Is My External Hard Drive Dead

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by mickinblack, Apr 27, 2011.

  1. mickinblack

    mickinblack Private E-2

    I have a iomega 1tb external desk top hard dive that you plug into a plug and then usb to pc. All was fine until yesterday, the Hard drive would not show up on my pc or laptop. When i switch it on the light keeps flashing don’t stay on all the time just flashing. I did move the hard drive in a bag and taker it on the bus with me and this when the problem started.

    Is my hard drive dead, is this game over.

    I took the hard drive out its silver covering and did conected the hard drive to the rest of it, and when i plugged it in the light would stay on, when i connected the hard drive back then the light would just flash again.

    Anyone any ideas on this?

    Anyway of getting the info of the hard drive and put on another hard drive? Ive lots of music edited stored on this and it would take so long to do it all again.

    Maybe i was wrong at the time to buy a cheap hard drive and put so much on, but you live and learn.

    Any help suggestions be great please.
     
  2. epsonone

    epsonone Private First Class

    I had the same probs with external drive ,my prob was I left it on 24/7 d/loading and seeding I should have turn it off now and again ,it burnt out ,I just got a flashing light and u could hear it trying to start but I lost it I do not think u can not get the data back unless u send it to a specialist who will charge u a fortune
     
  3. mickinblack

    mickinblack Private E-2



    Unlike your Hard Drive my friend, i only get the flashing light. There is no start up noise in fact no noise at all except that of a very faint light flashing. Maybe im lucky its some sort of power failure if so there might be hope.
    Im gonna look to see if i can take the outer case off and connect the 3.5 sata hard drive into a USB to pc connection with out any other power form except that of the pc.
     
  4. collinsl

    collinsl MajorGeek

    Personally I would suspect the power supply board first, then the USB to SATA adapter, then the hard drive.

    As long as your hard drive was not turned on or bashed on anything then a bus ride should not generate enough G forges to damage it.

    The flashing light does suggest a power supply issue to me.

    If you can get the hard drive out and connect it to another adapter that would be a perfect test.
     
  5. Spock96

    Spock96 Major Geek 'Spocky'

    I agree with Collinsl, maybe I read this wrong but why don't you take the HD out of the external case and plug it straight into your computer via Sata cable then pull your information off and onto your main HD. So you wont loose anything when you try to correct said problem.
     
  6. Tueur

    Tueur Sergeant Major

    Thirded on the diagnosis and seconded on course of action (Assuming you have no warrenty on the drive)

    The disks themselves are exactly the same as internal ones, so remove HD from case then plug in internally to check drive integrity.
     
  7. collinsl

    collinsl MajorGeek

    Unless of course the OP uses a laptop, then they probably need an external enclosure.
     
  8. Tueur

    Tueur Sergeant Major

    Very true!:-o
     
  9. Spock96

    Spock96 Major Geek 'Spocky'

    Yes, I never thought of that
     
  10. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I always find an adapter like this handy instead of buying a USB enclosure to get data off a drive.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Tueur

    Tueur Sergeant Major

    Nifty bit of kit! May have to get me one! I onl have a 3.5" SATA caddy which is fine if you only ever want to get data of 3.5" SATA disks!:confused
     
  12. Spock96

    Spock96 Major Geek 'Spocky'

    @Tueur-- Where could I pick one of those up? I've heard of them and looked around. Is there anyplace I could pick one up for under like $30??
     
  13. sach2

    sach2 Major Geek Extraordinaire

  14. mickinblack

    mickinblack Private E-2

    Problem solved

    It was the power in the External Hard Drive case that was the problem.
    I got a Hard Drive dock as ive wanted one for sometime and placed it in and theres all me information.
    Next step to buy a new case and then back it all up on another hard drive.

    Thanks to all who helped.
     
  15. Spock96

    Spock96 Major Geek 'Spocky'

    @Sach2-- Thank you
     
  16. Tueur

    Tueur Sergeant Major

    Glad its all sorted!
     
  17. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    The adapter sach2 referenced is the one I purchased and it works like a charm. It did not recognize a very old 2 1/2 IDE laptop drive but I believe that to be a known problem for these types of adapters.
     

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