interigating an external faulty hard drive??

Many issues in this;
Go to 'My Computer,'Local Disk 'C',Properties,see if it lists another hdd than 'C' ?
Do the external drive have its own power cable?
How big is the system PSU ? Enough power for the system to recognise 'added hdd'?
Do some checks;Use another SATA cable to check if it was faulty!Plug it on another Sata port on the card/mobo;
Otherwise open the External drive enclosure,take the hdd out,shake it to see if there is vibration and noise means it is dead,-Hdd Cooler Fans are a must in my experience for preserving Data ,longetivity-
The easiest way to see if it is alive-is to use a Sata (or IDE)Docking Station for External HDD to USB ,new retails around 17.00 Otherwise:Hdd 'clean Erase'Software u can use in DOS? Use Special software ; hdd Manufacturers Downloaded 'Format'software may not work,each manufacturer has a different sofware that recognises its own brand ,does not work with another make-
How old is the hdd? Was it 'virus 'free,otherwise download 'Malicious Software removal Tool' from MS!
Any idea what was the loaded OS ,Fat 32,-older OS - different-then previously Win XP OS loaded -has NTFS System? Check the hdd is assigned (role of the hdd) set as the 'Master' with the 2 pin jumper on the 'Master' marked right slot on the hdd?
When u connect the Hdd to the pc,do you unplug the Sata /ide (from the good System Windows loaded hdd)after re-setting the Bios? Turn Off pc, Unplug mains ,locate + pull CMOS battery Out,wait 10 minutes,move Jumper to CLR CMOS ,then back to Original pins;place CMOS Battery (+ is on top),have one DVD etc.Drive connected to the mobo-if it does not Recognise try another Make mobo,Vast difference in characteristics so one may Recognise HDD,another may not!connect the primary SATA/IDE cable to the 'faulty' hdd ,Start pc and enter Bios,see if it recognises the hdd,set the Priority of the HDD ,Save and Exit BIOS.Restart,wait for BIos to showlist,C is normally the Hdd.

kapizan
March 2010

HDD Regenerator

But your PC has to make a small effort to recognise hard drive.
If PC can't see it at all then you maybe beyond help.
I find that use of a old Windows 98 machine not as fussy as the newer OS

But (there is always a but), I had a 80gb USB hard drive that started makin odd noises then died.
Packed it away, 6 months later retried; and it sprang back to life. Dam gremlins.

ello
February 2010