SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help

SSJCheese · 07-18-2009, 05:24 AM

Alright, you guys have helped me before and I hope you can do it again. I have a Simple Tech 250 GB Hard Drive that, unfortunately, i dropped and cracked the case. As I tried to plug it in, it makes no new noises and it looks the same as it normally ran before the incident. The problem is, my computer nor my brother's computer will read the hard drive. I go to the Computer Management under Administrative Tools and it is listed as USB Device. The symbol is a question mark with an exclamation point in front of it. Is there any way to get my computer to read it? Will a repair shop be able to fix it? Or should I just call it quits and prenounce it dead.

P.S. I have Windows XP if that helps any, but my brother's computer has Windows Vista.

**raptor_pa** · 07-18-2009, 07:12 AM

First thing is to get the drive out of the case and mount it as an internal disk in a desktop to see if the case or the drive is the cause, Verify the drive spins up, and does it make any clicking type of noises. Once it is mounted internally, see if the drive is recognized in BIOS

**Tyree** · 07-18-2009, 08:21 AM

That drive is a 2.5 " drive so you will need an adapter to slave the drive into another PC. Or, you can purchase a Hdd to USB adapter.
I use the Apricorn but there are several other brands.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...der%20Changers

SSJCheese · 07-18-2009, 12:35 PM

Thanks guys for the help, but i have some questions about the replys. Unfortunately I am not very computer savvy.

To Raptor_pa: I am not quite sure how to mount the hard drive internally, and the search engine is not working right now, so if you could tell me how I can do that or give me a link to instructions, I would be much obliged.

To Tyree: So do these adapters allow me to run the hard drive or are they for file recovery only? And can I find these at places like Best buy or are they only found at this website.

Dblanchard1278 · 07-18-2009, 01:36 PM

"I am not quite sure how to mount the hard drive internally" that means open up your case and connect the drive to your computer. The usb addapter makes the drive like an external drive, just with out the encloser. All I saw on best buy was new enclosures

SSJCheese · 07-18-2009, 02:18 PM

Alright, I removed it from the case and connected it to the computer, but it still is not being read from the computer. There are no noises and the light to symbolize it being plugged in is still lighting up. I go to the computer management and it is labeled as USB Device.
The Device type: Other Devices
Manufacturer: Unknown
Location: 0(USB Device)

Device status:
"The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)

To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver."

**raptor_pa** · 07-18-2009, 03:08 PM

Are you still using the USB cable? You'll need to disconnect the case and attach it to one of the drive connectors inside the PC case. We want to get it completely away from USB at all for analysis.
@Tyree, Simple Tech builds a 3.5 inch 250 also, use a seagate 7200.9 series drive inside of those.

SSJCheese · 07-19-2009, 02:42 PM

Will it connect to my PC? Can I have some instructions on how to do so? I dont wanna mess up my computer aswell
.

**raptor_pa** · 07-19-2009, 07:23 PM

You will have to make the determination if it will, based on the ports on the PC and whether the drive is IDE or SATA. What is the make and model of your computer, and what is the model number on the HD inside the USB enclosure. We'll need that info to make sure.

SSJCheese · 07-19-2009, 07:47 PM

Ok, the External Hard drive Specs:
Model: HM250JI

Computer: Dell
Dimension E520(Not Sure If this is the Model Number)
Intel Core Duo Processor.

Not sure if this is enough data, if you need more let me know.

**raptor_pa** · 07-19-2009, 08:15 PM

Not the External part number, the model number of the hard drive inside the enclosure.

SSJCheese · 07-20-2009, 12:59 AM

So is that the hard drive inside my PC or on my external Hard drive.? If its for my PC, how and where do i find it?

**raptor_pa** · 07-20-2009, 05:15 AM

The drive inside the external hard drive enclosure, if you took it out of the case, the model number will be on the label of that drive, then you will need to disconnect that completely from the enclosure and mount just the hard drive internally.

SSJCheese · 07-20-2009, 01:38 PM

Ya, the Model Number for the external hard drive is HM250JI, or thats what it says. How do I mount the hard drive internally? Do I just take it outside of the case?

