External 1TB spins up but computers do not detect

[anexibis]

As you can see in the title the external recieves power but computers do not detect it whatsoever. This is a friends HD that has personal pictures and videos from deployment and its important to me that we recover them for him. Anyone have any ideas on how to go about doing that?

Thanks for the help!

 

[ibshaw]

A few things to try.... plug into another USB port (on the assumption it is USB), if the drive came with a power supply, plug that in to give it extra juice. If neither of these allow the drive to be detected, right click on my computer and go to manage, disk management, and see if it is listed there.

Hope this is of help.

 

[Dwarf]

You could also try another USB cable, as these can be damaged if you inadvertently run the hoover over them, for example. Another possibility is that the interface circuitry in the enclosure has developed a fault, whereby the drive either shows intermittently (I have had experience of this) or, as in your case, fails to show at all. In both scenarios, the only solution is a replacement enclosure.

 

[CB]

More.
There is probability that

• Your USB port not sufficiently powered up
• Loose USB port connection

If you are with desktop, try to plug it to back panel USB port, but seems that you are using Toshiba laptop, Obtaining Y type USB cable also can be an option.

Kevin

 

[anexibis]

Thanks for the replies. We already went out and bought a new enclosure before i posted on the forums but the same issue is happening. We also tried plugging it into other computers with the same result.

 

[Dwarf]

If you have tried different USB cables and a new enclosure and are still not being able to recognise the drive on multiple computers, then it looks like the logic circuit (the PCB on the drive itself) has failed. It is possible to replace them, however you need a board from the same make and revision of drive. This is something that is best entrusted to drive recovery specialists (as they should be able to obtain the necessary board), however it is not cheap so should be regarded as your last option.

Before you go down that route (and you should discuss this with your friend), there is one other thing that you could try, and that is to see if the drive can be recognised by connecting it internally. However, this depends on whether you have any spare internal SATA sockets on your motherboard, plus a suitable PSU connector.

 

[whs]

Did this drive come from a Windows system or from a Mac or Linux.

 

[Dwarf]

Good point, Wolfgang. I hadn't thought of that. Both MACs and Linux computers can utilise external HDDs, however if the drive is formatted by either of these systems then it can't be accessed from Windows.

However, if you are able to connect it internally as I suggested, this will at least be able to tell us if the drive is working or not, as it will be detected by the BIOS (even though it is not accessible through Windows).

 

[F5ing]

With it connected, do you see anything for it in Disk Management?

 

[dsperber]

Did this drive come from a Windows system or from a Mac or Linux.

In all likelihood, this is the exact explanation for the problem.

Ironically there was an essentially identical other thread discussed just yesterday, with exactly this explanation. The hard drive had been given by a friend (and contained graduation photos and videos) who was a Mac user.

The screenshot of DISKMGMT in that other thread showed no file system at all on the partition of that external hard drive. Not RAW, not FAT32 or NTFS, not OFFLINE. ONLINE but no recognizable file system.

More revealing as the "giant clue", there was an EFI Partition on the drive shown in that DISKMGMT screenshot.

I agree... sounds very much like a Mac-formatted external drive.

 

[CB]

It is possible to replace them, however you need a board from the same make and revision of drive. This is something that is best entrusted to drive recovery specialists (as they should be able to obtain the necessary board), however it is not cheap so should be regarded as your last option.

More on this. I did once in the past by replacing the board from an identical HDD that was mechanically broke down HDD, and yes, it worked perfectly. But before running this procedure there is one way to check whether the drive head is still in good work. Try to connect it to HDD power line, then listen closely to HDD (luckily I have stethoscope at home ) if it only wheezing smoothly then it probably good to go. But, if you hear a continuous ticking sound (like a clock sound), then it most likely already had a serious mechanical damage.

But hoping it only as what have been said above. (linux or Mac formated )

Kevin

 

[whs]

Kevin, now you worry me. I have this Maxtor external 640GB HDD. It is clicking since day one - and that since 5 years. Works perfectly though. Should I give it a closer inspection?

On the other hand my Seagate external just gave up. It never clicked. Fortunately I had just transferred the data to the clicking Maxtor. So there is no data loss.

I wanted to take it out of the enclosure it came in to see whether it is the disk or the electronics. But there is not a single srew to open that bugger. Hate to take the hammer - LOL.

 

[CB]

Kevin, now you worry me. I have this Maxtor external 640GB HDD. It is clicking since day one - and that since 5 years. Works perfectly though. Should I give it a closer inspection?

On the other hand my Seagate external just gave up. It never clicked. Fortunately I had just transferred the data to the clicking Maxtor. So there is no data loss.

I wanted to take it out of the enclosure it came in to see whether it is the disk or the electronics. But there is not a single srew to open that bugger. Hate to take the hammer - LOL.

Wolfgang, I didn't mean to. I mean ticking in regular pace like a clock sound. One clicking sound or two is normal as the head is activated to start reading or writing, especially after being idle for some time.
If that regular ticking happens to internal HDD, it can be caused by two things.
First, insufficient HDD power line, but went it comes from the PSU then it always accompanied by other system problem such as total freezing or restarting.
Second, the HDD itself, but it's follows but intense HDD working LED indicator that indicate the reading or writing time out has gone unacceptable.

I have my transcend and seagate external HDD ticking if I connect them to poor powered USB panel. That is why I never use front panel USB for my external HDD storage and feel better by using Y cable. (Toshiba ext HDD have better way in telling about the low voltage supply by making long beep sound, I like it).
The mechanical defect, and surface defect, will give us regular ticking sound though we connect it to proper power line, and hard reading or even no reading at all.

Yes, you can do some research by opening the enclosure. Just need a set of mini screwdriver, but for the HDD you need 10 bucks special screwdriver. See the hammer as the last last option, and I love to see you do it .
If you manage to disassemble the enclosure then you have your way testing it.

Btw. I still need one board of WDC blue 2.5". I got one died just after my son was experimenting with it, instead of connecting to 5 volts source, he took 12volts cable, then the board get smoke instantly.

Lastly, this all just my experience. I can be wrong I guess.

 

[whs]

Thanks Kevin for the explanations. But that Seagate Free Agent resists all attempts to open it. There is not a single screw. They must have pressed that enclosure together. But everything is so tight that you cannot get into it. It was a nice 3.5" disk, but after 5 years it gave up.

 

[CB]

Most secure enclosure don't really have screw, instead they have it with an interlocking cover that can be forced to open by using a (-) screw driver to slightly disengage it, and slide any soft and flat material with firm and gentle move. Little cracking is expected, but it worth than just throw it away to trash can.

Just do it while in the right mood. Or, it will end up smashed.

 

[whs]

Yeah, that's what it looks like. But they sure made it very tight. I will ask a friend who is a mechanic to play with it. Can't lose a lot anyhow.