Hello Everyone,

Is it a pre made unit you bought?

If so, you usually void the warranty by opening it.

A toaster aka a dock can be bought cheap to see if the drive is still functioning, hopefully just your enclosure broke.

What OS are you using?

Yes pre made and its cracked , so the warranty is out, lol.
do they sell the dock at the NEX?
I have Windows Vista. When its connect it makes a clicking noise, it just wont open up.

Figure out whether you need a hardware or software fix. Look for grinding sounds from your drive or humming that starts or stops.

These are signs that the actuator arm and discs are no longer in alignment and your drive is timing out. If it seems as though nothing is wrong with your hard drive, it's probably time for a software fix.

Run one of the many software fixes, if you think the problem is related to software. These programs feature on-screen directions, making it easy for you to progress through them. If this works, you don't need to fix a physical problem.

Remove the many tiny screws that holds the drive together. Eventually, you'll get to the innards of your drive. Be very careful not to bend or force a piece to go where it doesn't want to.

Determine if you've set things straight. Look to see whether anything was loose inside your external hard drive. If you have recently dropped it or traveled with it, it is possible that something came loose. Also check that all the arms and platters are straight and do not appear bent in any way. If they are bent, straighten them with your hands or pliers.

Put everything back together and check that everything in your external hard drive is working properly.

Try using the external hard drive on another computer. Maybe your computer or USB port is the problem and needs replaced.

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The Navy Exchange computer repair shop is probably not going to be able to help you with data / disaster recovery.

You could however try a nearby PC DEPOT. There is one near Yokosuka.

If the data is really important, you can try a professional DATA RECOVERY service.

Here is one that would probably be able to help: https://services.seagate.com/Data-recovery-services.aspx

Im positive its a hardware problem, I packed it really well and shipped it to my wifes boat address before I left the states to come here. I know it was mishandled somewhere between the states and here. Another reason why I say its a hardware problem is because when you shake it, you hear something in the inside that sounds like its broken or loose.
But Thank you very much Adam Ill check the site out and hopefully I can get this fixed.

If it was dropped hard enough to crack the case don't get your hopes up too much about data recovery but we can try it...

I have a dock and you could bring the drive to my office during your lunch break if you wanted, PM me if you want to try it before spending any $$

> Eventually, you'll get to the innards of your drive.

Adam, are you actually recommending for this person to open the actual drive? if so, that drive will be damaged beyond repair as that hard disk enclosure is air tight and has been created in a clean, dust free room. From the users description, seems that the actuator arm is broke and scraping the platters. I know, as I have two drives with the exact same problem now and they are both in my freezer. Google "hard drive clicking noise" and eventually you'll run across the reason why.

I would recommend that you do NOT try opening the drive yourself. The drive data recovery services are VERY expensive! At least $500+ USD.

Good luck~

Posted By Military Brat on 02-11-2012 1:00 PM
> Eventually, you'll get to the innards of your drive.

Adam, are you actually recommending for this person to open the actual drive? if so, that drive will be damaged beyond repair as that hard disk enclosure is air tight and has been created in a clean, dust free room. From the users description, seems that the actuator arm is broke and scraping the platters. I know, as I have two drives with the exact same problem now and they are both in my freezer. Google "hard drive clicking noise" and eventually you'll run across the reason why.

I would recommend that you do NOT try opening the drive yourself. The drive data recovery services are VERY expensive! At least $500+ USD.

Good luck~

Yes, highly agree.  It just takes a single dust particle landing on one of the platens to ruin all chances to recover data.  This is why data recovery is so expensive, a "Clean Room" is required to change out any parts within the drive itself.  I worked diagnostics and data recovery for a hard drive company out of San Diego, so I've seen a lot of scenarios.  Good luck with your data recovery.

I have fixed several broken external hard drives in the past.

I've dropped a few, and had to open them up. What I did was get down to the HD itself, and what I did was purchased another cable in Japan to hook directly to it, providing it another power source.

Recently a friend of mine had a problem with his external HD. I opened it up completely to find that the disc had major scratches all over it. Some of them were very deep. I told him there was nothing I could do. He ended up just buying a new one.

Is there a way that you can somehow just transfer all the data from the broken external into a brand new one?
Is that what you did Adam?

Well first before you want to transfer the data off, you need to establish some sort of connectivity.

Is your external HD inside of a large case, or was it one of the small mini HD's?

In one of my situations it was in a huge case, so I just opened the outer case, and had the physical hard-drives. Then I just went and got a special power plug, which was about 2000 yen out in town, and was able to get the HD to run.

I transferred all the data off, and just crapped that HD in the trash. I just wanted to get the data off.