Computer will acknowledge plug in of my Seagate portable HDD but I can't access it.

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Jamie_16

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Jan 30, 2016
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Hi there.
I'm having problems with my Seagate portable HDD. The computer makes its 'found USB hardware' sound and it does show up in Device Manager but not anywhere else and I can't access the drive.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled the driver to no effect. I can't seem to find an option that would allow me to assign a device letter
I have tried the advice I've found on this site to no avail.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Running Windows 7
 
Solution
hang-the-9


Look online for your model, it may just be clips that click in. Since the thing is not working, breaking the enclosure won't do much harm, you just need to make sure you are careful not to damage the drive.

A bit gotcha though, depending on the model of the drive it may use a custom board and connection to the enclosure which means if you take it out, there may not be a way to connect it to...
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

Titan
Mar 25, 2010
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Test it with another system first. If it is not seen there either, remove the drive from the enclosure (this will void the warranty so if it's in warranty contact Seagate first) and see if the drive is seen directly on a motherboard connection as a secondary drive. What you are seeing is when the computer sees the USB cable and enclosure but can't read the actual hard-drive. Basically like having a bag of chips but with no chips. You can still see the bag and hold the bag, but when you go to try to get a chip, it's empty.
 
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J

Jamie_16

Reputable
Jan 30, 2016
3
0
4,510
Thank you.
Unfortunately I have no idea on how to take apart the enclosure without breaking it. There are no screws or other obvious means of fastening.
It's an older unit, circa. 2011-2012.
It doesn't appear on other systems either, nor with other devices, such as TVs. The unit has power and you can feel the disk spinning but nothing else.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

Titan
Mar 25, 2010
60,387
1,081
152,940


Look online for your model, it may just be clips that click in. Since the thing is not working, breaking the enclosure won't do much harm, you just need to make sure you are careful not to damage the drive.

A bit gotcha though, depending on the model of the drive it may use a custom board and connection to the enclosure which means if you take it out, there may not be a way to connect it to a generic USB enclosure or to a computer with a SATA cable. You should look up your model and see if it has a standard drive and board in it.
 
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