External hard drive failed

DCFC79

I know what your going to say, should have backed up, I even saw a hard drive in Tesco yesterday and debated if to get it.

An external hard drive has stopped working, have tried Recuva software and it cant read the drive, anything else I can try ?

jbainbridge

Is it doing anything - powering on, clicking? I'd rip it apart and connect it directly to a computer ... it may be the enlosure that has failed in some way.

Geodark

jbainbridge wrote: »

Is it doing anything - powering on, clicking? I'd rip it apart and connect it directly to a computer ... it may be the enlosure that has failed in some way.

Yup, had this happen to me a few times - bought a new enclosure and all was fine. (well, it was until I lost the hard drive :rotfl:)

DCFC79

jbainbridge wrote: »

Is it doing anything - powering on, clicking? I'd rip it apart and connect it directly to a computer ... it may be the enlosure that has failed in some way.

It powers on ok, its not clicking now but it did start clicking a few days ago for like 5 minutes then it stopped, I knew something was up but didn't do anything about it.

Drive is IDE and there's no IDE port on the motherboard so unable to pop it into a PC.

grumpycrab

DCFC79 wrote: »

I'm sure I can pop it into the PC.

Youtube has many videos on how to remove drives from external cases if you get stuck (or ask here). Plug into Windows8 motherboard and keep your fingers crossed.

DCFC79

grumpycrab wrote: »

Youtube has many videos on how to remove drives from external cases if you get stuck (or ask here). Plug into Windows8 motherboard and keep your fingers crossed.

Yes I removed it from the external case.

I see I edited my post after you quoted.

grumpycrab

DCFC79 wrote: »

Drive is IDE and there's no IDE port on the motherboard so unable to pop it into a PC.

3 immediate options...
1. find a friend with IDE port on motherboard
2. buy an IDE/SATA adapter
3. try another external box (IDE/USB)

enfield_freddy

if the drive is an IDE , it is quite a few yrs old


an old trick , not used for years , "if the drive spins" , place in a freezer bag and freeze (not solid) , try again

googler

IDE to SATA adaptors are easily found.

Roland_Sausage

DCFC79 wrote: »

It powers on ok, its not clicking now but it did start clicking a few days ago for like 5 minutes then it stopped, I knew something was up but didn't do anything about it.

Drive is IDE and there's no IDE port on the motherboard so unable to pop it into a PC.

Buy an IDE to USB adapter. Will cost around £5 for a 2.5 inch drive. Maybe a bit more for a 3.5 inch as they need power as well.

almillar

And if you do get access to your stuff, don't waste time trying to repair anything, simply start copying stuff off the drive, starting with the most important stuff, and see how far you can go before failure...