Accidentally Started Installing Ubuntu on Hard Drive --> Not Working

[MrFeynman3]

A few months ago, I started installing Ubuntu on a desktop computer. Unfortunately, I clicked through the setup too quickly without realizing that the default install drive was set to the external drive. I noticed my mistake within a few seconds and yanked the usb connection out of the desktop.

Now my external hard drive isn't being recognized by any computer (I've tried Windows 7 and Ubuntu). Also, it's not spinning even when it's plugged in (the power light is on, though).

My family has a lot of photos and memories stored on there and I really got chewed out for messing this up. Is there any way you guys could help?

 

[nhasian]

if its not even spinning up you may have a damaged drive, or perhaps it is just the external hard disk enclosure. you can remove the drive and install it into a different enclosure, or into a desktop computer.

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[MrFeynman3]

Thank you so much for the reply.

Just to be clear, you are saying that I need to remove the drive from the enclosure before I'll be able to recover anything, right?