HD crashed - can I save it?

ss2 · 01-30-2007, 07:31 AM

I have a western digital 160gb drive that I had removed from another computer a year or so ago. I couldn't recall why I had originally removed it, but I thought I would try using it as a spare - connected thru a USb port.

It worked fine for a while when I wasn't having power issues with the USB port.

However, it seems to have failed again. I hear a "click" click" when I plug it in and the computer recognizes it, but it doesn't seem to spin up.

Whether or not this is power related I have no way of knowing.

I thought I had recently read a post that said if you hook up a drive directly to the computer (standard install - power plug and IDE connected - that sometimes that will enable a faulty drive to work.

I just need it to work long enough to get my stuff off of it - then I'm going to toss it to prevent this in the future.

THEN - I need a recommendation for a HD to be used in this fashion. One that will be fairly reliable.

Could the loss of USB power have created this problem or made it worse?

thanks,
Susie

**NUTNDUN** · 01-30-2007, 02:43 PM

Are you able to install the HD in the PC, I am leaning towards it being a power problem with the usb not supplying it with enough power. If you don't have any more room on any of your ide cables then I would power down and swap the cd rom/dvd drive out with the HD and see if it picks it up.

ss2 · 02-01-2007, 08:59 PM

I'll see if I can find a system to put it in. I"m having all sorts of problems with external USB drives. IT HAS to be the system PS. I can't find the post advising me of the type of PS to buy.

I bought a powered USB port and although I can access one of my drives - It doesn't seem to help much. I need a better PS for this computer. How do you tell if you're getting one that works at the wattage it says it does?

**NUTNDUN** · 02-01-2007, 09:07 PM

Hi ss2,
I edited your post to remove ur email addy, it's a good way for spam bots to start spamming you with spam email. Go with a name brand power supply and you can't go wrong. You can check out Jab-Tech , enermac, antec, they are all good ones.

01-30-2007, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
ss2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 7	HD crashed - can I save it? I have a western digital 160gb drive that I had removed from another computer a year or so ago. I couldn't recall why I had originally removed it, but I thought I would try using it as a spare - connected thru a USb port. It worked fine for a while when I wasn't having power issues with the USB port. However, it seems to have failed again. I hear a "click" click" when I plug it in and the computer recognizes it, but it doesn't seem to spin up. Whether or not this is power related I have no way of knowing. I thought I had recently read a post that said if you hook up a drive directly to the computer (standard install - power plug and IDE connected - that sometimes that will enable a faulty drive to work. I just need it to work long enough to get my stuff off of it - then I'm going to toss it to prevent this in the future. THEN - I need a recommendation for a HD to be used in this fashion. One that will be fairly reliable. Could the loss of USB power have created this problem or made it worse? thanks, Susie

01-30-2007, 02:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
NUTNDUN Registered Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: PA Posts: 1,465	Are you able to install the HD in the PC, I am leaning towards it being a power problem with the usb not supplying it with enough power. If you don't have any more room on any of your ide cables then I would power down and swap the cd rom/dvd drive out with the HD and see if it picks it up. __________________

02-01-2007, 09:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
NUTNDUN Registered Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: PA Posts: 1,465	Hi ss2, I edited your post to remove ur email addy, it's a good way for spam bots to start spamming you with spam email. Go with a name brand power supply and you can't go wrong. You can check out Jab-Tech , enermac, antec, they are all good ones. __________________

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02-01-2007, 08:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
ss2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 7	I'll see if I can find a system to put it in. I"m having all sorts of problems with external USB drives. IT HAS to be the system PS. I can't find the post advising me of the type of PS to buy. I bought a powered USB port and although I can access one of my drives - It doesn't seem to help much. I need a better PS for this computer. How do you tell if you're getting one that works at the wattage it says it does?