Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Western Digital laptop external hard disk - fail

Feb 27, 2007 7:54AM PST

I have been using my external laptop hard disk for some time and it works brilliantly.
I lend to a friend for few minutes and now it is not working anymore.
When I plug my hard disk (usb) into my computer there is a green light and there is like 5 'cracking' sound and then the sound stops.
Windows XP manage to detect a device was plug in but nothing happens.

I plan to change the casing just in case the problem is with the IDE module that interfaces the hard disk and usb.

In the mean time, I am just wondering if anyone out there face this problem before?

If the problem is with the hard disk (physically), what can I do? Since windows can't detect it properly, it will not be possible to use any recovery software to recover the data (I suppose). Is it possible to open the hard disk and mechanically fixed it?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Quick test
Mar 1, 2007 7:37AM PST

It may or may not be your problem, if the other user had a "static hit" and caused a power failure of the USB device or its interface. You can try on yet another system and check results. -OR- try another USB device on your USB port and see if works.

tada -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
Re: Quick Test
Mar 1, 2007 9:40AM PST

Thanks.
Sounds like a fair point.
Will have it ago tomorrow.