External hard disk - Toshiba 250GB TOSHIBA USB 2.0 PORTABLE EXTERNAL 25 250 GB Hard Drive

W7

First, please disconnect all USB devices and then perform the following steps:

Click "Start" button, type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) in the "Search" bar and press "Enter". Click "Continue" if necessary.

In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the Host Controller, click "Uninstall" and click "OK".

Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

Then, restart your computer and Windows 7 will reinstall all USB controllers automatically.

for xp

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 this fails to fix the problem there might not be enough usb power for it to be recognised

you might have to install a usb 3 card they are cheap and easy to install you can buy these on Ebay very cheap

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PCI-e-PCI-Express-USB3-0-Card-new-NEC-720200AF1-chipset-/330608109325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf9c7670d

$10.65 free postage

You might get these on Ebay im not sure which country you are in this might guide you to one
you could get this on Ebay if you dont have an account you will need to create one
https://scgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?RegisterEnterInfo
Add Email adress
Add Bank Acc
Add Credit Card
also add your postal adress
also add a paypal account

when you get to the paypal login page at the bottom you will see new to paypal sign up tab
paypal to create an account
paypal registration password ,bank card /credit card,phone numbers home/mobile ,email adress and a postal adress
http://www.paypal.com/

be very specific when you type in the search
always ask questions? before you make a purchase and keep the email/s for security reasons if the item arrives and its not as described

you will even see the pictures of your item so you cant make a mistake and get them home delivered

also

Downloads to Recover Your Files and Save Your Bacon and 10 Best Free Hard Drive Utilities.

Some addition links found on Google
http://www.datarecoveryreview.net/

http://www.cleverfiles.com/

http://www.easeus.com/resource/hard-disk-data-recovery.htm

hope this helps