My 2tb Hitachi External Harddrive was dropped about 2 feet..now my computer says it must be formatted to use and wont format it..Is there any way In can recover the data in it without taking it to someone that will charge me out the rear end to do it..Hopefully something I can do myself? Or some way I can get it to recognize the data?

open the case , take out the drive , attache it to a computer internally ,youll need a cable or borrow you cd's cable, turn drive on in the bios to see drive ,save , boot an let windows load it , now does it come up as a drive letter an can you scan fix it . right clik that letter , properties , scan an fix. now thats assuming the drives have windows compatible sectoring an software that formatted it for your data to hold on it.
if you get an error before you get into windows then the drive has likely died in one of many ways.

Thanks for asking your question on Fixya. ;-)
What error messages are you seeing, if any? Does Apple OS recognize it at all? Also, did you format the drive on a windows computer? How about deleting the partition and plug it back into the macbook so the macbook can set it up for you. If you plug it into the windows machine, what messages did you get from that?

You probably have a messed up partition table. You can download the hiren boot cd and use the linux rescue environment. Once loaded use Gparted to create a new partition table and format the drive. If that doesn't work there is a low level format tool under the first menu on the hiren disc

There is no internal power supply. The unit gets it's power from the computer. A USB port has 5 Volts DC.

Inside that external enclosure of the IOmega external harddrive is just an ordinary harddrive as used in a desktop computer. A SATA harddrive.

The harddrive plugs into a small circuit board with an interface on it, or there are cables, (wires), which come from the circuit board, and plug into the back of the harddrive.

It is this small circuit board that is usually the problem.
The solution to this problem is to simply just buy an economical external enclosure, and install the harddrive out of the IOmega into it.

Just one example from a quick search for an economical SATA 3.5 external enclosure,
(Note*
A laptop harddrive is 2.5 inches across in width. 2 and 1/2 inches.
A desktop harddrive is 3.5),

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

Have additional questions or need clarification to what I have stated, please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

Right click My Computer > Manage > Disk Management.You can format your drive and assign a drive letter there.

1) Power:

It may be the problem that occurs with a lot of USB powered devices jrherrer. Not enough power provided.

The USB cable plugged into the computer, provides signal wires for transferring information back, and forth, and also provides 5 Volts DC for power. (Two D cell flashlight batteries produce 3 Volts DC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

[ Below shows the Signal pins, and the Voltage pins of the USB B Mini style connector, (Male), used to connect to the SimpleDrive Mini external harddrive,

Pin 1 is for the 5 Volts DC Positive (Wire color - Red)
Pin 2 is for the D- Signal (Wire color - White)
Pin 3 is for the D+ Signal (Wire color - Green)
Pin 4 is not connected. (Or sometimes joined to Pin 5 with a Resistor)
Pin 5 is for the Ground (Wire color - Black)

Just added info in case you wanted to know ]

From what I see the SDM/250RW has a USB port on the side, and a DC Power Jack, used for an AC adapter, also.
(Round port with a pin in the center)

http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/0C876B7AB91B23988825773F006BEA02/$file/SD_Mini_DS_final.pdf


From what I see stated from Hitachi, and sellers on the 'net, the AC adapter may not be provided.
Many of those who provide a review state that both the USB cable, and the AC adapter is needed to provide enough power. Seems to be a power hungry external harddrive

It's a 2.5 Hitachi SATA laptop harddrive inside that external case. (The Harddrive is 2 and a half inches across in Width. Common size used for laptops)

When using an external device powered by a USB cable there are general guidelines to follow,
A) The USB cable should not be more than 2 feet in length
B) Connect the device directly to your computer, instead of through a hub, or other device, unless the USB hub has it's own power.


2) USB cable:

Could be a faulty USB cable, although I imagine you have tried different ones by now.


3) Interface Circuit Board:

The Hitachi SATA 2.5 harddrive inside the SImpleDrive Mini SDM/250RW, plugs into a small circuit board located inside that external case.

Components on the circuit board may be fried, or the Harddrive may have come loose from the interface.

Loose from the interface
To explain;
The back of the harddrive has connector pins sticking out.
The interface has socket holes which the pins insert into.

Faulty circuit board
The external case of the SimpleDrive Mini SDM/250RW can be carefully opened up, and the Hitachi SATA 2.5 harddrive extracted out.

Another inexpensive external case for a 2.5 SATA harddrive can be procured, and the Hitachi harddrive put in it.

Example of a 2.5 SATA external enclosure,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3743049&CatId=2781

Go to your control panel open up 'administrative tools' Open Computer management, then choose disc management instead of device manager. Make sure that you have the drives pluged in and connected before you do that. All connected drives formatted or not that are in working order should show up under disc management. If they are not showing up they are not compatable. Make sure that they are marked as active and format them if they need to be formatted. Do so by right clicking on the drive in the disc management window.

When the drive is plugged into the computer, right click on the USB drive in My Computer, and select format. THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON THE DRIVE OU SELECT! Be careful...