Is my 4TB external Hard Drive Dead...

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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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i have got a seagate 4TB external hard drive which i keep just to back up my films and music and pictures...2 weeks ago it stopped working....someone suggested getting a new caddy for it...I did...i bought one that stated it supported any size drive...It wouldnt work...it would pick up i was trying to access a 4TB hard drive but it wouldnt read it at all...when i checked online the caddy only supported up to 2TB..so i bought another one..this again said supports any size HD and again i tried it and it wouldnt work...when i checked in the instruction booklet that came with it it only supports 3TB...today i have bought yet ANOTHER caddy...This one supports 4TB...its states it on the box...whoo whoo...i fitted the Hard Drive into it..no problem...I plugged it in switched it on...the power light flickered for about a second then went off again...now the power light on the caddy wont come on at all...Any idea what is wrong with this damn hard drive...The 2 caddies i had previously bought i couldnt even return becuase i had opened them and tried them and the seller wont take them back..so now i have got a 4TB external Hard Drive with 3 separate caddies and none of them will work...with the price of the HD and the price of the 3 caddies we are talking somewhere in the region of £300...what am i doing wrong..???
 
Solution
Boogieman_WD
Hey there, bobbysbabe29.

It would be nice to try another HDD (doesn't have to be a 4TB one) with the last caddy you bought, just to make sure it works fine. You could also try connecting your drive internally to a computer via a SATA connection to see if it's properly recognized. If everything's OK - go ahead and backup your data. If you still can't access the drive this way, the issue most likely lies with HDD instead of with its original enclosure. Then you could try accessing it via Linux Live CD/USB to see if it's able to recognize the drive properly and if you can get to your files, or try some data recovery programs - http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html. Another option would be a professional...
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puttynene

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Oct 29, 2014
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opening hdd is a big mistake, the hard disk is fragile piece of technology and it should be opened in an confined and controlled milieu.

Check the cables that connect the hdd,, they might be faulty ... did you use the hdd on any other system... If the hdd is faulty and in warranty period get it replaced,.. But do not open it
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey there, bobbysbabe29.

It would be nice to try another HDD (doesn't have to be a 4TB one) with the last caddy you bought, just to make sure it works fine. You could also try connecting your drive internally to a computer via a SATA connection to see if it's properly recognized. If everything's OK - go ahead and backup your data. If you still can't access the drive this way, the issue most likely lies with HDD instead of with its original enclosure. Then you could try accessing it via Linux Live CD/USB to see if it's able to recognize the drive properly and if you can get to your files, or try some data recovery programs - http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html. Another option would be a professional solution, such as a data recovery company.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
 
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Solution
Someone Somewhere

Someone Somewhere

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Sep 23, 2012
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I'm pretty sure s/he opened the caddy, not the HDD itself.
 
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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all i did was take the hard drive out of the caddy i didnt remove it from its actual case...i have done this before with 2 other hard drives and both of them are still working in their new caddies...
Yes i used the HDD on my laptop running windows 7 with no problem at all...i would have sent it back to be fixed but seagte cannot guarantee to return your drive to you with its contents intact also the hard drive was 14 days out of guarantee...so i was realy miffed to say the least...i really am not a stranger when it comes to computers and stuff like it but this one has me comletely stumped..all i really want to know is how can i find out 100% positive if my hard drive is completely dead...thanks so much for you answer Puttynene..i am grateful for any help i am offered...
 
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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sorry i wrote that wrong...I didnt have a system on the hard drive...I have only ever used it a back p for pictures home videos f my grandson and my cats and backing up my dvd collection really...i have never used it as a master drive...just back up...thanks
 
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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hiya boogieman_WD...thanks you so much for your reply...Yes both of the previous caddies i bought for it i have tied with one of my spare 1TB drives in them and they re both absolutely fine... i have sent for a sata led so i can try it in my sons Desk top...i have twistd his arm into letting me take the lid off...!!! so i am hoping it is readable...just enough to get my grandsond videos and pictures off...he is one next week and there are videos and pictures from every day of his life so far...i cant back up everything on it because i havent got room on my other hard drives...but thnks for you help and thank you for the link to the recovery software...
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Sure thing, I hope everything turns out fine and that you'll be able to recover all those videos. This would make a great gift one day.
Let me know how everything goes and if you need any help with the other suggested options (e.g. Linux Live CD/USB)

Good luck!
 
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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bobbysbabe29

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Jun 24, 2015
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thanks you Boogieman...and i will certainly let you know how it works out...and thanks again for you offer of further help with the other options you suggested...really very kind of you..
 
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