Windows 8 How to repair an external disk

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reynald pierre

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Mar 12, 2015
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Hello
My external disk fell on the ground. And since, it did not function. It did a bip when I plug or unplug it. The light indicator does not appear. The disk is visible when I go in computer management --> "computer-manage-device manager-disk drive" but it does not appear on "disk management". I would like to know if it is possible to repair it. Thanks for your help.

Henng
 
Solution
As you've already been told, the only way to proceed is to remove the disk from it's present enclosure and test the drive by an alternate means of attaching it to a computer. You could put it in another enclosure or there are USB adapters that allow you to attach the drive to another computer.

The first step is to remove the disk from it's enclosure. We don't know what the enclosure looks like so can't offer suggestions as to how to open it. There's often screws that hold these together but sometimes they snap closed or are even glued closed. Perhaps if you posted some pictures of the enclosure someone here could tell you how to open it.

If the drive was powered up and spinning when it was dropped then it is probably dead...
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It is difficult to say exactly what might have been damaged.
If the drive's crossover electronics were damaged then you may have a perfectly good hard drive inside the enclosure. Only removing it from the current enclosure and using another means of attaching it to your computer would reveal if that is the problem or not.
If the drive itself has been physically damaged, then there is little you can do to repair that.
 
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"Only removing it from the current enclosure and using another means of attaching it to your computer would reveal if that is the problem or not".

Interesting this proposition !!! But I don't know how to do it without damaging the disk.

Regards,

Henng
 
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The drive may b e physically damaged by having the head damaging the disk itself. Dropped drives are frequently beyond do it yourself recovery.
Joe
 
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Thanks for the info. But I don't how to recover info from the disk if I cannot see it when I go to my computer since it does not light.
I wanted to buy another enclosure on ebay, but I cannot verify if it's the disk that has a physical damage or if the enclosure that misfunctions

Henng
 
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reynald pierre said:
I cannot verify if it's the disk that has a physical damage or if the enclosure that misfunctions
Click to expand...
Seems irrelevant at this point. The drive would seem to be worthless in its' present state / condition.
Maybe if you would share the specifics as to the exact Manufacturer's Name, Model Name, Model Number, a website link to the exact device, etc., someone might have some better suggestions as to what you might try to proceed.

If the device is not being recognized by Windows then it would be difficult to run any windows diagnostics against the drive like Check Disk.
Perhaps the drive manufacturer might have some suggestions or even a third party bootable diagnostic utility you might be able to use to troubleshoot the issue.
There are some commercial tools like SpinRite https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm that you may be able to use but they are not generally free.
 
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I had a communication with Technical Support of Seagate. They gave me as answer that the disks malfunctions (what I knew already) and need to be changed.
But when I plug the usb of the disk, I hear the sound of a disk that turns inside the enclosure. I tried once to hit gently the disk, the indicator light appears but at this time the name of the disk disappears in "computer- manage-device"
 
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I understand kemical. but by tapping the disk with one finger, I noticed that the indicator light of the disk functions. But I don't know how to interpret this message... Maybe a specialist could.
Henng
 
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As you've already been told, the only way to proceed is to remove the disk from it's present enclosure and test the drive by an alternate means of attaching it to a computer. You could put it in another enclosure or there are USB adapters that allow you to attach the drive to another computer.

The first step is to remove the disk from it's enclosure. We don't know what the enclosure looks like so can't offer suggestions as to how to open it. There's often screws that hold these together but sometimes they snap closed or are even glued closed. Perhaps if you posted some pictures of the enclosure someone here could tell you how to open it.

If the drive was powered up and spinning when it was dropped then it is probably dead. However, if the drive was powered off and not spinning when it was dropped there is a chance the drive is still good. It might have just been jarred loose from a connector inside. Only way to know for sure is to remove it and test it outside of the enclosure.
 
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Solution

Probably something very similar to what you have.
I would probably use my heat gun to defeat the adhesive and my case opener tools that I use for phone repairs, but the guy gets it done with just a screw driver so it's doable with a little patience and perseverance.

Looks like you may have the one with the upgradeable USB interface so you'll probably want to pop that off before you start the opening project.
This video shows how
Starts at about 3 minutes and 30 seconds or so.
OR
That may be the part that was damaged when it was dropped. Anything is possible.
 
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Hello Trouble,
... I finally made the test.
That was the second video that worked...
... I took off the section where the usb is plugged... As I have a second external disk quite similar, I changed the section "usb" (I put the one of the right disk over the bad disk and vice versa). I noticed then 3 things:
1- the section usb of the bad disk functions correctly on my second external disk)
2- the section usb in the right disk could not make the bad disk function. Sometimes the light blinked and I heard a bad sound (as a disk that does not turn correctly)
3- When the light of the bad disk blinked, the name of the bad disk disappears under "Computer --> Manage ---> device manager --> drive". But when the indicator light is turn off, the name of the bad disk appears correctly under "Computer --> Manage ---> device manager --> drive". and I receive the message that the drive is up to date when I make update driver. Or the message that the disk functions correctly.

Regards,

Henng
 
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I already ordered another Seagate disk (one of 2 TB). But I expect to find a solution with the disk damaged, since I continue to receive the message that the disk functions correctly.

Henng
 
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