External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Printer Friendly Page
- Plusnet Community
- :
- Forum
- :
- Other forums
- :
- Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc
- :
- Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got a...
External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
21-09-2008 11:29 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
I have attached the cables , the power is on but I can't get the hard drive to run! Usually I plug it on, switch it on, hear it whizzing and its usually really easy! Can anyone get an idea if the problem is cable, or the hard drive itself?
I have noticed that the LED on the mains /ac adapter box shows a constant green light when connected and power on at the mains but when I then switch the hard drive on the light starts to flash green instead where it usually stays green!
Does it matter which type it is without gettng the box out of the attic all I know is it is a Maxtor and I believe a SATA?
One of the cables that goes into my Laptop via the USB is the same as my printer and scanner cables I have tried to change that but with no joy, as well as trying all my USBs on the laptop. The other I don't have a clue what it is called, where it goes in to the hard drive it is labled as 'DC Jack', I don't have another one to try -- it is round with little pins and a black plastic's stick, for anyone I have confused I have made a little picture attached below!
Now it is out of warranty I don't know where to turn to get it mended, if it is just a cable issue that I can buy myself that would be great, and as External Hard Drives are so popular I wondered if anyone could suggest what it might be!
Thanks for any suggestions I do appreciate the time and effort members make for us 'not so computer clevers'!!
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 1:03 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Thanks anyway peeps,
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 1:12 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
There are lots of options from an external drive through to memory sticks and even DVD.
Maybe your computer guy might be able to help you.
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 1:21 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
He took the physical drive out the enclosure and plugged it into a PC internally.
Luckily for him, the physical drive and its contents were fine .. it was the external controller at fault.
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 11:17 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 11:38 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
I took the drive into a PC shop and they told me the problem was a little plastic stick in the power cable- where it goes in to the hard drive casing had snapped off, called a PS2(apparently doesn't stand for Playstation!)-(its the end my little picture shows), and that you can't buy them seperately?? Does this sound right to anyone -It surprised me! They have managed to sell me a new casing - another £35.00 but having got it home I have found it doesn't have a cooling fan that my current one did and I specified I wanted so as I am returning it tomorrow! before I do I thought you kind people wouldn't mind me asking if anyone knows if I can just buy power cables with a PS2 end, it's a lot of money to pay if I don't need the new casing! They also told me that an idea I'd had of buying another hard drive of the same spec and with the same aluminium housing etc, so I could have 2 hard drives and swap them in the housing as and when I needed was not 'logical' and so not possible. I Just thought as my instructions for my Maxtor tell me how to connect a Hard Drive inside the casing it might mean I could use more than one? Given a new complete set isn't much more than I paid today for casing only (and tomorrow I imagine one with cooling fan will be more expensive again), it made £££'s sense to me but i am probably wrong!!?
Sorry to have to ask for help again, I try my best to find things out myself but I've made mistakes in the past doing that I don't want to repeat!
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
22-09-2008 11:53 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
I have a PS/1 (made in mid 1990's) and the connectors for non-USB keyboards and mice are still known as PS/2 connections.
I find it confusing when people refers to PS1 or PS2 and they are talking about some games gadget.
"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 3:37 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
As always, thanks to anyone who tried to help
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 3:39 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 3:42 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Quote from: Santiago Today
And every other day that you use your computer too! :mand:
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 5:01 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 5:07 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
As I am backing to DVD from the hard drive I am never sure whether I should use the Windows Vista to add files (I know that I should choose 'Mastered' format doing it that way), or use the Roxio Media Creator. Does it make much difference to how viewable the contents-mainly the Photographs become as I change laptops or want to see those with Photos on a TV-type DVD Player?
Does it make much difference?
Cheers
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 5:22 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Make sure your backups can be restored and accessed on a non-Vista PC.
Don't forget DRM problems!
If you have any super-valuable documents consider storing them additionally as attachments on something like gmail.
Content security must be considered as void though.
"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
25-09-2008 11:53 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Seems I'll be having to back up using both programs - oh joy!!
Thanks again, everyone,
I'll try to be a Good girl from now on!
Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got an ideas please???
26-09-2008 8:21 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Printer Friendly Page
- Plusnet Community
- :
- Forum
- :
- Other forums
- :
- Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc
- :
- Re: External Hard drive not working - anyone got a...