Author Topic: malfunctioning external hard drive  (Read 1111 times)

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Offline driftingblizzard

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malfunctioning external hard drive
« on: January 22, 2007, 10:53:43 AM »
Does anyone have a tip on how to troubleshoot an external hard drive that was dropped and now no longer will boot up.  It sounds like its trying to read itself.  I opened the case, nothing looks cracked or disconnected.
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Offline Callaway

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2007, 12:27:42 PM »
I don't Drifting Blizzard, but I hope that someone else does.  I do know that it is bad if a board was cracked by dropping it.

Offline odeon

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2007, 12:46:38 PM »
How is it connected to the computer? Does it have an actual boot block or do you have to boot your internal HD to "see it"? How is it formatted (with what file system)?
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Offline driftingblizzard

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2007, 02:01:06 PM »
How is it connected to the computer? Does it have an actual boot block or do you have to boot your internal HD to "see it"? How is it formatted (with what file system)?

NTFS,
plugged in through a USB cable.
Shows up as drive (E),
No boot block that I'm aware of, could be wrong though.
That is the grand sum of my computing knowledge...

Although, there are two USB ports on this external drive that still work.  So data goes through it, I just think the spinning part (HD?) inside it is not spinning.
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Offline odeon

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2007, 02:54:33 AM »
Most likely, it's a mechanical problem caused by the fall. The reading head probably wasn't properly parked when the disk fell so it's probably not properly aligned now. The USB ports are probably just throughput, and weren't affected.

If the disk doesn't spin, then that can be caused by a number of things, from a faulty controller to no power to the disk itself. Are you sure it doesn't spin? When you click on E: in Windows Explorer, put an ear to the box and listen closely.

Most disk manufacturers provide diagnostic software for their products. Did you get a CD with the disk? In that case, install the diagnostic software and follow the instructions. You might have damaged a few sectors, in which case you can probably use the rest.

If you don't have a CD, check with the manufacturer or follow this link. Good luck.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

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Offline QuirkyCarla

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2007, 03:01:36 AM »
I dropped my external HD today, but it still works.

Offline driftingblizzard

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2007, 03:07:24 AM »
My wife dropped it during drunken chat, and yes we both were.   So I'm not really sure how hard of a a hit it took, but it had been getting louder lately.  I thought maybe I was just imagining it...  I am going to work on it some more today, thanks for the link odeon.
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Offline QuirkyCarla

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2007, 03:14:06 AM »
at least you were drunk...i was just trying to pack the damn thing back up

Offline driftingblizzard

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2007, 03:21:08 AM »
 :violin: Well, it has a 3 year guarentee, but I'm afraid they'll just send me a new drive and all my data will be lost from the broken one.     :smash:
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Offline QuirkyCarla

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2007, 03:21:48 AM »
:(

Offline driftingblizzard

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2007, 04:34:18 AM »
:(
I gave you a +1 for the sympathy.  I'm glad yours still works and would strongly recommend copying important files to CD. 

P.s here's your paddling    :spank:
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Offline QuirkyCarla

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Re: malfunctioning external hard drive
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2007, 01:09:01 PM »
 ;D