Failed External Hard Drive - Data Recovery?

[mgmark]

My lad came back from overseas recently and the USB-powered external hard drive (a Western Digital "my Passport) that he used to store all the photos and videos he took there has failed - given where he was with his mates, they can't be replicated by going there again......

The drive powers up, but the light just flashes, there's a quiet buzzing on/off noise and it doesn't appear/recognised as a drive.  A mate at work has checked it and apparently found that the data is there, but the board is not recognising the drive, which seems to be a common problem with these; he hasn't got the kit to go any further and recommends getting a data recovery company to do the job. 

Can anyone help or have any recommendations on who's best to use at a reasonable price?

MG Mark

[smokie]

Hi Mark

Is there a continual clicking noise?

When the drive is running is there a continual quiet whine?

When you plug it into the computer, does it load the driver correctly? (XP/Windows 7 or what?)

Can you try a different USB cable and USB port?

Is this a 2.5" drive without an external power supply, if so try it with an external power supply, as USB sockets sometimes do not provide enough power.

How does the mate know the data is there if the drive can't be recognised? (Almost undoubtedly the data IS there!)

[mgmark]

Hi Geoff,

Not a continual clicking noise or a continual whine - when plugged into the USB poit gives a off a low volume, two-tone buzz for a second or so followed a quiet spinning up, whirring noise for a second or so (which sounds like the drive starting up) followed by this buzz, whirr, buzz, whirr cycle ad infinitum. 

Tried it on my destop at work and the same happens, and tried a different USB lead too - there is no other power supply or plug for the drive.

No idea about drivers loading up, all I know is that when I plug it in, it doesn't appear as a drive in "my computer" on my Dell laptop - my IT expertise stretches that far, but can follow instructions.... 

The mate at work is a comms engineer, who reckoned he could see the drive/data but that the control board was knackered, and that he didn't have the kit to repair it. 

Mark

[Grand_Fromage]

PM me the exact make/model of the drive and I can make a recommendation.

If you also know the type number of the hard drive inside the external case, all the better.

My lad came back from overseas recently and the USB-powered external hard drive (a Western Digital "my Passport) that he used to store all the photos and videos he took there has failed - given where he was with his mates, they can't be replicated by going there again......

The drive powers up, but the light just flashes, there's a quiet buzzing on/off noise and it doesn't appear/recognised as a drive.  A mate at work has checked it and apparently found that the data is there, but the board is not recognising the drive, which seems to be a common problem with these; he hasn't got the kit to go any further and recommends getting a data recovery company to do the job. 

Can anyone help or have any recommendations on who's best to use at a reasonable price?

MG Mark

[mgmark]

PM me the exact make/model of the drive and I can make a recommendation.
If you also know the type number of the hard drive inside the external case, all the better.

PM sent ta

MG Mark

[Perdu]

no help I know but hope you manage to get at the pictures between you all

see you
b

[Lawnmower Man]

Hi Mark.


Have you recovered you photos.  If not let me know I'll have a look at for you.

T
.