Figure out whether you need a hardware or software fix.
Look for grinding sounds from your drive or humming that starts or stops.
These are signs that the actuator arm and discs are no longer in alignment and your drive is timing out.
If it seems as though nothing is wrong with your hard drive, it's probably time for a software fix.
Run one of the many software fixes, if you think the problem is related to software.
These programs feature on-screen directions, making it easy for you to progress through them.
If this works, you don't need to fix a physical problem.
Remove the many tiny screws that holds the drive together.
Eventually, you'll get to the innards of your drive.
Be very careful not to bend or force a piece to go where it doesn't want to.
Determine if you've set things straight.
Look to see whether anything was loose inside your external hard drive.
If you have recently dropped it or traveled with it, it is possible that something came loose.
Also check that all the arms and platters are straight and do not appear bent in any way.
If they are bent, straighten them with your hands or pliers.
Put everything back together and check that everything in your external hard drive is working properly.
Try using the external hard drive on another computer.
click start control panel administrative tools computer management device manager scroll down universal serial bus controllers you could see a yellow question / exclamation mark? ! or a red X
you will need to update/reinstall drivers right click to reinstall drivers
if you can see your usb but its not working ports(com&lpt)right click update driver
sometimes the wires inside the cable will be damaged due to bending or stretching or placing heavy equipment upon the cable
just replace the cable of the hard disk, when you plugged the external disk drive you got that windows could recognize the USB device change the cable everything should work fine again
if you can see your usb drive but its not working
ports (com&lpt) right click update driver if this fails to fix the problem
check the USB leads that attach to the motherboard usually red white green black make sure they are securely seated and have no dust build up on them dust will cause static and a lot of unforeseen problems to a computer and its parts
if it still cant be detected or If the hard drive that has failed is the same one that you are trying to recover from might the reason that you are getting this error.
This could be an issue where the part of the hard drive you are trying to access is corrupt and not accessible which would explain the reason that it would let you access the other partition.
Now I have seen cases where Malware can break the link of a Hard Drive.
So let's try a couple of steps.
Let's go back in to "Disk Management"
Lets right click on the partition that you are not able to access and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths"
Now try selecting a new Drive Letter.
This will restore the path if it has been broken.
There are also Data Recovery programs that might be very helpful to recover your important information.
Downloads to Recover Your Files and Save Your Bacon and 10 Best Free Hard Drive Utilities.
Some addition links found on Googlehttp://www.datarecoveryreview.net/
http://www.easeus.com/resource/hard-disk-data-recovery.htm
or if its a usb external drive you might need a usb 3 card installed on your computer your computer might not have enough usb output power
USB 3 card will provide more power when needed to the device to gain maximum throughput and conserve power when the device is connected but is idling
http://blog.premiumusb.com/2010/09/usb-2-0-vs-usb-3-0/
these can be purchased on Ebay cheap and easy to install
for roughly $9 or $10free postage
hope this helps
113 questions posted
Usually answered in minutes!
55 Questions
43 Questions
33 Questions
19 Questions
