Unable to access data on external HD

[aBoppa]

System recognizes that I have a USB 2.0 external. When I power it on the little red light will flicker and then nothing. Formally, both with Windows XP & Win98, the light would flicker for a while and then you would get a pop-up window asking what you wanted to do with this info. This does not happen now with my new internal HD with newly installed versions (dual-boot) of XP & 7. I can tell the system to safely remove this external HD & it does. I get the beep when it recognizes it when turned on and when it gets removed. Have not found the answer yet as to how to show the data as previously done. It does not show up in MY COMPUTER either but does appear in Devices & Printers in Win 7. No apparent problems there nor in Device Manager. What gives?????? Anybody??? THANX!!! This is an ACOM Data 80GB USB 2.0 connected via a USB cable.

 

[natekolvek]

Bad enclosure. Very common with Externals. Means power regulation is failing/has failed. Just replace the enclosure. You can get nice slim ones from newegg for a decent price. Simple to assemble.

first test on another os or machine. If same results, replace enclosure.

 

[DocBrown]

I have a acomdata 80gb ext HD hooked up to this computer & it has been working just fine since the early beta versions of win7 a year ago. It is plugged into a USB 2.0 rear port on my MB.

 

[aBoppa]

ACOM Data external HD

Unfortunately, my ACOM unit is perhaps 5 to 6 years old - maybe more. My son will be bringing his unit here to try that trick and perhaps have him take mine to his place. As a previous poster said, It may be time to replace this item. Hell, its a new MB, HD, video card, CPU and processor - so why not this too?!!!!

 

[patio]

Does the drive show up in Disk Management ? ?
The other option would be to remove it from the enclosure and try hooking it up internally...i've rescued a few externals this way.

 

[natekolvek]

It may only show up as a usb device (which means unrecognized). I work in a shop and with externals the power/connection converter is the first to usually go. simply fixable by just taking the old drive out of the old enclosure and installing it into a new one.

when I test them i remove old hd and test with a ide/sata to USB adapter.

 

[aBoppa]

Unable to access data on enternal HD

I have removed the physical HD from within the enclosure. It is not an 80GB but rather a 40GB Samsung HD. I have placed this HD in my system on the IDE cable as the second item. The drive is operational but still not totally recognizable by the system (i.e. it shows up in Device Manager, but not in My Computer nor Devices and Printers). So, I do not think the external enclosure is at fault, but rather the HD that was contained within. So, how to ascertain if in fact that HD is no good. Seems as shame to lose the data I had on this thing if that is not really necessary!! It is a simple matter to replace the internal HD for this unit, but it does not get me back whatever I had stored on it!!! Any other ideas??? THANX!!!