Any computer geeks here? Need some help with an external HD issue

[Crystallas]

There isn't an error message. It's simply not showing up anywhere.

Starting to think the drive itself is dead/fried. Probably taking it to a computer repair store tomorrow to see if they know what to do. The drive just makes a quiet little "click" sound every 5-10 seconds, that's it.

Really hope this thing isn't busted. I've got just about every Bears win since 2006 on it, as well as all of the Blackhawks postseason wins dating back to the season before the Cup run.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Click of death, ouch. Yeah, I don't want to explain how to fix an actuator. But if you take it to a place, they likely wont know how to fix it either, and recovery is not cheap for someone that does.

One last attempt could be to mount the drive sitting upside-down, put the gravity on the head. Sometimes this corrects a slight floating arm for long enough, to help you recover the files.

 

[DMelt36]

Click of death, ouch. Yeah, I don't want to explain how to fix an actuator. But if you take it to a place, they likely wont know how to fix it either, and recovery is not cheap for someone that does.

Hahaha I just Google'd it and found the phrase "click of death," as well. Sonuvabitch.

Looks like I'll be Googling how to fix an actuator. I guess i have to try that if it's an expensive repair. Nothing else to lose.

 

[Crystallas]

Yeah, it's not cheap for recovery. I used to offer the recovery service for hundreds per platter back when I did specialty work. With new drive densities, it has become even trickier.

But try that last suggestion with facing the drive upside-down or even at a slight angle. Also make sure the cables are seated snug too.

 

[DMelt36]

Yeah, it's not cheap for recovery. I used to offer the recovery service for hundreds per platter back when I did specialty work. With new drive densities, it has become even trickier.

But try that last suggestion with facing the drive upside-down or even at a slight angle. Also make sure the cables are seated snug too.

It sped up the clicking a bit ... that's it.

 

[brett05]

You really can't do the job yourself. If you were thinking putting the drive inside a PC was tough.

It sounds like you do need a recovery service. They will do their best to move the platters to a new drive and see if they can retrieve the data. The issue unfortunately is two fold. It's expensive, paid in advance and there is no refund. Clean room is what you need. I mean medical areas usually have more issues than a clean room

 

[ShiftyDevil]

The company we share a building with does data recovery. I always thought that stuff was way cool.