External Hard Drive no longer recognized


  1. heisenberg
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 x64
       New #1

    External Hard Drive no longer recognized


    Hi, my laptop is no longer recognising my external hard drive. Only happened today. Acer laptop, seagate 1TB hard drive(external power source). When plugged in, the HD acts like it has been recognised and begins to boot up as it were(green light comes on it front, spinning sound). But the computer does not acknowledge it. Not in my computer, device manager, or disk management. The HD is also no longer recognised on anything else either, be it media player or xbox360. I don't know what my laptop has done it to stop it working/recognising it, would love some help as i have lots of work and pictures etc on it.

    Fingers Crossed

    WW
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  3. essenbe
    Posts : 26,869
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #2

    Do you hear any unusual noises from the external when it is spinning up? If nothing else recognizes it, the problem may not be with your laptop. Have you heard any clicking noises from the external?
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  4. TBoyd
    Posts : 249
    Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit SP1
       New #3

    Welcome to the forum!

    If all else fails - and it seems that it has - Consider taking the drive out of the case/housing. The HD is no different than any other HD. It will either have an IDE or SATA connection that is plugged into the board that converts it to USB.

    Once removed, connect the HD to a PC & see if you can access your files.

    I had to do this to an external HD a couple of years ago & I was able to retrieve my files.
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  6. heisenberg
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Hey guys. it was the cable from the HD to the comp/xbox etc that was the issue, now using a lead from an old camera instead and she is working fine once again. Thanks for the help
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  7. essenbe
    Posts : 26,869
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #5

    I'm glad you figured out you issue and it is working once again.
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  8. TBoyd
    Posts : 249
    Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit SP1
       New #6

    Glad your solution was a simple one. I lost some priceless photos a couple of years ago due to a failed HD. From then on I learned the value of backing up! Keep that in mind!
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