External Hard Drive won't open

Shisno · 12-16-2008, 05:52 PM

Hello everyone,

I am new to the site (as I am sure most people who come around here to post are) and I was hoping I could get some help.

Recently I was transfering some files to my external hard drive and it was taking a while (10gb worth of data) so I left for a while... when I came back there was an error that occured while transfering, and none of the files that did transfer would work (They were video files, if that helps). So I deleted the non-working files from the hard drive, and it kinda froze. now I can't open the hard drive at all... On my computer when I plug it in it still makes the noise that it is detecting it, but it won't show up on my computer.

I tried plugging it into a computer running vista, and it shows up... but when you try to open it or right click on it explorer freezes and then crashes.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? I have tried running chkdsk on it on the vista computer, but when I type in the command chkdsk h: a new window pops up for a second then dissapears... I have no idea what to do.

If someone could help me here I would greatly appreciate it, and if you need any more info please let me know!

**raptor_pa** · 12-16-2008, 06:25 PM

Try mhdd to test the disk and surface then testdisk - sticky here on how to run it and see what it finds. Any idea what the hard drive model # is inside the enclosure?

Shisno · 12-16-2008, 06:37 PM

No idea what the hard drive model # is... All that I can tell you is that it is a kaser 'storage vault' 120gb...

Its not my hard drive (my gf's) her sister is running ZAR 8.3 on it right now to see if it comes up with anything (I have no idea what the program is... she apparently found it on some other site)

If that doesn't do anything I'll try the mhdd and testdisk you mentioned

Shisno · 12-17-2008, 08:33 AM

UPDATE:

Zar worked, although it took a loooong time... problem is its only a trial version which only lets your recover a few files. Are there any free programs that will do data recovery?

If not, are there any specific programs people would recommend?

**raptor_pa** · 12-17-2008, 09:43 AM

You could try photorec and see if it works. Looked at Zar and the price isn't too bad, if it worked it is well worth it. Recoveries are slow, particularly if the file system is damaged. R-Studio is a little cheaper at I believe $49 for the single file system version

Shisno · 12-17-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor_pa

You could try photorec and see if it works. Looked at Zar and the price isn't too bad, if it worked it is well worth it. Recoveries are slow, particularly if the file system is damaged. R-Studio is a little cheaper at I believe $49 for the single file system version

I just aquired a full version of GetDataBack for FAT drives... its running right now.

I will update this thread once it is done to let everyone know whether or not it worked.

Thanks everyone for your help so far!

Shisno · 12-18-2008, 07:01 PM

Ok, Get data back recovered all the files.. so it seems anyway.

Almost everything doesn't work, there are some videos and documents that will open... but none of the pictures open and same with most of the video files. Haven't tried any autocad files yet (The program is on my other comp) but I can assume they dont work either.

No error message is given when I try to open the pictures, and the videos that dont work play some wierd techno song, I have no idea why.

Is there any way to get these files to work? or are they lost?
would a different recovery program have any different luck? or would bringing it to a proffesional be best?

**raptor_pa** · 12-18-2008, 07:14 PM

I assume you restored to another disk, not the disk that was having errors. You could try another recovery program, R-studio is probably my favorite. If that doesn't work then yeah professional recovery is in order, and that would not be the local computer shop :) a recovery specialist is who you would need.

trikz · 12-22-2008, 07:42 AM

I have encountered the same problem. My kaser Vault 120gb. When it oots up the blue light at the back jus flashes a few ties an then stop. everytime i go to acces the vault the blue libghts starts to clik again. it says all my files are their but i have no acces to them. ay idea what i should do? i have alot of filez probably 80gb of importat files on it. i would hate to lose it. please help

khanbai4u · 05-14-2009, 01:51 PM

hello

i have a problem with my external. i tink its something similar *shison*..

when i plug in my external and i press the power button. the computer detected the external nose.

the driver [E] pops up an when i click on it..it freezes on me..and if i right click on it..it freezes on me also!

any idea what may be the cause for that?

also i have tryed my external on 3 other computers and its the same problem.it freezes on me!

so can anyone please help me on this?

you can email me or add me on msn... deejay_khan@hotmail.com or aim... KHANBAI4U

**raptor_pa** · 05-14-2009, 04:54 PM

Hi khanbai, remove the drive from the enclosure and connect it directly to a PC and see if it opens. If not first step will be test_disk as in this sticky Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer? We prefer to keep support in the open forum so the answers are ssearchable for other users. Also, please start a new thread so we can provide support specific to your issue.
Thanks!

khanbai4u · 05-15-2009, 10:16 AM

well i did removed the hard drive from the case..and it still wont open. everytime it comes up on my computer. an i click on it..it freezes on me. i dont noe whats the cause of that. i will try to run the test disk part now.an i will update you on this topic...btw can the test disk program works with windows vista home premium?

