External Hard Drive Question

[ashliefreed]

Hi there! Figured maybe someone could help me figure this out. I have an external hard drive that has NEVER given me any issues, and all of a sudden my computer won't recognize it. The lights on the external light up like it's working and the computer makes the little noise it always does when I connect the usb cord. Thoughts anyone??
Thanks in advance.

[SeattleSheri]

Every once in a while mine does that too, so I usually just turn it on and off to see of that works. Unfortunately, EHDs are just as susceptible to failure as regular HDs. Hopefully you get it to recognize it! Good luck!

[NeverendingJen]

I usually reboot my computer, unplug it, try another port, etc. or even another usb cable. EHD's are susceptible to failure too, so it's really important to keep a complete backup of it as well. good luck getting it working!

[ashliefreed]

Thanks for the advice! I have none of what is on there backed up :( boooooo!!! I didn't think I would need to back up my back up, unfortunately I used it to store all my digital scrapbook stuff, all my pictures.....If I think about it too much I really want to cry. We have a friend who does computer stuff, I'm hoping he can possibly recover the files.

[Chels85]

yeah mine does that, make sure the usb cord is plugged in both ways, sometime it gets loose, and also unplug it, wait a few mins then plug it back in. See if that works

[Nikki Epperson]

I really need to get another EHD and get my stuff backed up there, too. I have one that is almost full and it's got nearly everything on it. I don't keep too much on my laptop and the desktop was just to slow to hold anything else.

I hope you can get it to work or at the very least, get your files recovered!

[ashliefreed]

I took the EHD to a computer store today, to see if they could get my files off. After much time trying to get the computer to recognize it, it just wasn't working. I'm praying they can recover the files and..... I don't lose 2 years worth of pictures and ALL my digital stuff.

[Arual]

Ashlie, Im so sorry to hear this! Ugh, makes ya just wanna scream doesn't it! I've had this happen before.

Have you thought about doing an online backup service? I don't keep anything, for the most part, on my mac itself, everything is on a 1.5TB EHD, so if i lost my EHD, I'd lose everything!! So I use an online backup service and I feel much better now, it's worth the 50 bucks a year to me. Just be sure if you do this, that you check with the service to be sure that it will back up EHD as well, as many do not. Backblaze does, and so do a couple others.

[lizj]

Crashplan is another good online service, and they will back up from an EHD. They also have the option of sending a "seed" drive (I have no idea why they call it seed, it's a regular EHD) so you can submit the seed drive with your stuff and they load it into their system from the seed drive. The advantage of this is that it is way faster than trying to perform the initial back-up online. Then subsequent backups are online.

I have never attempted this personally, but have heard success stories of people putting their broken EHD's in the freezer. I don't know how long one is meant to freeze it, but if nothing else works I guess it can't hurt to try. Good luck, I feel your pain. It's a lesson we all learn the hard way once.

[Arual]

Crashplan is another good online service, and they will back up from an EHD. They also have the option of sending a "seed" drive (I have no idea why they call it seed, it's a regular EHD) so you can submit the seed drive with your stuff and they load it into their system from the seed drive. The advantage of this is that it is way faster than trying to perform the initial back-up online. Then subsequent backups are online.

I have never attempted this personally, but have heard success stories of people putting their broken EHD's in the freezer. I don't know how long one is meant to freeze it, but if nothing else works I guess it can't hurt to try. Good luck, I feel your pain. It's a lesson we all learn the hard way once.

Ohh Liz, I never heard of the freezer thing, how interesting!
I know that sometimes just changing the power cord fixes issues like this as well.

[ashliefreed]

Here's the update, the computer tech called today, said he can get my files off the EHD!!!! Soooooo thankful!!! Thanks everyone for the info on online back up, I will definately be looking into it!