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Question

External HD is not recognized

by Sep 1, 2013 6:41AM PDT

Hi All,

I have a Maxtor basics desktop storage external HD.
I work on Win 7, Packard Bell Easy note Tx 86.

From time to time windows fails to recognize the maxtor storage.
I can see the an "Unkown device" item pops out in the Device manager for few seconds and then disappears.
Of course, I cannnot see the drive on My Computer.

Can you help please?

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Answer
Re: external drive
by Forum moderator Sep 1, 2013 6:51AM PDT

The first thing to try: put the drive in a new enclosure. Might work. If not, throw the drive away and buy a new one. Nothing lost, except some money and the data you didn't copy before it failed totally.

Kees

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Answer
Rererererepeat.
by Forum moderator Sep 1, 2013 6:59AM PDT
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Answer
Typical help advise....
by Sep 2, 2013 2:50AM PDT

If you get this ext. HD working again even for a short time, save your important data as best as possible. The tips. hints, clues and fixes for ext. HDs are listed in the storage forum *sticky post*:

http://forums.cnet.com/storage-forum/

The often repeated advise is well known and can help. However, a true h/w fault usually can't be fixed by the user other than replacing the ext. USB case or the HD itself. If you have warranty, use it provided you can save your dat, if not as least you have a repaired ext. HD returned.

tada -----Willy Happy

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HD
by dadangseks Sep 2, 2013 5:14PM PDT

yeah, sometimes the external hard drive can not be read like a computer because some brands are not suitable or good enough

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Ext. drives
by Willy Sep 2, 2013 10:09PM PDT

While any brand can fall victim to being unresponsive, I can't blame brand-X for now isn't worth being sold. While popular models being sold in large numbers may yet a large order of failure if only because they found on many PCs. The real plain truth are that ext. drives themselves are prone to failure sooner or later. Which is why it is often repeated here NOT to allow ext. drives becomes the *sole back-up* or treated as being safe from failure. Even in this regard ext. drives still offer valued service it just shouldn't be for long periods, though I'm certain many are happy with what they have as it does the job intended.

tada -----Willy Happy

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