Help with hard drive

[tom4bren]

"maybe try plugging it into another machine"

Tried connecting it to laptop already (running XP) - No Go.

"It may not have a drvie letter assigned to it, which you may have to do manually."

Wouldn't let me.

"remove the HD out of its USB enclosure and hook it up to your computer as an IDE"

Next step - I'll let you know how it goes.

Backup Backup Backup Backup

[kodiak]

Ones you hook it up to your IDE or SATA vista should run chkdsk automatically on boot up. If it doesn’t fix the problem there is one other thing you can try. There’s a program called SpinRite it's the best HD recovery software I have ever seen. If you have any I.T. buddies they might have this program in there position, they can make you a SpinRite boot CD. The last time I checked SpinRite was still to expensive for the average user. It’s used mainly by data recovery firms and I.T. professionals.

[Kenny]

Ones you hook it up to your IDE or SATA vista should run chkdsk automatically on boot up. If it doesn’t fix the problem there is one other thing you can try. There’s a program called SpinRite it's the best HD recovery software I have ever seen. If you have any I.T. buddies they might have this program in there position, they can make you a SpinRite boot CD. The last time I checked SpinRite was still to expensive for the average user. It’s used mainly by data recovery firms and I.T. professionals.

Forgot about Spinrite, I've used that too with good success...

It's amazing, a zero in the wrong place in the boot sector and windows can totally ignore the drive.
So I mizspel a word, you still understand me... Windows is a retard. oops, uh-oh..

[Ldub]

So I mizspel a word, you still understand me... Windows is a retard. oops, uh-oh..

Hey...I resemble that remark !

Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk

[kodiak]

I had what seamed to be a completely unrecoverable HD I ran SpinRite on about 6 months ago. It only took 5 DAYS for the program to recover it. SpinRite can take a long time.

[nfpgasmask]

SpinRite can take a long time.

Yeah, TestDisk is the same. I think I let it run for 3 days when I did my revcovery with it.

Bart

[tom4bren]

Are Y'all trying to help me or scare me????

[kodiak]

The DVD Burner is your friend.

Backup Backup Backup Backup

[Bulldoggie]

A few weeks ago my Macbookpro was acting up, after the kids were playing with the Photobooth app. and others....
Kids do the darnedest things - "Art L"
So I did a re-boot

It would not restart.....
So I booted from the install disk, ran "Disc Tools" and could NOT repair the drive

So I erased the drive and ran the "Time machine" back-up app.
Nothing to lose
It did not take very long and almost everything was back including all the pref.
The good, nothing in itunes was lost.
All my movies were on the back-up drive.
The bad, the iPhoto Library WAS lost, (not backed-up?) I had all but a few events saved on other drives, but still hate to lose even a few memories.
I lost the Route 66 street nav app. but it saved my routes?????? just re-installed.
I lost the NG Topo maps app. but still have all the disc image data files?????

Anyway, I'm glad I took the time to add a back-up drive. (very affordable insurance)
Now I know the weak spots in my conf. of the "Time machine" app.
I'll be better prepared for the next time

[johnnyapollo]

Before you do all that there are two things to try:

1. Try a different USB cable.
2. Try a different power supply.

What happens is that the disk powers up from two sources - if either fails to supply the needed power the external will fail to boot. I've had repeated issues with my Lacie "Porsche" designed externals (both the 1TB and 0.5TB) and have had replacement power supplies sent to me from Lacie (2x on the 1TB).

-- John

[tom4bren]

1. Try a different USB cable.

Done did it - No Go. Tried firewire cable - No Go.

2. Try a different power supply.

I measured the PS voltage OK but only unloaded. I never did try it loaded.

Handing over the whole mess to an IT buddy today. We'll see what happens. He thinks the read head is TU but not crashed.