External USB hard drive Problem...Help!

Loadedscream

I 've recently bought a 250GB external Hard drive and it worked fine for 3 days...now the drive won't initialize properly and I get an error code 10 in the device manager "device cannot start". I think that this could have happened as I didn't use the "safely remove hardware option" when I disconnected it the other day.

Does anyone know how to fix this? There is nothing on the drive that I don't mind losing so data recovery is not an issue I just want the thing to work again.

Could I have corrupted the file system? If so how do you fix that on a drive that is not recognised?

Any help is much appreciated!!!!!

Ron DMC

Try reinstalling the drivers and software that came with it

galwaydude18

Go into my computer, right click on the drive and select format. Do a full format and it should work then..

Loadedscream

The problem is that it does not appear in my computer anymore when I connect it...it is recognised as a "mass storage device" but the is a problem with installation.

I have Win Xp pro and no drivers were necessary the first time I connected it and I did work fine for 3 days so I don't think that drivers are an issue.

oneweb

Try rebooting while the drive is unplugged, wait for windows to load fully, plug the drive back in. It should give you a drive setup wizard. If it does't, try Start | Run | diskmgmt.msc and see what you can find in there.

Loadedscream

That didn't help as it's not even appearing under the disk management tool - has anybody any other suggestions?

odie

If you can remove the drive from the caddy. Plug it in to a spare ide cable. Make sure to set it slave or master depending on where you put it.
See if the drive is recognised if so then re-format it. Then replace it back to the caddy and check it.

RicardoSmith

odie wrote:

If you can remove the drive from the caddy. Plug it in to a spare ide cable. Make sure to set it slave or master depending on where you put it.
See if the drive is recognised if so then re-format it. Then replace it back to the caddy and check it.

Thats what I do when this happens. I normally don't need to reformat though.

Loadedscream

I'm a tad reluctant to do that as It is still under warranty which opening the casing would void.
It's a catch 22 though as a friend bought it for me in the US where it would have to go for me to recieve a replacement...and shipping costs etc are pretty steep for a component that only cost 150 euro!
I wouldn't mind so much but a few of the answers i found on the interweb tell me the drive is fried in anycase!!!
And Lidl are selling one for a tenner less next week!!!!!! :mad:
But thanks for the input lads!

RicardoSmith

In fairness most of the info you find on the interweb (even this thread) are simply wrong. Its extremely unlikely (not impossible though) that the drive is fried. I can show you this exact same error with my own USB drives, and simply connecting it to a spare IDE connector in a desktop PC fixes it. Taking it in and out of USB enclosure will take all of 5 mins. What causes it is probably not using the "safely remove hardware option" before the drive is disconnected.

I reckon its related to the Power management or the caching to the drive.

If your that worried about the warranty get permission from the retailer you bought it off to open it. They usually will get you to try that before sending it back anyway? Have you talked to them?

odie

If you are not going to send it back under warranty, you have nothing to lose by opening the caddy. Unless there is a warranty sticker between the joints on it. I wouldn't worry about opening it.

Loadedscream

Think I'll try that later lads...the thoughts of paying 50-60 euro in return shipping fees and having to wait months doesn't really appeal so feck it I'll crack it open!!!!

Cheers lads!