External Hard Drive Help Needed

[Hunter58]

I am travelling in Thailand at present and carry all my important docs on a Freecom external hard drive which will not work.

Have been to IT stores in Khon Kaen who cannot open it.

I will be in BKK from Fri and really need to get it opened.

Any help appreciated.

[utalkin2me]

Have you ever heard of dropbox?

[Dork]

Have you ever heard of dropbox?

Well I've heard of it, even used it. But I didn't know it could access external hard drives remotely. Can you give some step by step instructions please.

Thanks in advance.

[JDGRUEN]

By 'open' do you mean physically open the case cover? Many USB external hard drives stop running for a number of different problems. Double check your computer's USB ports. Use different ports and hook the unit up to another computer. Does the external hard drive get it's power from the USB cables? If so does the USB cable have two connectors on one end - with one on the other? Does the external drive have a power adapter that plugs into the wall for electricity? If not - does the unit have a port for a power adapter?

I know this Q&A is frustrating but these and other questions are necessary - with answers - IF you want to get it running.

Let me know ... Joe

[NeverSure]

Most of the Freecoms are little USB powered units. He doesn't give the model.

I agree with JDGruen. It might not be getting enough power from the USB port. Try it in a bunch of different computers, especially a couple of desktops if you can find them. Unplug all other USB devices because there is a fixed amount of power to the USB hub, and that's divided among all devices hooked to it.

[Hunter58]

Thanks for all the comments.

The model is HM641JX 640GB

I have tried several cables and also several computers without success.

Also brought it to IT shop in Khon Kaen.

As a total tech illiterate I really need to get someone to open it up and download the contents.

[Dork]

Thanks for all the comments.

The model is HM641JX 640GB

I have tried several cables and also several computers without success.

Also brought it to IT shop in Khon Kaen.

As a total tech illiterate I really need to get someone to open it up and download the contents.

In that case I think your best shot is Panthip Plaza. There are dozens of small repair shops mainly in the back area. Many of them will try to fix it while you wait.

Sorry I can't recommend any shop in particular. Perhaps another poster can.

Good luck.

[Hunter58]

Thanks for all the comments.

The model is HM641JX 640GB

I have tried several cables and also several computers without success.

Also brought it to IT shop in Khon Kaen.

As a total tech illiterate I really need to get someone to open it up and download the contents.

In that case I think your best shot is Panthip Plaza. There are dozens of small repair shops mainly in the back area. Many of them will try to fix it while you wait.u

Sorry I can't recommend any shop in particular. Perhaps another poster can.

Good luck.

Thanks. My previous experiences in Pantip have never been great but I think it is my only option.

[Dork]

Thanks for all the comments.

The model is HM641JX 640GB

I have tried several cables and also several computers without success.

Also brought it to IT shop in Khon Kaen.

As a total tech illiterate I really need to get someone to open it up and download the contents.

In that case I think your best shot is Panthip Plaza. There are dozens of small repair shops mainly in the back area. Many of them will try to fix it while you wait.u

Sorry I can't recommend any shop in particular. Perhaps another poster can.

Good luck.

Thanks. My previous experiences in Pantip have never been great but I think it is my only option.

Yes unfortunately it is a bit hit and miss. There are capable people there though. You just have to find them.

Of course there are professional data recovery companies in Bangkok. But it gets expensive.

[bkkfoxi]

Hi I am in that line of work here just a question does it make any noise like a ticking nosie or is there just simply no power getting to the drive? (no lights no sound)

[Hunter58]

Hi I am in that line of work here just a question does it make any noise like a ticking nosie or is there just simply no power getting to the drive? (no lights no sound)

Absolutely nothing.

I have tried numerous USB connections without success.

[Dork]

Hi I am in that line of work here just a question does it make any noise like a ticking nosie or is there just simply no power getting to the drive? (no lights no sound)

Absolutely nothing.

I have tried numerous USB connections without success.

That's possibly good news. Hopefully it will just be the enclosure that's faulty rather than the HDD. At least then your data should be intact.

[jamhar]

It looks like this is a 2.5" drive, commonly called a "laptop" drive.

usually connects from a mini USB to a regular USB.

normally for a 2.5" USB drive, power comes from the single USB connection, which supplies 500ma of drive current

Some drives requires more and theres a "y" USB connector. (single USB on one end, 2 USB on the other end, this way it can source 1A of current , 500mA from each of the "y" connection)

If you're plugging into the usb drive, and you see no "turn on" indication

1) try different connection (several different USB connection points) any turn on indication?

