Help! I Crashed My External Hard Disk

[Maestro]

Because of space limitations on my desk I propped up my external Maxtor hard disk (HD) on its side, but not in its own stand, which I forgot to bring with me to Thailand. Yesterday, it toppled over and now it is no longer accessible. Presumably, the read/write head crashed onto the disk and destroyed some data, or perhaps the read/write head is damaged.

Now, the external HD no longer shows up either in Windows Explorer or in the DOS window (cmd). I believe there is a way to recover files in such a situation but I have no idea how to go about it. I am in Bangkok at the moment and wonder if anybody can recommend a place where I can go for a recovery of files from this crashed HD.

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Maestro

[cobra]

Well since the drive is already inop, open it up, look for anything obvious, (read/write head(s) and armature bound ?, platters still able to rotate ?, did any connectors on the drive board come loose ?,

One other trick is to put it in the freezer for a few hours then try, (changes dimensional clearances),

Data recovery off failed discs is possible but expensive, check with some of the shops at Pantip.

Good Luck,

Edited December 6, 2007 by cobra

[Guest Reimar]

Because of space limitations on my desk I propped up my external Maxtor hard disk (HD) on its side, but not in its own stand, which I forgot to bring with me to Thailand. Yesterday, it toppled over and now it is no longer accessible. Presumably, the read/write head crashed onto the disk and destroyed some data, or perhaps the read/write head is damaged.

Now, the external HD no longer shows up either in Windows Explorer or in the DOS window (cmd). I believe there is a way to recover files in such a situation but I have no idea how to go about it. I am in Bangkok at the moment and wonder if anybody can recommend a place where I can go for a recovery of files from this crashed HD.

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Maestro

Which Brand is the HDD and made where? If made in Thailand the companies having a s[pecial Service for Data Recovery. If is an Hitachi you should contact ASYS Service Center Hotline: 0 2369 3133 or 0 86 304 4592

May ASYS can help you with other Brands too just ask!

Cheers

Edited December 7, 2007 by Reimar

[Tywais]

Because of space limitations on my desk I propped up my external Maxtor hard disk (HD) on its side, but not in its own stand, which I forgot to bring with me to Thailand. Yesterday, it toppled over and now it is no longer accessible. Presumably, the read/write head crashed onto the disk and destroyed some data, or perhaps the read/write head is damaged.

It could be an internal connector came loose. Easiest way is to remove it from the USB enclosure and place it in the main computer to check if it is the drive or the box. Of course any shop can do that also.

[Florin]

Does it make any noise? If it seems to work normally but Windows doesn't recognize it, it's quite likely one of the USB/power/data connectors that got loose, case in which your data should be fine. Unscrew the USB case, check all the connectors, put it back together and see what happens.

[Maestro]

Which Brand is the HDD and made where? If made in Thailand the companies having a s[pecial Service for Data Recovery. If is an Hitachi you should contact ASYS Service Center Hotline: 0 2369 3133 or 0 86 304 4592

May ASYS can help you with other Brands too just ask!

It is a Maxtor, made in Singapore.

Reimar, I am going to send you a PM to discuss how I should best proceed.

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Maestro

[Maestro]

Thanks, everybody, for your advice.

I spoke to Reimar, then as I was going to take all the cables of the external hard disk to check the serial number I saw that I had not reconnected the USB cable after moving the HDD. How incredibly stupid of me!

Now that I’ve reconnected the HDD it works. Obviously, it is more robust than I gave it credit for.

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Maestro

[jstumbo]

Thanks, everybody, for your advice.

I spoke to Reimar, then as I was going to take all the cables of the external hard disk to check the serial number I saw that I had not reconnected the USB cable after moving the HDD. How incredibly stupid of me!

Now that I've reconnected the HDD it works. Obviously, it is more robust than I gave it credit for.

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Maestro

Years ago I started of my Tech career doing tech support at Microsoft on Windows 3.1. One of the first things we would always check would be to make sure things were plugged in to power and plugged in to the computer. People would feel like we were accusing them of being stupid, but it was amazing the number of times the people would see that something was not plugged in. It happens more than you think.

[Tywais]

but it was amazing the number of times the people would see that something was not plugged in. It happens more than you think.

So true. Several times when working with a technician here and see him trying to figure out why something won't turn on, then I point at the plug. But to be fair, I have done it myself a few times.

[Bagwan]

Couldn't resist it. Glad your OK again.

[astral]

I was going to suggest that you recovered using your backup.........

[lopburi3]

Another stereotype blown of the methodical Swiss.

[cobra]

... now that I’ve reconnected the HDD it works. Obviously, it is more robust than I gave it credit for.

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Maestro

That's good news,

You might now want to back-up any critical data on that drive, burn it to dvd, copy to another drive or on-line storage, etc, ....you don't know what ya got until it's gone, ... (Joni Mitchell),

[Maestro]

...You might now want to back-up any critical data on that drive...

Already done.

The external HDD has a copy of all data of several folders on my desktop PC at home in Switzerland and I work with this while in Thailand for a few weeks.

I have now backed up all files I created or modified since my arrival in Thailand and plan to back up new and newly-modified files on a daily basis.

It is shameful but I admit it freely: the error window that popped up asked me to check if all connections were OK, I gave the rear of my laptop a quick glance and saw a cable of the correct colour plugged in but did not check that the other end, lying behind the HDD, was really plugged in. I am truly embarrassed.

This is as bad as the case where a new computer user, who had just bought his PC and was setting it up at home, called the helpline to say that nothing came up on his screen.

Helpline: Look behind the computer to see if the power cable is connected.

User: I cannot see anything. The light is off.

Helpline: Then switch on the light.

User: Does not help. The power in our street is off.

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Maestro

[Naam]

but it was amazing the number of times the people would see that something was not plugged in. It happens more than you think.

So true. Several times when working with a technician here and see him trying to figure out why something won't turn on, then I point at the plug. But to be fair, I have done it myself a few times.

those who have never done it please take three steps forward... we all would like to see what big braggarts look like