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Hard drive problems

homonger

I'm not really back
Oct 27, 2001
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I have an external hard drive hooked up to my laptop, where I dump music files primarily, along with some other assorted files I don't actively need on my computer. Until recently, it was a very simple 'plug and play' affair, I attached it to one of my USB ports, and an icon appeared on my 'My Computer' screen. Lately, though, when I click on the E:drive icon, nothing happens. I have tried disabling it, powering it down, and so forth, but I really have no idea what might be happening here. Anyone have any help?
 

homonger

I'm not really back
Oct 27, 2001
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boffo said:
For a start I would just confirm that your extra USB port is OK by plugging a different peripheral device into that USB port.
If that other device like a mouse or something is ok then it at least eliminates the USB port as the problem.
Yup, tried that. I use the same USB port to plug in my printer, and I was able to print documents, no problem.

I am at the point where I am accepting the fact that I may no longer have access to the documents and files I stored on this piece of crap. I am also thinking from now on, I might have to back up the back up, which is a really annoying thought.
 

PHNINE

Banned
Aug 27, 2005
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Penthouse
This has happened to me as well. I loaded this thing up with music and lots and lots of porn. It was also a matter of just Plug and Play, however one day it just stopped working. I did all the things advised above. Even tried putting it on another computer, and the same thing will happen. I took it to the retailer I bought it from and they said I had fried it, and it was no longer able to be used. The warranty was up as well. I lost about 15GB of porn and music. Sad day, but I think it just broke down due to me always unplugging it plugging it back in. Thank god SP's don't react like that when I plug and play. LOL

Just get another one if possible.
 

tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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way out in left field
Well, first off, I have to say this, and I know you may get offended, but...

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING BACKING UP FILES TO A FALABLE DRIVE?

The reason you back things up is because HARD DRIVES FAIL.....If you're going to back up anything back the stuff up to a cd rom but remember, they only last for about 10 yrs so they are not permanant either.

Ok, rant over, now the data isn't lost for good if the USB drive is toast. You can take it to one of the many data recovery agents in and around Toronto and they will recover all the data on the drive.
 

PHNINE

Banned
Aug 27, 2005
5,464
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Penthouse
tboy said:
Well, first off, I have to say this, and I know you may get offended, but...

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING BACKING UP FILES TO A FALABLE DRIVE?

The reason you back things up is because HARD DRIVES FAIL.....If you're going to back up anything back the stuff up to a cd rom but remember, they only last for about 10 yrs so they are not permanant either.

Ok, rant over, now the data isn't lost for good if the USB drive is toast. You can take it to one of the many data recovery agents in and around Toronto and they will recover all the data on the drive.
I didn't want the recovery guys seeing all that porn. ANd that is really all that was on there. When I said porn and music I meant like 14.99 GB of porn and like 3 songs...LOL
 

homonger

I'm not really back
Oct 27, 2001
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tboy said:
Well, first off, I have to say this, and I know you may get offended, but...

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING BACKING UP FILES TO A FALABLE DRIVE?

The reason you back things up is because HARD DRIVES FAIL.....If you're going to back up anything back the stuff up to a cd rom but remember, they only last for about 10 yrs so they are not permanant either.

Ok, rant over, now the data isn't lost for good if the USB drive is toast. You can take it to one of the many data recovery agents in and around Toronto and they will recover all the data on the drive.
No problem, I am not offended. I cheerfully admit I am a dolt when it comes to technology. I am actually grateful that I have received as much help here as I have. The collective knowledge on this board is quite impressive. Maybe someday, you'll need my help with something, and I'll get to berate you, lol. That's doubtful though, because there really isn't much I know.

Let me try the data recovery angle. Unlike PHNINE, it really is mostly music, and maybe a couple of sp pics.
 

homonger

I'm not really back
Oct 27, 2001
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Berlin said:
... a couple hundreds ?
Give or take. I don't think that is so incriminating. Most sp pics are suggestive, but there's usually not a lot of nudity going on in them. So I have a bunch of girlie pics, big deal.
 

pony123

New member
Jan 7, 2005
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homonger said:
I have an external hard drive hooked up to my laptop, where I dump music files primarily, along with some other assorted files I don't actively need on my computer. Until recently, it was a very simple 'plug and play' affair, I attached it to one of my USB ports, and an icon appeared on my 'My Computer' screen. Lately, though, when I click on the E:drive icon, nothing happens. I have tried disabling it, powering it down, and so forth, but I really have no idea what might be happening here. Anyone have any help?


Have you tried importing as foreign disc ? --control panel , computer management ,storage ,disc management , - if disc shows up here try to import it as a foreign disc .
 

SilentLeviathan

I am better than you.
Oct 30, 2002
909
0
16
It might just be the controller on the HD. External HDs are just regular HDs in a case with an IDE to USB converter. Crack open the case, unplug the HD and try using it as an internal drive. Se if you can access the data that way. If it works then you can just buy another HD case for like $30 from a computer store.

tboy said:
Well, first off, I have to say this, and I know you may get offended, but...

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING BACKING UP FILES TO A FALABLE DRIVE?
Calm down; he never said anything about backing up files just that he was using it to store files. Many places use HDs as backup, that's the whole point of RAID 5. Sure you may lose 1 HD but the odds that you'll lose two at the same time is much higher. Finally, no piece of technology is infallible. To depend on a single back up solution is silly. Anyone who wants 100% guaranteed backup will use something like RAID 5 with nightly tape backups stored offsite. Some banks will use multiple offsite storage locations.
 

xornet8

New member
Jan 19, 2004
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homonger

are you using windows xp? more than half the time a registery cleaner/repair will fix the problem, unless the drive itself is pooched. many are available free on the internet. some of the better ones are the 'tune up registery cleaner/utilities' and 'norton windoctor', but they arent not free as such. failing that, remove the drivers/software that it came with and reinstall them.

pm me if you need any help getting registry utilities.
 

tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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way out in left field
Hey, I was coming down on Ho with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek...TOO many times I hear about people losing all kinds of data because of poor management habits.

I realize that wasn't his backup but it WAS data being STORED. If it is data that he would like to keep, he should back it up properly. Laviathan, as you yourself said, it isn't right to use only ONE form of backup, in this case, Ho would be using the USB drive AND a cd rom (or DVD rom for that matter).

Anyhow, that was a good idea about removing the drive from the external case and plugging it into the internal IDE cable. Try this after trying the drive on another computer.

Speaking of backing up data, I think it's time I did mine lol.....
 

Coke

Boss
Jun 29, 2003
806
1
18
62
Toronto
homonger:external hard drive problem

Back to the original question.
homonger, you need to troubleshoot why you are having this conflict.

suggestion:
1/. plug your external hard drive in a friend's p.c/laptop.
- if there is no problem then the actual problem lies in your own laptop
- if you get the same problem then you will need to isolate/swap components:

1/. swap the usb 2 cable with another usb 2 cable (maybe it is a bad cable)
2/. the hard drive in the enclosure (remove the hard drive and install it in your friend's desktop)

2/. The actual problem maybe the laptop's windows is corrupted and it may need to be re-installed.

3/. you may have a hardware probem - defective motherboard or usb ports

you have made so many system changes, I would first check to see if your usb drivers are ok.
->my computer icon, right mouse click , choose manage. click device manager and open usb controllers and look for yellow alert icons.(re-install the drivers)
-> a suggestion, have a skilled person look at your laptop.
 

SilentLeviathan

I am better than you.
Oct 30, 2002
909
0
16
tboy said:
Hey, I was coming down on Ho with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek...TOO many times I hear about people losing all kinds of data because of poor management habits.
OK, cool. :)
 
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