to get the info off of it until we can afford to pay someone else to do it.

Hi ACWN,

You could always open it up your self. If it's a standard drive inside (and I bet you it is) you could purchase another enclosure (for the corresponding drive type e.g. Sata, IDE). If the technician at your local IT shop is nice, they might even put it in for you. I would say to the technician that you'll only buy a new enclosure if the drive can be accessed. Then get them to test and show you that it works. That way you only buy if it 'is' the solution.

I wish you luck!

TimStitt said:

ACWN said:

Thanks, kucing, but after some poking around, trying to do Tim's suggestion I found out that unfortunately because our computers cannot fully access the drive, the only way to recover the data is to send it in to have someone physically recover the data. I'm guessing by opening it up and pulling the drive out to read it.

We're beginning to think its the USB hub in the back of the drive that has been damaged because if you move it, it unplugs on his system. Something got yanked and broke off inside, possibly. So I guess our only option is to try and Macgyver a set up to get the info off of it until we can afford to pay someone else to do it.

Hi ACWN,

You could always open it up your self. If it's a standard drive inside (and I bet you it is) you could purchase another enclosure (for the corresponding drive type e.g. Sata, IDE). If the technician at your local IT shop is nice, they might even put it in for you. I would say to the technician that you'll only buy a new enclosure if the drive can be accessed. Then get them to test and show you that it works. That way you only buy if it 'is' the solution.

I wish you luck!

Expanding on Tim's thoughts.

I use a Tri-Head USB adapter kit I got off of eBay for testing HD's externally.
Works with IDE laptop & desktop, & SATA drives. I think you can still find them for less than $10 on eBay.

ACWN said:

Well, we DID just open it up and it IS a normal hard drive. So we just need to figure out how we're going to test it to see if its the USB port thats gone bad on us. Thanks for the advice, Tim.

Doc, we may just try that! Off to eBay!

Thanks guys, at least we have some hope again.






Oh, yeah. And if any one is interested... the enclosure mightve been Fabrik, but the drive itself is Western Digital.

Is the WD drive IDE or SATA connections?

Pics of SATA HD's

That's good news on a standard drive inside, fingers crossed now that the drive itself is a-ok!

I'll second Doc's suggestion on the Tri-Head USB adapter kit, I have couple in the drawer. Mine were A$20 so much cheaper than an external case and fantastic for recovery use as they work with more than one drive type (as Doc showed in his pics). They're not so practical for every day use though.... but all homes should have one

It looks like the top two pictures. He's going to put it in his brother's desktop today (I think) to see if it'll work. He doesnt want to wait to have the kit sent from eBay.

*fingers crossed* :)