External hard drive fails to read

[terryedmondson]

What can i try to rectify this fault

 

[neon neophyte]

more info please

list your hardware. does the drive spin up? can you see the drive? describe whats going on in more detail

 

[terryedmondson]

1. The hard drive does spin up
2. It is an hitachi XL 1000
3. i am running widows XP
4.The icon disappears from the my computer window