TOSHIBA External Hard Drive PH3100U-1EXB (GEN2) Keeps Blinking HELP

reneeeee

Commendable
Sep 11, 2016
4
0
1,510
I have a Toshiba Desktop External Hard Drive PH3100U-1EXB (GEN2) that keeps on rapidly flashing its white light. I can't access the files I have stored within the hard drive using my laptop. It doesn't give any notification/sound whether or not the hard drive is connected or not. I have also tried using it to another PC but to no avail. I tried looking it up in Control Panel > System Security > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management and Disk Manager, yet I still can't manage to find and connect the hard drive to the laptop. Is there still a way to save the hard drive with the information inside? Or if not at least the information? I forgot to also mention that before I tried to connect it with my laptop, I have mistakenly used my laptop's charger (also TOSHIBA) to power the hard drive in which I thought was the hard drive's charger.
 
Solution
Hi there reneeeee,

You tried using a different cable right?

Most probably, there is something wrong with the enclosure or the HDD itself.
Unfortunately, in both cases, your safest bet would be to contact a data recovery company. Most of the HDD manufacturers offer their own data recovery services or have some partners.
As for taking the drive out of the enclosure, I would say that this may not work due to multiple reasons:
- Proprietary connectors.
- Hardware encryption.
- If the HDD itself is damaged.
- Void warranty.

Let us know in case you have some more questions,
D_Know_WD :)

reneeeee

Commendable
Sep 11, 2016
4
0
1,510


I have actually read this and so far I've tried everything except for the one that thing with having to open up the hard drive.
 

Keannu

Honorable
Mar 24, 2015
94
0
10,660
Something must be broken inside. The connections perhaps?

If you dont wanna risk opening your hard drive you could ask help from a professional.
Or you know wait for someone else with knowledge about broken hard drives to pass by at tomshardware.
 

reneeeee

Commendable
Sep 11, 2016
4
0
1,510


Yeah I guess so. I do think that there is something wrong inside. I had checked the online manual for the model I have in TOSHIBA's website and it said that the blinking means there's "an error" that's occurring. It's not entirely broken but still/

Anyways, thanks for the help though :))
 
Hi there reneeeee,

You tried using a different cable right?

Most probably, there is something wrong with the enclosure or the HDD itself.
Unfortunately, in both cases, your safest bet would be to contact a data recovery company. Most of the HDD manufacturers offer their own data recovery services or have some partners.
As for taking the drive out of the enclosure, I would say that this may not work due to multiple reasons:
- Proprietary connectors.
- Hardware encryption.
- If the HDD itself is damaged.
- Void warranty.

Let us know in case you have some more questions,
D_Know_WD :)
 
Solution

reneeeee

Commendable
Sep 11, 2016
4
0
1,510


Thank youuuu, I'll try and contact a data recovery company then, hopefully they'll get the job done. I'll let you know if I have sent it to the company, most likely it would be some time soon because I'm really busy and in the mix of things right now. :))