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external hard disk does not respond

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by duub, 2011/12/12.

  1. 2011/12/12
    duub

    duub Inactive Thread Starter

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    I cannot connect to my external hard disk drive (USB) anymore. How can I salvage the data on it?
    It is a Maxtor Basics Desktop Storage PN:9NZ2A4:500
    500GB

    Repeatedly get message "USB device is not recognised" when I connect the device to my laptop. When I click on the message: "Unknown device" Properties: device has stopped because problems are reported (code 43)

    device has no on/off switch. when connected to power device seems te try to start up, get kind of low beep every 3-4 seconds, for prolonged time. no sound of spinning disk. when connected to USB port above windows message pops up. some time ago spinning disk was audible, but then already message of device not being recognised showed up.

    Is there any way to approach the data?
     
    duub,
    #1
  2. 2011/12/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Your best chance may be to remove the hard drive from the casing and connect it to a desktop as slave and see if Windows recognises it. If it does there is a good chance that you can recover the data.

    You may have a failing power supply or the controller in the case is going/has gone AWOL.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2011/12/13
    duub

    duub Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ok. Pete, thanks.

    Removing the disk from its casing must be not too hard, but how do I go about connecting it to my desktop as a slave?
     
    duub,
    #3
  5. 2011/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I guess you have the same issue if you connect the drive to your desktop?

    Opening the case may be a bit of a challenge :) Manufacturer's nowadays tend not to use scre_ws to permit easy access - the last one I opened up for a friend - same problem - had no scre_ws and had to be opened by brute force.

    I do not know if the drive in the external case is Parallel ATA (PATA) or Serial ATA (SATA) and they use different cables and connectors.

    When you manage to open the case if the drive is PATA it will be connected to the case by a wide (~50mm) flat ribbon cable; if it is SATA the cable will be much narrower, flat or round and the connector will be ~15mm wide.

    If the drive is PATA and your desktop has PATA (EIDE) drives which you will recognise by the wide ribbon cable there is generally a second connector part way down the cable. Connect the drive to that and if the drive a jumper set this to the slave position.

    If this all sounds complicated you may have a computer savvy friend who could help you.
    If the drive is SATA you will need a SATA cable to connect the drive to a SATA port on the motherboard.

    In both cases you will need to connect a power supply - most PSU's have spare power connectors available.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2011/12/13
    duub

    duub Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ok Pete, I will have a look tonight -when home- thanx!
    (And yes, the same problem occurs with various desktops)
     
    duub,
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  7. 2011/12/14
    duub

    duub Inactive Thread Starter

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    Pete,

    I've freed the Seagate HDD from its Maxtor casing (with the help of some description on the internet :)

    Opened up my desktop:
    There is -obviously- a Harddiskdrive installed, connected via a black flat broad cable. The data cable from the HDD has got one free connector -apparantly prepared for a second HDD. Only this connector differs a lot from the one on the Seagate HDD. I guess this is PATA.
    I also see a bunch of cables connected to the PSU. One of these -which also connects to a optical drive- has got 'serial ATA on it, and it fits on one of the connectors on the Seagate HDD. So i guess the Seagate is SATA.
    I can see the optical drive is also connected with a similar SATA power cable, and a (SATA?) data cable (semi-round) to a place on the motherboard which has some connectors free still.

    How do I connect the HDD? Is it possible, for instance, to temporarily use the cables that are currently used by the optical drive -just to test the HDD?
     
    duub,
    #6
  8. 2011/12/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Yes - power down the computer and switch the cables over to the Seagate and boot up. As the Seagate appears to be SATA there are no jumpers involved in connecting it as a second hard drive.

    Hopefully Windows will recognise the drive and you will be able to copy the data off. If it does not you will have to accept that the drive is dead.
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2011/12/16
    duub

    duub Inactive Thread Starter

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    bad luck, it seems. the external HDD again makes the same rythmic noise, not really the sound of a HDD rotating... rather a device not getting started up.
    there's some really precious data on it... no other way of trying?

    also the desktop did not boot -seemed as if the system tried to boot from the newly connected HDD. ASUS-report asking to change boot order before rebooting
     
    duub,
    #8
  10. 2011/12/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Regrettably it is clear that the drive itself has failed - Unless Windows recognises the drive there is no possibility of retrieving the data yourself.

    Your only option is to take the drive to a company which specialises in retrieving data from dead drives, but be aware that such services come at a cost which can be considerable.

    As a footnote it would seem that you were storing data on this drive which was not backed up to other independent media. A current backup of all your valuable data should be maintained at all times to cover for hardware failures.

    I maintain 3 backups of all my important data, especially that which is irreplaceable such as my photographic images
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2011/12/17
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    SpywareDr,
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