Computer advice?

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Lepplady

Lepplady

Chillin' since 2006
Nov 30, 2006
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Red Stick
My external drive stopped spinning. My computer won't even read that it's there. I hear this is common among Seagate externals. Some folks say this is the kiss of death and that all my work is gone. Others say there are tricks to get it working again, from running some sort of magic software to Emergency Repair Procedure #1... hit it. Still others say that it's possible to remove the drive from the case, hook it up to another case or a docking SATA port and get my information that way.
Looks great on paper, but there are so many different suggestions, it's confusing.
Is there anybody around here that's way smarter and much more informed than I am that can tell me which avenue to pursue? I'm fairly clueless, here.
 
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GNTLGNT

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Cambridge, Ohio
Lepplady said:
My external drive stopped spinning. My computer won't even read that it's there. I hear this is common among Seagate externals. Some folks say this is the kiss of death and that all my work is gone. Others say there are tricks to get it working again, from running some sort of magic software to Emergency Repair Procedure #1... hit it. Still others say that it's possible to remove the drive from the case, hook it up to another case or a docking SATA port and get my information that way.
Looks great on paper, but there are so many different suggestions, it's confusing.
Is there anybody around here that's way smarter and much more informed than I am that can tell me which avenue to pursue? I'm fairly clueless, here.
Click to expand...
...Hossnpepper is a computer whiz...if you approach him carefully with a huge possum burrito as a bribe-he might just help you out...
 
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ghost19

ghost19

"Have I run too far to get home?"
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If you have access to a SATA to USB cable, you might take the drive out of its case and see if it will boot hooked directly to the USB to SATA cable plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer. Depending on what kind of computer, the front USB ports may not provide enough power to boot a drive using a SATA cable.
 
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FlakeNoir

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
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ghost19 said:
If you have access to a SATA to USB cable, you might take the drive out of its case and see if it will boot hooked directly to the USB to SATA cable plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer. Depending on what kind of computer, the front USB ports may not provide enough power to boot a drive using a SATA cable.
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry, Ghost... I should have added you to my attn notice above...
 
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Lepplady

Lepplady

Chillin' since 2006
Nov 30, 2006
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Red Stick
ghost19 said:
If you have access to a SATA to USB cable, you might take the drive out of its case and see if it will boot hooked directly to the USB to SATA cable plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer. Depending on what kind of computer, the front USB ports may not provide enough power to boot a drive using a SATA cable.
Click to expand...
I'm working from a laptop. But my tall guy has a tower.
Now all I need is the SATA thingy... do they have those at Radio Shack?
 
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morgan

morgan

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2010
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ghost19 said:
If you have access to a SATA to USB cable, you might take the drive out of its case and see if it will boot hooked directly to the USB to SATA cable plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer. Depending on what kind of computer, the front USB ports may not provide enough power to boot a drive using a SATA cable.
Click to expand...

God bless you tech savvy people! When I read this post, this is what I heard in my head...

 
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Jordan

Jordan

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You can try removing your drive from its enclosure and plugging it in via USB through something like this. It is possible that the power supply for the enclosure has gone bad, in which case, this solution would allow you to access your data.

You probably don't want to open the hard drive itself (unless you're very handy with electronics). If there is something mechanically wrong with the drive, you can send it off for data recovery (though this service is quite expensive).

The important thing to remember is that all hard drives go bad. It's only a matter of time. Burning to disc (CD, DVD, Blu-ray) has a theoretical lifespan of 100 years (provided the disc doesn't get physically damaged). Most hard drives die within 4 years (even SSDs).
 
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Lepplady

Lepplady

Chillin' since 2006
Nov 30, 2006
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Red Stick
I've only had about a thousand people tell me "You should have backed your files up." Yes. I realize that now. Should have, and forever will after this. I just hope any of this works and I get those files back.

I talked to my daughter (the Walmart associate) and she says they have such a thing. She'll make sure it's compatible and let me know.
 
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GNTLGNT

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Lepplady said:
Appropriate, since my drive is shot to hell.
Click to expand...
...true dat...
the-devil-250x173.jpg
 
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skimom2

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
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USA
I'm having computer issues too-lappie comes on (I can hear it running), but nothing on the screen. Sadly, I'm a complete technodork, and I'm stiss hearing Charlie Brown teacher voice here. Simple question: has anyone ever had a lappie fixed, and is it worth the cost? I've been in mourning, as I have most of a manuscript sitting in a folder on the desktop. I do back up, but just that day had moved it from my flash to the desktop to reformat :(. Struggling on with the ancient desktop, but it's sorely out of date. I HAVE A SAD.
 
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