Seagate External hard drive problems

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by pinkmonke, Mar 27, 2010.

  1. pinkmonke

    pinkmonke Member

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    Hi all

    I have a 500GB Seagate external hard drive (USB plug and play) and have just noticed that it is no longer showing up in my computer (I dont use it every day), is there anything i can do to check whether its still alive or not? I have tried plugging it into a different computer and nothings happening.

    I only have basic-intermediate techy knowledge so would appreciate being spoken to like im a 6 year old :)

    Thanks

    Pink
     
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    is it still under warranty? does it sound like the drive is spinning & the light(s) are on/flashing?
     
  3. pinkmonke

    pinkmonke Member

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    Yup light is on and hdd is spinning, it was bought from argos under a year ago and they dont do refunds for external hdd.
     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    have you tried a different usb cable just in case the drive's is bad? do you think you can take the external enclosure apart to get at the drive to try out internally in your pc if compatible cable wise as in ide or sata?
     
  5. pinkmonke

    pinkmonke Member

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    Yea tried a different cable with no success, Its attached to a laptop so wouldnt be able to turn it internal :( It doesnt have any ide or sata ports on the outside either.
     
  6. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    right now it sounds like the enclosure itself is the problem not the drive? 2 options is to try the drive on a desktop pc to make certain the drive is seen as is the data then get a new enclosure or just get a new enclosure & hope the drive is ok.
     
  7. pinkmonke

    pinkmonke Member

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    Will it be ok to open it up? I dont want to risk getting dust on the plates....
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    it is a hd inside an enclosure so without taking apart the hd, you can't get at the platters.
     

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