2) if no, try different computer and try #1 again. any turn on inidcation?

3) if no, try different cable and repeat #1 and #2

4) if still no, and you've already shown that the USB port on your PC works with other USB hardware,

you've proven that its not your computer and its not your cable. so its the hard drive/case.

You can get another USB hardrive case. EBAY says you have a SATA connector drive, so make sure you get a SATA 2.5" external case. I got one at The Mall in BKK for 350bhat. open the case, remove the drive and insert it into the new case. it only connects one way, so the risk of a bad connection is remote.

If it doesn't work on your new case, it gets tricky. Let me know if its the physically opening the case that's the issue.

Suggestion going forward.

1) keep a 3.5" external drive at home for local backup. Make sure there's a fan on the drive, or place it on a laptop fan, and have the fan running 24/7. thermal issues are the dominant issue in determining a harddrive's MTBF (mean time between failure) basically how long it will work. Keeping it cool, extends its life.

2) typical 2.5" external drives cool themselves by passive thermal means. that means its cooled by radiating heat from the case. MAKE SURE THE CASE IS NOT COVERED WHEN IN USE.

3) 2.5" drives are really handy. so handy its easy to drop. DONT drop it! sounds obvious, but you havent seen some of my friends.

Hope this helps.

[Hunter58]

It looks like this is a 2.5" drive, commonly called a "laptop" drive.

usually connects from a mini USB to a regular USB.

normally for a 2.5" USB drive, power comes from the single USB connection, which supplies 500ma of drive current

Some drives requires more and theres a "y" USB connector. (single USB on one end, 2 USB on the other end, this way it can source 1A of current , 500mA from each of the "y" connection)

If you're plugging into the usb drive, and you see no "turn on" indication

1) try different connection (several different USB connection points) any turn on indication?

2) if no, try different computer and try #1 again. any turn on inidcation?

3) if no, try different cable and repeat #1 and #2

4) if still no, and you've already shown that the USB port on your PC works with other USB hardware,

you've proven that its not your computer and its not your cable. so its the hard drive/case.

You can get another USB hardrive case. EBAY says you have a SATA connector drive, so make sure you get a SATA 2.5" external case. I got one at The Mall in BKK for 350bhat. open the case, remove the drive and insert it into the new case. it only connects one way, so the risk of a bad connection is remote.

If it doesn't work on your new case, it gets tricky. Let me know if its the physically opening the case that's the issue.

Suggestion going forward.

1) keep a 3.5" external drive at home for local backup. Make sure there's a fan on the drive, or place it on a laptop fan, and have the fan running 24/7. thermal issues are the dominant issue in determining a harddrive's MTBF (mean time between failure) basically how long it will work. Keeping it cool, extends its life.

2) typical 2.5" external drives cool themselves by passive thermal means. that means its cooled by radiating heat from the case. MAKE SURE THE CASE IS NOT COVERED WHEN IN USE.

3) 2.5" drives are really handy. so handy its easy to drop. DONT drop it! sounds obvious, but you havent seen some of my friends.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

I have carried out all items 1-4 so I believe it is the hard drive which is at fault.

The SATA connector is the USB connection on the hard drive side ?

When you say the Mall do you mean Pantip Plaza ?

I presume I just open the existing metal shell and swap for a new one?

As you can see this IT stuff is not my area of expertise.

[bkkfoxi]

yeah can just switch it out better got to Fortune town oppst. Central Rama 9 (MRT Rama 9) easier to get to and do not get hassled by people trying to sell you porn every five steps!! 4th floor you find plenty of shops that will switch it out for you good luck!!

[Hunter58]

To all responders

many thanks for your suggestions and advice.

I will be in BKK Friday afternoon and will commence my efforts to revive my hard drive.

Thank you.

[Shurup]

If there's no and caution that the drive is plugged in when it's plugged in, then the most likely scenario is that the mini USB post is damaged, happens a lot especially when people leave a USB cord plugged in and shove the drive into their bag... Open the enclosure and remove the drive, take it to any comp shop and they will plug it in and copy your files over to another device.

[astral]

If the drive is good, as suggested by Shurup

then you can simply get a new case.