[SOLVED] Hard drive is lost

ervand · 04-10-2008, 03:06 AM

Hello,

I have Western Digital WD500AAKS internal hard drive.
It just stopped working. When ever I try to explore it - it gives me this error:
"E:\ is not accessible.
The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error."

I have too much stuff on this drive to end up formating it. ALL my media, family pictures, huge music library that I spent hours editing tags and correct album arts!!

This drive is SATA and my computer is using IDE ports. Hopefully it is an adapter that got burned out, but how can I find out which one is it(adapter, or the actual hard drive)?

Here is something else:

As you can see the "E:" drive doesn't work. Over there it used to say "500 GB (E:)", but not that something is corrupted it only sayd " E:"

PS:
I did not "reinstall Windows, or move slave/external drive, or move any drives from one computer to another". So I guess this topic is not an option. Even though I just said that I went ahead and tried to do it (just in case you guys start screaming at me ) and here is what I got:

It was like that for about 15 minutes now and it only got to 7/64600: 00%. I am going to sleep now and see what is going to happen in the morning, but I don't think it looks promising.

Any thoughts or ideas?
I would really appreciate it.
SAVE ME!

**Deleted090308** · 04-10-2008, 03:50 AM

Hi

Sounds like a faulty adapter (I/O error).
What kind of adapter are you using?
To check the HDD for errors you'll need a functioning interface - a controller card or an external enclosure.
The interface adapters are too "wonky", IMHO.

ervand · 04-10-2008, 12:09 PM

Thanks for your attention.

Can you suggest me a good quality one on newegg?
I was using this one
It was very lousy. The end that sticks into the hard drive isn't held by anything and it would always come out, so I would always have to reboot my computer to stick it back in. I don't think that's good for the hard drive and that's probably why it got burned out.

This one looks like it might be a better one. I am not really into hardware, can you tell me what else I need if I decide to go with this one?

Or if you have a better suggestion, can you please give me a link?

I would really appreciate it.

**Deleted090308** · 04-10-2008, 01:12 PM

I wouldn't get that adapter - it looks very unreliable.

A controller card is better: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816102061

... or an external enclosure: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145029

ervand · 04-10-2008, 01:53 PM

Is there anything a little cheaper? See, I have an old computer right now, but I am building a new system, so I don't want to buy something that I am going to through away in a month or so... yet I need to buy something to use my hard drive right now, because I need to use it urgently and I can't wait till I get a new system.

**Deleted090308** · 04-10-2008, 02:02 PM

There are cheaper controller cards, but I wouldn't trust them.

There are cheaper enclosures as well - just be sure it has its own power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7131&name=SATA

But, the "simple" adapters...

ervand · 04-10-2008, 06:57 PM

Well, after justifying I thought that I would need to invest....
Before I do, can you pleeeeease answer this following 5 questions?

1. I was browsing and I figured that I like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817716050
reasons are because it has hot swap and plug&play features. I also like the fan (because my drive, does get hot). Do you think it is good enough or this one was a better quality
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145029

2. Another questions is how save are external enclosures? I had an external hard drive and it got damaged in 1 month. Never got a chance to fix it and all my data was lost.

3. Is it more common for externals to brake more? If yes, then how risky is it to keep data on one?

4. is it safer to get Controller Card to be safe?

5. How do "hot swap" and "plug & play" features work?

Thanks..

**Deleted090308** · 04-11-2008, 02:01 AM

1. I'd choose the Thermaltake - it has good customer reviews too.
All external enclosures are plug & play and hot swappable, AFAIK.

2. You always have to be careful with HDDs - most of them get damaged by blows when they're dropped etc. A bad power supply can zap a HDD, of course. Pay a little more for quality and less worries.

3. Yes, I'd say external HDDs are more accident prone (see above), but most of the time data can be recovered quite easily.

4. A controller card is better, IMHO. With the HDD inside the case it won't drop on the floor, cables/connections don't break etc.

5. Plug and play = the device is recognized and installed by Windows when you plug it in.
Hot swap = the drive can be plugged in / disconnected without shutting the computer down.

ervand · 04-11-2008, 12:40 PM

"NO HOT SWAP support. You'll need to boot the PC with it on."

"This enclosure is not hot swapable. You must use the safely remove hardware button before turning it off, and it is not detected unless it is on at bootup."

That's what in people say about Thermaltake. and that's exactly how I messed up my old external hard drive! I never dropped it or something. I was taking a usb out of a computer with out "removing it safely".

I am not sure what to get now.

**Deleted090308** · 04-11-2008, 12:51 PM

Yes - if it's connected using eSATA - not if using USB.

Do you have eSATA connections?

The ThermalTake has an eSATA bracket included - connected via the bracket it should be hot swappable.

ervand · 04-11-2008, 01:04 PM

No, I don't have an eSATA connection in my motherboard.
I only have IDE and this hard drive is SATA, that's why I need something like an adapter to adapt it.
It is not like I don't have space inside and that's why I am looking for something to connect 5th hard drive =)

**Deleted090308** · 04-11-2008, 01:11 PM

OK. Well, I still think the ThermalTake is the best choice.
If/when you get a new computer/motherboard you'll have the eSATA bracket.

ervand · 05-23-2008, 01:09 PM

Well, I bought this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817716018

So far I am VERY satisfied with it.

I just have one question. When I turn my computer off. Do I have to "safely remove hardware"? Or I only need to do it when my computer is running and I want to swap another drive while it is running?

