I cannot access the information on my Maxtor external hard drive
Hi,
Does the maxtor drive makes any strange or clicking noise?
There is no need driver for external hard drive.
Did you try with another USB cable?
Can you try the maxtor drive on another computer and check?
no strange noise
have tried another cable
same response on my lap top
help
Does it show up in (my) computer?
no
How about the power light on the maxtor drive?
on
Well, if it does not work on both computers, then the drive hardware has issue.
There are two main parts of an external hard drive: the enclosure and the hard drive itself. Either one or both could be bad.
To check, you can open the enclosure, and take out the hard drive. Then bring the hard drive to your local computer store and ask to buy a USB external hard drive enclosure/adapter for about $20. Then you would install the hard drive to the new enclosure/adapter, then plug it into the computer. This will confirm if the hard drive is bad or not. If it is good, then you can take out the data files.
when you say the enclosure do you mean the box it is in?
Yes, that's right.
ok this is a very girlie question how do you open the thing it is not particularly obvious
what is the exact model of your maxtor?
ok on the end it has 2 codes PN:9NZ2D8-500
AND SN:2HBAQYPE
let me check
You should see some screws if you peel of the labels
NO SCREWS NO LABELS
got it
ok,
1 screw out but not obvious how to open box
Please see some video instructions at:http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+open+maxtor&aq=f
I'm in I have a very electronic looking thing out of it's box
yes,
it is still attached to the box by the indicator light
You have to remove it from the box; disconnect some cables.
ok I have it all out
Then bring the hard drive to your local computer store and ask to buy a USB external hard drive enclosure/adapter for about $20. Then you would install the hard drive to the new enclosure/adapter, then plug it into the computer. This will confirm if the hard drive is bad or not. If it is good, then you can take out the data files.
now I get the usb external hard drive adaptor?
how is that going to help as it is only a cover and all the cables really just plug straight in to the hard drive I have taken out of it's case
You use another enclosure/adapter
That is if the current enclosure is bad.
really then because the enclosure has no technical significance the extracted hard drive should just work if I connect it up to the power and computer
As I've said, either the enclosure and/or the hard drive is bad.
You don't know, so that's what you have to try
I think I need to open it further I have taken off the plastic but there are more scres on a metal casing
oh ok.
thanx I have it out
Great!
Please leave positive feedback. If you have any further question later, please let me know via this web page. HOpefully the hard drive is still good. Thank you.