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General discussion

Portable HDD

Jan 5, 2011 2:46AM PST

I built my own portable HDD using a USB-sATA enclosure and a sATA 2.5 inch HDD. It works very well for almost 2 yrs but it recently stop to work. I just checked that the electronics on the case is OK but the HDD doesn't spin in the way that it use to do. When it works fine it had a continous noise like a jet... now it has an intermitent noise. It seems that it try to accelerate but it can't, then the computer doesn't recognize the disk. Is there similar experiences, and most important: How to repair it, at least one time to recover the data?

Discussion is locked

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I would say, as a guess
Jan 5, 2011 3:23AM PST

that the drive is failing and whilst you can I would copy all the contents off before it fails entirely.

What can be done? I'm no expert but I doubt it is economical to have it repaired. Drives do fail and when they do we just replace them.

You say you tested the electronics but a better test may be to attach the hdd to some other enclosure and see if it spins up properly and if the system can read it.

I hope this wasn't your only copy of your data.

Mark

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Portable HDD
Jan 5, 2011 5:11AM PST

I already tested it in different PCs. I am more interested in recuperate certain files that I created in the last days before it failed. I saw some videos (in CNet) about general HDD reparations. I am looking for an specific method to temporarily fix this problem in order to recuperate the files. I'm almost sure it can be done.
- Maybe some expert could advise me about it having in mind that the diagnostic is that the disk motor does not permanentely rotate.
- I also have the impresion that this problem happen or is related to the fact that some time these external USB drives (enclosures) get disconected accidentally from the PC without turn the drive off from Windows.

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If you check the Cnet Storage Forum
Jan 5, 2011 5:15AM PST

We always try this USB encased HDD in some other USB enclosure or a desktop just in case the USB case has failed.

The Cnet Storage Forum also lists data recovery houses.
Bob