12-16-2008, 05:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shisno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	External Hard Drive won't open Hello everyone, I am new to the site (as I am sure most people who come around here to post are) and I was hoping I could get some help. Recently I was transfering some files to my external hard drive and it was taking a while (10gb worth of data) so I left for a while... when I came back there was an error that occured while transfering, and none of the files that did transfer would work (They were video files, if that helps). So I deleted the non-working files from the hard drive, and it kinda froze. now I can't open the hard drive at all... On my computer when I plug it in it still makes the noise that it is detecting it, but it won't show up on my computer. I tried plugging it into a computer running vista, and it shows up... but when you try to open it or right click on it explorer freezes and then crashes. Is there anything I can do to fix this? I have tried running chkdsk on it on the vista computer, but when I type in the command chkdsk h: a new window pops up for a second then dissapears... I have no idea what to do. If someone could help me here I would greatly appreciate it, and if you need any more info please let me know!

12-16-2008, 06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 2,788 OS: XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open Try mhdd to test the disk and surface then testdisk - sticky here on how to run it and see what it finds. Any idea what the hard drive model # is inside the enclosure?

12-16-2008, 06:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shisno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open No idea what the hard drive model # is... All that I can tell you is that it is a kaser 'storage vault' 120gb... Its not my hard drive (my gf's) her sister is running ZAR 8.3 on it right now to see if it comes up with anything (I have no idea what the program is... she apparently found it on some other site) If that doesn't do anything I'll try the mhdd and testdisk you mentioned

12-17-2008, 08:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shisno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open UPDATE: Zar worked, although it took a loooong time... problem is its only a trial version which only lets your recover a few files. Are there any free programs that will do data recovery? If not, are there any specific programs people would recommend?

12-17-2008, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 2,788 OS: XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open You could try photorec and see if it works. Looked at Zar and the price isn't too bad, if it worked it is well worth it. Recoveries are slow, particularly if the file system is damaged. R-Studio is a little cheaper at I believe $49 for the single file system version __________________

12-18-2008, 07:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Shisno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open Ok, Get data back recovered all the files.. so it seems anyway. Almost everything doesn't work, there are some videos and documents that will open... but none of the pictures open and same with most of the video files. Haven't tried any autocad files yet (The program is on my other comp) but I can assume they dont work either. No error message is given when I try to open the pictures, and the videos that dont work play some wierd techno song, I have no idea why. Is there any way to get these files to work? or are they lost? would a different recovery program have any different luck? or would bringing it to a proffesional be best?

12-18-2008, 07:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 2,788 OS: XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open I assume you restored to another disk, not the disk that was having errors. You could try another recovery program, R-studio is probably my favorite. If that doesn't work then yeah professional recovery is in order, and that would not be the local computer shop :) a recovery specialist is who you would need. __________________

12-22-2008, 07:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
trikz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1 OS: wondows xp	Re: External Hard Drive won't open I have encountered the same problem. My kaser Vault 120gb. When it oots up the blue light at the back jus flashes a few ties an then stop. everytime i go to acces the vault the blue libghts starts to clik again. it says all my files are their but i have no acces to them. ay idea what i should do? i have alot of filez probably 80gb of importat files on it. i would hate to lose it. please help

05-14-2009, 01:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
khanbai4u Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista	Re: External Hard Drive won't open hello i have a problem with my external. i tink its something similar shison.. when i plug in my external and i press the power button. the computer detected the external nose. the driver [E] pops up an when i click on it..it freezes on me..and if i right click on it..it freezes on me also! any idea what may be the cause for that? also i have tryed my external on 3 other computers and its the same problem.it freezes on me! so can anyone please help me on this? you can email me or add me on msn... deejay_khan@hotmail.com or aim... KHANBAI4U

05-14-2009, 04:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 2,788 OS: XP	Re: External Hard Drive won't open Hi khanbai, remove the drive from the enclosure and connect it directly to a PC and see if it opens. If not first step will be test_disk as in this sticky Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer? We prefer to keep support in the open forum so the answers are ssearchable for other users. Also, please start a new thread so we can provide support specific to your issue. Thanks! __________________

05-15-2009, 10:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
khanbai4u Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista	Re: External Hard Drive won't open well i did removed the hard drive from the case..and it still wont open. everytime it comes up on my computer. an i click on it..it freezes on me. i dont noe whats the cause of that. i will try to run the test disk part now.an i will update you on this topic...btw can the test disk program works with windows vista home premium?