How do you retrieve data from an external hard drive if the drive was knocked off a table? It makes a whinny noise when accessing but will not show any files. Thanks for any and all suggestions.
DOES IT POWER ON? AND YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY DRIVERS AND CABLES TO CONNECT THE DEVICE TO YOUR PC?
> How do you retrieve data from an external hard drive if the drive was knocked off a table? It makes a whinny noise when accessing but will not show any files. Thanks for any and all suggestions.
I think you will have to send it off to some specialist who can deal with the platters on an individual basis. Which means your friendly, neighborhood, hard core computer geek.
[sarcasm]
But if it was me, I'd just chuck it and use the back up files. You do have your data backed up, right?[/sarcasm]
It does power on and he does have the cables but it isn't reading the drive.
He didn't have a backup file. 🙂 Lesson learned i hope.
You may get lucky. Take the case apart and make sure the cables didn't get jarred when it was dropped. Reseat them. Good luck. HD's generally don't take drops.
I'm a DIY guy, but if the data was really important, I would bring it to an expert to fix. By repeatedly powering it up, you may do further damage.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will let you know what happens.
I have 2 1TB externals......they are my backup!!
-JD-
You did inspire me to spend $100 on a 1 TB passport HD today.
> I'm a DIY guy, but if the data was really important, I would bring it to an expert to fix.
Ditto.
I've had luck by opening up the case and reseating all the connections, (at least the one ribbon connection to the hard drive)
Go for it!
