(Solved) External HD crashed

[Lady]

Hi Shane,

Nice to be here again, but I'm back with a new problem. (

Yesterday I connected a Nikon compact camera for the first time via a USB port in a hub. Shortly after that I got like a hundred times the same message that external HD G: had to be formatted. I closed the window every time.

I have 2 external HDs, one a 2.0 with the letter F:, the other a 3.0 with G:. Both Seagate 2 Tb. I don't know if these two events are connected or that the HD just crashed at about the same time as I connected the camera. I don't really remember what I was doing because usually I do three things at the same time :-D and it's possible that I was backing up some pictures from the camera to the F: HD when it happened. Because these external HDs are big guys I have them both connected to a USB port directly (one 2.0, one 3.0) to avoid problems, so not to a port on a hub, so we can rule out that the hub gave overload problems. Then I noticed that the pc didn't recognize my one external HD at all anymore in Windows Explorer. I rebooted, but that didn't help. Today I saw that there was still only one HD in Explorer and it was the 3.0 but it got the letter F from the 2.0. I know it was the 3.0 because in the name in Explorer it says 3.0. I changed it back to G for my own overview. Today I tried all kinds of ways to get the 2.0 started again, but nothing. It doesn't make a sound and it's not warm, so I guess it's just dead. It's not recognized in Computer Management either, nor in Devices and Printers. In the log files I found a Warning at the time this problem occurred. It says that an error has been discovered on device/harddisk2/DR11 during the....and then there's a word I don't understand in Dutch so how can I translate that? :S I'll give it a try: something like "during the processing of an exchange file".

What can I do to get it back in the game or is it unrepairable? It's 2,5 years old and I use it almost daily for backups. I still have it connected to the pc and there are no messages of formatting anymore. I got a bit confused which disk was malfunctioning because of the letter change, but the 3.0 seems to be alright. Below the log file, translated, if that's any help to you.

Thanks for your trouble!

Lady

Logfile name:   System
Source:          Disk
Date:         8-2-2015 16:17:
Event-id:51
Task category: None
Level:        Warning
Key word:   Classic
User:     n.a..
Computer:      User-PC
Description:
An error has been found on Device\Device\Harddisk2\DR11 during the processing of an exchange file.
Event-XML:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Disk" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="32772">51</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-02-08T15:17:44.395452500Z" />
    <EventRecordID>118839</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>User-PC</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>\Device\Harddisk2\DR11</Data>
    <Binary>030080000100000000000000330004802D0100000E0000C000000000000000000000000000000000AD48160000000000FFFFFFFF01000000580000080000000000200A1240032040000000003C0000000000060000000000C806AB0A80FAFFFF0000000000000000E007640B80FAFFFF10A0B80C80FAFFFF28A95E00000000002800005EA92800008000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000</Binary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

[Shane]

If the drive is truly dead there may not be much you can do.

First thing I would is test and see if it works in another system, just to be sure.

It is also possible that the drive inside the case is fine and that the case board went bad, if the drive is past its warranty you could take it apart to get the hard drive out, then hook it up like a normal drive and see if you can read the data.

I have even seen it where the usb cable itself simply went bad.

So those are thing things I would try first before declaring the drive is truly dead.

Shane

[Lady]

Hi Shane,

I had the disk checked by the head of the tech dept. of my pc shop and he said the HD in its case was dead and the HD itself was already showing signs of malfunctioning, so it would be totally dead soon. With 2,5 years it was only just past its warranty, so I had to buy a new one. I wasn't happy, these don't come cheap!

But to end this on a positive note: the new one, another Seagate 2 Tb, is a 3.0, so much faster and that's great!

Just a thought: is it a good idea to do the Windows Repair program because the malfunctioning of the HD could have caused some damage somewhere? I mean, just to be on the safe side?

Lady

[Shane]

You sholdnt need to run the windows repair. None of the windows files or settings where on the bad drive so it shouldnt have caused any problems

When you buy an external drive always pay attention to warranty. Some are only 1 year, some are 2 year and the ones I get, the western digital passport ultras come with a 3 year warranty.

I dumped seagate a long time ago and I wont buy any western digital that doesnt have a 3 or 5 year warranty

Shane

[Lady]

Ok, I understand.

Mine have a two year warranty. Wish I had known you prefer Western Digital, bought a portable Seagate HD too......   
Well, for next time then.

Thanks, Shane, for your time and sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated!

Bye and take care,
Lady