external harddrive problems

patrickc

hi i have a seagate external harddrive the 500gb one, anyhow since today the computer won't recognise it, it was making funny beeping noises earler and now it's just not recognised has anyone any solutions? i have checked all connections ect and it's lighting up as normal.

thanks

Ruu_Old

Is there another machine you can try it on?

patrickc

actually never thought of that ruu, will try it on my sisters laptop here and see then..

patrickc

it wont detect it there either..

patrickc

ok so it's my fault this is broken, i knocked it over, does anyone repair these as accidental damage isn't covered under warranty, it sounds like the drive is trying to spin in the case but can't, I've so much stuff on it too, i'd let to get back without going through a data recovery agency and spending a fortune. anyone got any ideas?

DominoDub

I am in the middle of copying data off a broken 300GB Maxtor external ...It also could not be picked up in windows.

I am able to get the data off it using this gem of a application ...it has saved my sanity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testdisk

patrickc

DominoDub wrote: »

I am in the middle of copying data off a broken 300GB Maxtor external ...It also could not be picked up in windows.

I am able to get the data off it using this gem of a application ...it has saved my sanity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testdisk

thanks dominodub,

ive just got this programme, but can only find my harddrive through it, not my external one.

DominoDub

Just spent 7hours getting 132GB of Music all looks fine thank god. Going to try and build a NAS with two 500GB drives as a backup to this new one and try and fix the Maxtor one.

Bad luck about your drive ?

Keep on trying as Data Recovery is very expensive around €1000.00 if the data is very NB,,change cables , try under Linux, move it into old PC as a slave etc.

Best of Luck.

patrickc

DominoDub wrote: »

Just spent 7hours getting 132GB of Music all looks fine thank god. Going to try and build a NAS with two 500GB drives as a backup to this new one and try and fix the Maxtor one.

Bad luck about your drive ?

Keep on trying as Data Recovery is very expensive around €1000.00 if the data is very NB,,change cables , try under Linux, move it into old PC as a slave etc.

Best of Luck.

it's mostly music and some old college work, I'll survive without it but would obviously like it. I'll keep trying it definitely thanks Domino

PogMoThoin

I know its bad losing files, but your house insurance should cover the cost of the hard drive if ya look in2 it.

Edit, i see you mention college stuff, remember this accident happened at home

Leginos

Just a quick thought. Have you tried removing the hard drive from it's chasis/case and installing it in your PC in a vacant drive bay? The drop may have damaged some of the internal circuitry of the chasis, but the hard drive itself may be ok.

Anyway its worth a shot.

patrickc

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I know its bad losing files, but your house insurance should cover the cost of the hard drive if ya look in2 it.

Edit, i see you mention college stuff, remember this accident happened at home

i was thinking about the insurance alright, but with the excess it's not worth it.

patrickc

Leginos wrote: »

Just a quick thought. Have you tried removing the hard drive from it's chasis/case and installing it in your PC in a vacant drive bay? The drop may have damaged some of the internal circuitry of the chasis, but the hard drive itself may be ok.

Anyway its worth a shot.

I might try that, I've installed ram into my computer before is it much more difficult to install a hard drive?

Leginos

It can be a little tricky depending on your setup, and the type of drive. There's tons of guides on the internet - giyf .... but here's an example http://www.pcmech.com/article/installing-a-hard-drive-step-by-step/. It's trickier than installing ram imo. If in doubt get someone else to do it.

patrickc

I tried it the other day and it wouldn't work so bought an internal harddrive, it's working away fine...