Someone I know has a broken external HDD.....

[BomberAF]

which isn't being recognised by the PC. Is there any way you can get the data off the HDD even though it isn't being recognised.

 

[Adrian]

which isn't being recognised by the PC. Is there any way you can get the data off the HDD even though it isn't being recognised.

Welcome to Windows 7 Support Forums,
It depends on how badly the device has been damaged!
Since its an external drive it may have died due to age/misuse
If the platter has not been damaged it may be removed and installed in a new case but that takes skill.

 

[BomberAF]

which isn't being recognised by the PC. Is there any way you can get the data off the HDD even though it isn't being recognised.

Welcome to Windows 7 Support Forums,
It depends on how badly the device has been damaged!
Since its an external drive it may have died due to age/misuse
If the platter has not been damaged it may be removed and installed in a new case but that takes skill.

So basically it's goosed then, thanks for your help.

 

[Adrian]

which isn't being recognised by the PC. Is there any way you can get the data off the HDD even though it isn't being recognised.

Welcome to Windows 7 Support Forums,
It depends on how badly the device has been damaged!
Since its an external drive it may have died due to age/misuse
If the platter has not been damaged it may be removed and installed in a new case but that takes skill.

So basically it's goosed then, thanks for your help.

Anytime Mate!

 

[Kirsch]

This link does explain a few ways to recover data, in regards to your computer not recognizing the drive AT ALL though, I'm not sure. I would definitely give it a shot though!

 

[electrotune1200]

Just out of curiosity...

Have you tested the external HDD on a different PC?

 

[DeaconFrost]

Have you also tried taking the hard drive out and connecting it internally? If the external housing, it's connections, or it's electronics have gone bad, the drive itself may be fine.

 

[thefabe]

If the data is very important {due to cost of recovery} their are a lot of companies that can retrive the data form bad drives.
Not sure if any in the U.K. but you could google HD data recovery. Fabe