Also, this is the hard drive I am useing if it helps. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re.../dp/B0011Z7VAK

**raptor_pa** · 07-20-2009, 01:48 PM

We need the model number from the hard drive inside the enclosure, not the model of the external enclosure.

07-18-2009, 05:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Alright, you guys have helped me before and I hope you can do it again. I have a Simple Tech 250 GB Hard Drive that, unfortunately, i dropped and cracked the case. As I tried to plug it in, it makes no new noises and it looks the same as it normally ran before the incident. The problem is, my computer nor my brother's computer will read the hard drive. I go to the Computer Management under Administrative Tools and it is listed as USB Device. The symbol is a question mark with an exclamation point in front of it. Is there any way to get my computer to read it? Will a repair shop be able to fix it? Or should I just call it quits and prenounce it dead. P.S. I have Windows XP if that helps any, but my brother's computer has Windows Vista.

07-18-2009, 07:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help First thing is to get the drive out of the case and mount it as an internal disk in a desktop to see if the case or the drive is the cause, Verify the drive spins up, and does it make any clicking type of noises. Once it is mounted internally, see if the drive is recognized in BIOS __________________

07-18-2009, 08:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,496 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help That drive is a 2.5 " drive so you will need an adapter to slave the drive into another PC. Or, you can purchase a Hdd to USB adapter. I use the Apricorn but there are several other brands. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...der%20Changers __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

07-18-2009, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Thanks guys for the help, but i have some questions about the replys. Unfortunately I am not very computer savvy. To Raptor_pa: I am not quite sure how to mount the hard drive internally, and the search engine is not working right now, so if you could tell me how I can do that or give me a link to instructions, I would be much obliged. To Tyree: So do these adapters allow me to run the hard drive or are they for file recovery only? And can I find these at places like Best buy or are they only found at this website.

07-18-2009, 01:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dblanchard1278 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 112 OS: Win Xp Pro (SP3)-Vista home premium 64	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help "I am not quite sure how to mount the hard drive internally" that means open up your case and connect the drive to your computer. The usb addapter makes the drive like an external drive, just with out the encloser. All I saw on best buy was new enclosures

07-18-2009, 02:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Alright, I removed it from the case and connected it to the computer, but it still is not being read from the computer. There are no noises and the light to symbolize it being plugged in is still lighting up. I go to the computer management and it is labeled as USB Device. The Device type: Other Devices Manufacturer: Unknown Location: 0(USB Device) Device status: "The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28) To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver."

07-18-2009, 03:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Are you still using the USB cable? You'll need to disconnect the case and attach it to one of the drive connectors inside the PC case. We want to get it completely away from USB at all for analysis. @Tyree, Simple Tech builds a 3.5 inch 250 also, use a seagate 7200.9 series drive inside of those. __________________

07-19-2009, 02:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Will it connect to my PC? Can I have some instructions on how to do so? I dont wanna mess up my computer aswell .

07-19-2009, 07:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help You will have to make the determination if it will, based on the ports on the PC and whether the drive is IDE or SATA. What is the make and model of your computer, and what is the model number on the HD inside the USB enclosure. We'll need that info to make sure. __________________

07-19-2009, 07:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Ok, the External Hard drive Specs: Model: HM250JI Computer: Dell Dimension E520(Not Sure If this is the Model Number) Intel Core Duo Processor. Not sure if this is enough data, if you need more let me know.

07-19-2009, 08:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Not the External part number, the model number of the hard drive inside the enclosure. __________________

07-20-2009, 12:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help So is that the hard drive inside my PC or on my external Hard drive.? If its for my PC, how and where do i find it?

07-20-2009, 05:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help The drive inside the external hard drive enclosure, if you took it out of the case, the model number will be on the label of that drive, then you will need to disconnect that completely from the enclosure and mount just the hard drive internally. __________________

07-20-2009, 01:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
SSJCheese Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help Ya, the Model Number for the external hard drive is HM250JI, or thats what it says. How do I mount the hard drive internally? Do I just take it outside of the case? Also, this is the hard drive I am useing if it helps. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re.../dp/B0011Z7VAK

07-20-2009, 01:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,788 OS: XP	Re: SimpleTech Hard Drive Damage Help We need the model number from the hard drive inside the enclosure, not the model of the external enclosure. __________________