wilfredo Posted September 12, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 12, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been using external hard drives for years, and one died on me, it won't turn on. I tried the "putting it in the freezer" for ten hours trick, to no avail. I went to Staples to their tech dept. and was told it could cost up to $1200. to recover the files. Is this insane or what? Any suggestions? Thankfully, I had almost all my photo files on another external hard drive, but not all of them. Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 12, 2017 Posted September 12, 2017 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Dead External Hard Drive. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wilfredo Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted September 12, 2017 Now that I'm on the topic, what's the verdict out there, is it better to unplug/turn off external hard drives, or is it best not to do this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted September 12, 2017 Share #3 Posted September 12, 2017 Any suggestions? Yes, close the stable door after the horse has bolted. Why no backup?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpittal Posted September 12, 2017 Share #4 Posted September 12, 2017 Wilfredo, try removing the drive from the enclosure and putting it in another compatible enclosure. Sometimes it is the power supply and other electronics and not the actual platter/head/bearing (hopefully). Regards, Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted September 12, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 12, 2017 It makes no difference. Disks will fail. Backup is the only solution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpittal Posted September 12, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 12, 2017 I would suggest to turn them off when the computer is off..... Regards,Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted September 12, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) It makes no difference. Disks will fail. Backup is the only solution. Yes, most of my files were backed-up, your point is well taken. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 12, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 12, 2017 Wilfredo,from now on, why not store your most recent files on an internal drive, backed up rotationally on external drives stored in scattered places in case of fire or theft? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotoklaus Posted September 12, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 12, 2017 I use this software: https://www.freefilesync.org/ One external disk for everyday-use, once in a week I´m doing backup on a second one. After a few years both disks will be exchanged. Don´t trust anything, anytime ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted September 12, 2017 Wilfredo,from now on, why not store your most recent files on an internal drive, backed up rotationally on external drives stored in scattered places in case of fire or theft? I'm going to start doing that. Managing files has gotten very complicated. This is when I appreciate the good old days of Negatives. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted September 12, 2017 Share #11 Posted September 12, 2017 I had a similar problem. The power supply in the external enclosure failed, but the drive was fine. I took the drive out and access it now using a Hard Drive dock . I use this one, but there are other choices. https://www.startech.com/HDD/Docking/usb-3-esata-docking-station~SDOCKU33EF Now, rather than having multiple external drives for backup, I use bare drives in the dock. I store the drives in HD cases, (much like VHS tape cases) that fit the drives and provide for labeling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger1914 Posted September 12, 2017 Share #12 Posted September 12, 2017 I am also paranoid about external storage. I have recently purchased a Drobo, and have started loading it up. I use ChronoSync to create bootable backups of my SSD, one at home and one at work. Also off site backups of all photos and iTunes stuff. Time Machine goes to the Drobo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted September 14, 2017 Share #13 Posted September 14, 2017 One Drobo is not enough because the Drobo box itself can fail. (The same is true of any RAID.) The drives inside the Drobo are not readable by themselves because of the file system that is used. Drobo RAIDs are easier to reconstitute than regular RAIDS. So as David says you need a third copy of everything you can't live without that is kept off-site. $1200 to recover what can be recovered from a failed hard drive is not outrageous. It is a very labor intensive process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted September 14, 2017 Share #14 Posted September 14, 2017 3-2-1 You need three copies of your data, on at least two separate devices, and one which is offsite. The bit which often trips people up is actually performing the backup as frequently as possible. The last week's work that you haven't got round to backing up yet is usually the work that you need now! Automating the backup is the only safe way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted September 15, 2017 Share #15 Posted September 15, 2017 A couple of questions: First, is it a disk drive or an SSD? Second, if it is a disk drive, what are the exact symptoms? No noise? No spinning? Loud scratchy noise? Completely unresponsive? There MAY be ways to retrieve files depending on what is happening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 15, 2017 Share #16 Posted September 15, 2017 This is only one minor, perhaps irrelevant experience. Western Digital drives in the 90's had the wrong lubricant in their spindle bearings. Turning them on followed by a 'thump' with an open palm got them going long enough for a new backup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted September 16, 2017 Share #17 Posted September 16, 2017 What question are people providing answers to? The OP clearly states the disc won't switch on. I can understand treating it as a write only forum when we are exchanging opinions (after all, who really cares what other people think?) but a tread started with a problem description and a call for advice needs to be read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted September 16, 2017 Share #18 Posted September 16, 2017 ...The OP clearly states the disc won't switch on. .... There are many things the TO did not state and which don't follow from a disk not turning on. Attaching the disk drive to another controller, using different cables and a different power supply might be helpful. But then, it might not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 25, 2017 Share #19 Posted September 25, 2017 It's often the interface between the drive and the computer. Either the usb componentry (most often) or the power supply. Crack it open and plug the SATA drive directly into a port in your computer. Or get a Sata Drive Caddy. The only other method is taking the platters out and reading them by other means - which is expensive as you have found out. Edit - Oh others have already suggested it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted October 20, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted October 20, 2017 It's often the interface between the drive and the computer. Either the usb componentry (most often) or the power supply. Crack it open and plug the SATA drive directly into a port in your computer. Or get a Sata Drive Caddy. The only other method is taking the platters out and reading them by other means - which is expensive as you have found out. Edit - Oh others have already suggested it. Will give this a go. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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