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Thread ID: 98761	2009-04-06 03:28:00	External Hard Drive problem	kbcad (1025)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
762668	2009-04-06 03:28:00	I have a Dick Smith External USB/Firewire 3.5" drive case housing a Western Digital WD1200 IDE hard drive. The setup is about 3 years old and, no doubt, out of warranty. I use it for backing up, and it used to be fine. However, it is now not functioning as it should. The problem is that when connected to a USB port on my Dell PC (Win XP SP3) very rarely it connects OK (NB. unit is always powered up first, before connecting to USB) but most often makes clicking/whirring noises and does not show up as a new drive. I can't check it using the Firewire connection as my PC does not have a port. It does not need drivers as Win XP is supposed to be able to read it. Any advice as to what the problem could be would be much appreciated. KB.	kbcad (1025)
762669	2009-04-06 04:10:00	It is probably failing. Go to Device manager(Run>devmgmt.msc) and see if you can see it under "Uninversal Serial Bus controllers" If you can, it'll probably have an exclaimation mark next to it. Right click it and click "Uninstall" then reboot. If that doesn't work either the hard drive or the case is failing. Remove the hard drive from the case and plug it into the computer(slave) directly. Most probably the hard drive head is crashing which is what is making the noises. Boot into a linux live CD such as Knoppix and you may be able to recover the data. If you are in Auckland I may be able to assist you with this Blam	Blam (54)
762670	2009-04-06 06:40:00	Thanks, Blam6 for your reply. I followed your advice and checked Device Manager, and found a red cross over the device. I uninstalled and re-booted. No red cross, but no improvement. Followed some Troubleshooter advice. Saw I had Disks "F" & "G" telling me to put a disk in the drive. (This was my external hard drive). Then discovered that i had 8 copies of USB Root hubs in device manager. Don't know whether it's the case or the hard disk that's failing, and I don't know how to plug the WD into the PC directly (not clever enough!) I'm way down the bottom of the South Island. Appreciate your help. KB.	kbcad (1025)
762671	2009-04-06 08:46:00	Do you have a linux live CD? Just to recover the data first, before you experiment.. Now, there should be screws on the side of the case, unscrew them and remove the hard drive. Open your PC by using the thumb screws at the back and slide the side of the case out. Plug in the slave IDE plug into your hard drive then boot and see if you can see your drive. Blam	Blam (54)
762672	2009-04-06 08:51:00	I had this same problem with an external IDE enclosure. Any HDD you put in it would make weird clicking noises and never detect. The drives all worked fine connected in a different enclosure/directly to the motherboard. I'd suspect the circuitry in the enclosure before the drive itself	Agent_24 (57)
762673	2009-04-06 22:57:00	blam6 - recovering data is not a problem. Some weeks back when the drive started playing up I managed to download all the important data. I will try your suggestion re connecting to the PC direct. Agent 24 - you have described the symptoms exactly. Could well be the drive case is the problem. Must check warranty but think it's out. Thanks to both of you. KB.	kbcad (1025)
762674	2009-04-06 23:07:00	blam6 - recovering data is not a problem. Some weeks back when the drive started playing up I managed to download all the important data. I will try your suggestion re connecting to the PC direct. Agent 24 - you have described the symptoms exactly. Could well be the drive case is the problem. Must check warranty but think it's out. Thanks to both of you. KB. If it works fine connected firectly, you will need to get a new case. About 25-40 dollars	Blam (54)
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