Broken External hard drive

paul_ie86

I don't know if this is the right sub forum or not, so mods feel free to move it if it's not. I just wanted to know if any of you could help me with my problem.

This week my External hard drive died on me. I think it's the disk inside, because I can turn it on, but when I do I don't hear the whirring.

Any help would be appreciated.

cookie1977

Is it still under warranty? Send it back if so.

paul_ie86

It might be. But there's nothing on or in the box saying where to send it.

cookie1977

whats the manufacturers name?

paul_ie86

It's a So Speaky HDMI+, if that makes a difference

paul_ie86

cookie1977 wrote: »

whats the manufacturers name?

Dane Elec

bonzodog2

It could easily just be the enclosure. If you have any important files on it, don't rush into sending it back.

How old/big is it ? Have you ever dropped it ? Make & model? Own power supply or powered by USB? (This last will determine if its a 2.5" or 3.5" drive inside)

You can buy a new enclosure fairly cheap.

cookie1977

Seems to suggest bringing it back to your re seller. Can you remember who you bought it off?
http://www.danedigital.com/4-SO-Hard-Disk-Drives/9-faq-et-support.html
If you paid via a credit card you may find evidence of the purchase

paul_ie86

bonzodog2 wrote: »

It could easily just be the enclosure. If you have any important files on it, don't rush into sending it back.

How old/big is it ? Have you ever dropped it ? Make & model? Own power supply or powered by USB? (This last will determine if its a 2.5" or 3.5" drive inside)

You can buy a new enclosure fairly cheap.

I got it in October 2010.

I haven't but I was away for a week last week and it could have been dropped then.

It's a 1TB Dane Elec So Speaky HDMI+.

You have to plug it in to use it.

paul_ie86

cookie1977 wrote: »

Seems to suggest bringing it back to your re seller. Can you remember who you bought it off?
http://www.danedigital.com/4-SO-Hard-Disk-Drives/9-faq-et-support.html
If you paid via a credit card you may find evidence of the purchase

Easons.

cookie1977

Your options are to try and rescue the data (if it's essential) or else return it after you find evidence of purchase to Easons for a repair or replacement

paul_ie86

How would I go about trying to rescue the data?

cookie1977

You could buy another housing and remove the hard drive from your device and pop it in the new housing (this probably will void your warranty if you have one).

Have you tried the broken drive on another PC or in different usb ports?

paul_ie86

No, but when I plug it into my TV, it says NO DISK

cookie1977

Can you try testing the drive in another device (tv, pc/mac)

paul_ie86

There is a bit of damage to the housing actually. You can almost pull off one end of the panels at the end.

bonzodog2

This cable would let you test it, about eur12 inc p+p from UK.

Media player enclosures are more expensive

You probably just have 1years warranty, so don't hang around too long

paul_ie86

the box says it has a two year warranty

paul_ie86

And thanks.

cookie1977

So option 1: Try warranty and potentially loose whats on the device but at least have fully functioning device afterwards
Option 2: try fix it yourself and recover data but void warranty

If you've housing damage as you say that may have already voided your warranty

bonzodog2

If you're not in a hurry, and funds are tight, this one is cheaper, from HongKong. It could take 2-3 weeks to get here though.

And here is an example of a non media player enclosure.