Hard disk .... Very rare issue.... came across this for the first time...!!!!

Keerthi Sagar · Mar 18, 2014

I've been using a 500 GB external HDD Seagate freeagent GO for about 2 years and all of a sudden the thing stopped showing up on ' my computer'....
Then I got the "" you need to format this drive "" error....
after which It showed up on my computer but then said "" I/O device error "".......
i checked it out on disk managment and it says "" Healthy , Online....""
I made sure it wasn't a power issue.. The thing lights up perfectly when plugged in.....
I tried changing the drive letter.. it was of no use...
tried formatting it .... comp froze.... tried third party data recovery.... in vain....
i know it was really stupid to not have a backup but there are a lot of " REALLY IMPORTANT "" files on it and i don't wanna wipe the drive...
Please tell me your suggetions as soon as possible.

memadmax · Mar 18, 2014

Hard drive is fried.
If you need the files badly ur gonna have to take it to a hard drive recovery expert.
Don't try to format it anymore.
Leave it alone for now.

Keerthi Sagar · Mar 18, 2014

memadmax :

Is there nothing else i can do..?
data recovery guys are gonna rip me off and they're not even promising me the data...
and will i be able to use the drive if i wipe it clean..? If so, how do i do it..??

P.S - I really appreciate you taking time off to help me out.. Thank you..

P.P.S -So there's nothing i can do now..?

Shaun o · Mar 18, 2014

Usb bridge board controller has failed on the external drive enclosure.

Inside the external enclosure is a standard 3.5" Sata drive.
To the back of it is connected a Sata to usb bridge board.

You can take the case of the external drive off.
Take or remove the Sata to usb bridge board.

And then connect it inside a standard tower or computer system to a Sata Data cable and power from the Psu as they are standard connections.

Alternative: just by a new enclosure for a 3.5" sata drive that should come with a new bridge board and a 12v power brick to drive it.

If the go flex is old and of the 2.5" size then you can remove the bridge off the back of the drive once the external case is opened, and also connect it to a tower via the standard Sata data connector and power.

I recommend you try the first step to see if the physical drive is ok first.
And if you wish to keep it as an external then by another external enclosure for it.

Based on the dimensions of the drive.
If it uses just a usb cord it is a 2.5" drive internal to the case.

If it requires and extra 12v external power supply to the external case the drive is 3.5" in dimension.

I have recovered and repaired a lot with the method above. The I/O error is the bridge board failing.

Usb Interface bridge board= Input/Output Fail = I/O error. broken.

Keerthi Sagar · Mar 18, 2014

Shaun o :

Usb bridge board controller has failed on the external drive enclosure.

Inside the external enclosure is a standard 3.5" Sata drive.
To the back of it is connected a Sata to usb bridge board.

You can take the case of the external drive off.
Take or remove the Sata to usb bridge board.

And then connect it inside a standard tower or computer system to a Sata Data cable and power from the Psu as they are standard connections.

Alternative: just by a new enclosure for a 3.5" sata drive that should come with a new bridge board and a 12v power brick to drive it.

If the go flex is old and of the 2.5" size then you can remove the bridge off the back of the drive once the external case is opened, and also connect it to a tower via the standard Sata data connector and power.

I recommend you try the first step to see if the physical drive is ok first.
And if you wish to keep it as an external then by another external enclosure for it.

Based on the dimensions of the drive.
If it uses just a usb cord it is a 2.5" drive internal to the case.

If it requires and extra 12v external power supply to the external case the drive is 3.5" in dimension.

I have recovered and repaired a lot with the method above. The I/O error is the bridge board failing.

Usb Interface bridge board= Input/Output Fail = I/O error. broken.

My saviour..
My gratitude is beyond expression..
I'm gonna try it tonight..
And if it works..... Well..
you Sir would've put an end to my worry..
Thank you Shaun..

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Hard disk .... Very rare issue.... came across this for the first time...!!!!

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