How do I get files from my external hard drive?

Question

For some reason, computers don't recognize my external hard drive when connected.

Answer 1

Your external HD is probably broken. Inside of it there is a normal hard drive that you could connect internally to your PC just like any SATA drive. If you really need the files I would do this:

1) Plug the external into a Linux machine. Linux has an amazing ability at making hardware work.

2) If that doesn't work and it still is not recognized by a normal Windows OS running PC, rip it open and plug it in to your PC's motherboard directly. Keep in mind this WILL void any manufacturers warranty that the external came with.

3) If that doesn't work, which unfortunantly has happened to me, you may have to send it off to a specialty shop that can disassemble the HD and get the files.

If the files are not that important, you can always send it back to the manufacturer and they should give you a new HD if yours is under warranty. But my experience has been that they won't do anything about getting the files from your current HD.

Answer 2

There may be many reasons for this problem. I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems. Some hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful

Answer 3

you additionally can evaluate the overall performance implications of putting in classes on an exterior tension. get right of entry to to that exterior tension would be critically slower than get right of entry to to the internal tension. the internal tension is plugged perfect into the motherboard's buss. that's sturdy! while a application is executing, in easy terms the energetic ingredient is in memory. Everytime the energetic ingredient ameliorations, a diverse area of this gadget must be loaded into memory from the confusing tension. If the confusing tension is exterior, each and every thing ought to decelerate. exterior drives are maximum suitable perfect for information storage.

Answer 4

- Find another computer if it works on anothe one, just copy its files out.

- It cannot work on another computer, you may try by get it out, then connect directly by IDE/SATA (most the external drivers use IDE) cable in your PC.

- If connecting directly by IDE/SATE, it doesn't work. Mean you cann't copy your files forever (unless you pay for some companies to help you, but you'll have to pay a big price)

Answer 5

I would suggest going to the manufacturers website and downloading the drivers for it.

If it came with a disk install it.

It should then work if that was the problem

Answer 6

Please write some more details about your hard disk. ????