04-10-2008, 03:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	[SOLVED] Hard drive is lost Hello, I have Western Digital WD500AAKS internal hard drive. It just stopped working. When ever I try to explore it - it gives me this error: "E:\ is not accessible. The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error." I have too much stuff on this drive to end up formating it. ALL my media, family pictures, huge music library that I spent hours editing tags and correct album arts!! This drive is SATA and my computer is using IDE ports. Hopefully it is an adapter that got burned out, but how can I find out which one is it(adapter, or the actual hard drive)? Here is something else: As you can see the "E:" drive doesn't work. Over there it used to say "500 GB (E:)", but not that something is corrupted it only sayd " E:" PS: I did not "reinstall Windows, or move slave/external drive, or move any drives from one computer to another". So I guess this topic is not an option. Even though I just said that I went ahead and tried to do it (just in case you guys start screaming at me ) and here is what I got: It was like that for about 15 minutes now and it only got to 7/64600: 00%. I am going to sleep now and see what is going to happen in the morning, but I don't think it looks promising. Any thoughts or ideas? I would really appreciate it. SAVE ME! Last edited by ervand; 04-10-2008 at 03:27 AM.

04-10-2008, 03:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost Hi Sounds like a faulty adapter (I/O error). What kind of adapter are you using? To check the HDD for errors you'll need a functioning interface - a controller card or an external enclosure. The interface adapters are too "wonky", IMHO.

04-10-2008, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost Thanks for your attention. Can you suggest me a good quality one on newegg? I was using this one It was very lousy. The end that sticks into the hard drive isn't held by anything and it would always come out, so I would always have to reboot my computer to stick it back in. I don't think that's good for the hard drive and that's probably why it got burned out. This one looks like it might be a better one. I am not really into hardware, can you tell me what else I need if I decide to go with this one? Or if you have a better suggestion, can you please give me a link? I would really appreciate it.

04-10-2008, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost I wouldn't get that adapter - it looks very unreliable. A controller card is better: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816102061 ... or an external enclosure: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145029

04-10-2008, 01:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost Is there anything a little cheaper? See, I have an old computer right now, but I am building a new system, so I don't want to buy something that I am going to through away in a month or so... yet I need to buy something to use my hard drive right now, because I need to use it urgently and I can't wait till I get a new system.

04-10-2008, 02:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost There are cheaper controller cards, but I wouldn't trust them. There are cheaper enclosures as well - just be sure it has its own power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7131&name=SATA But, the "simple" adapters...

04-10-2008, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost Well, after justifying I thought that I would need to invest.... Before I do, can you pleeeeease answer this following 5 questions? 1. I was browsing and I figured that I like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817716050 reasons are because it has hot swap and plug&play features. I also like the fan (because my drive, does get hot). Do you think it is good enough or this one was a better quality http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145029 2. Another questions is how save are external enclosures? I had an external hard drive and it got damaged in 1 month. Never got a chance to fix it and all my data was lost. 3. Is it more common for externals to brake more? If yes, then how risky is it to keep data on one? 4. is it safer to get Controller Card to be safe? 5. How do "hot swap" and "plug & play" features work? Thanks.. Last edited by ervand; 04-10-2008 at 06:59 PM.

04-11-2008, 02:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost 1. I'd choose the Thermaltake - it has good customer reviews too. All external enclosures are plug & play and hot swappable, AFAIK. 2. You always have to be careful with HDDs - most of them get damaged by blows when they're dropped etc. A bad power supply can zap a HDD, of course. Pay a little more for quality and less worries. 3. Yes, I'd say external HDDs are more accident prone (see above), but most of the time data can be recovered quite easily. 4. A controller card is better, IMHO. With the HDD inside the case it won't drop on the floor, cables/connections don't break etc. 5. Plug and play = the device is recognized and installed by Windows when you plug it in. Hot swap = the drive can be plugged in / disconnected without shutting the computer down. Last edited by Deleted090308; 04-11-2008 at 02:02 AM.

04-11-2008, 12:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost "NO HOT SWAP support. You'll need to boot the PC with it on." "This enclosure is not hot swapable. You must use the safely remove hardware button before turning it off, and it is not detected unless it is on at bootup." That's what in people say about Thermaltake. and that's exactly how I messed up my old external hard drive! I never dropped it or something. I was taking a usb out of a computer with out "removing it safely". I am not sure what to get now. Last edited by ervand; 04-11-2008 at 12:50 PM.

04-11-2008, 12:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost Yes - if it's connected using eSATA - not if using USB. Do you have eSATA connections? The ThermalTake has an eSATA bracket included - connected via the bracket it should be hot swappable.

04-11-2008, 01:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost No, I don't have an eSATA connection in my motherboard. I only have IDE and this hard drive is SATA, that's why I need something like an adapter to adapt it. It is not like I don't have space inside and that's why I am looking for something to connect 5th hard drive =)

04-11-2008, 01:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive is lost OK. Well, I still think the ThermalTake is the best choice. If/when you get a new computer/motherboard you'll have the eSATA bracket.

05-23-2008, 01:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
ervand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 208 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 My System	Re: Hard drive is lost Well, I bought this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817716018 So far I am VERY satisfied with it. I just have one question. When I turn my computer off. Do I have to "safely remove hardware"? Or I only need to do it when my computer is running and I want to swap another drive while it is running?