External Hard Drive not being detected

[gaplingjinn]

My external drive is seagate, and is partitioned into 3.
I have both Ubuntu 16.04 and Windows 8.1 installed. Yesterday while using Ubuntu I double clicked on all the 3 partitions. This most likely does "Mount and Open". Copied a file into one of the partition. However, instead of dismounting and removing the disk like a civilized person, I savagely removed my external hdd from the usb port.

Now when I switched to Windows and plugged the external hdd, initially it showed all partitions and i could even open them. But files and folders were not accessible. Thereafter, I removed and replugged the drive but now i couldn't open any partition. I repeated the above steps and now the system is not detecting hard disk.

 

[RolandJS]

There are no backups of any other folders and files on this external hard-drive? With the problem hard-drive already plugged in, doing a cold-boot power up, booting a USB or DVD utility similar to Acronis Disk Director, MiniTool Partition [Wizard? Magic?] version 9, etc., you might be able to "kick-start" the logically-damaged hard-drive. If you bumped the external hard-drive during your abrupt removal, and if it has developed a physical failing, then it is gone.

 

[gaplingjinn]

There are no backups of any other folders and files on this external hard-drive? With the problem hard-drive already plugged in, doing a cold-boot power up, booting a USB or DVD utility similar to Acronis Disk Director, MiniTool Partition [Wizard? Magic?] version 9, etc., you might be able to "kick-start" the logically-damaged hard-drive. If you bumped the external hard-drive during your abrupt removal, and if it has developed a physical failing, then it is gone.

Do you have a link for what you're suggesting where it is explained in steps?

 

[RolandJS]

https://www.minitool.com/
https://www.minitool.com/partition-manager/partition-wizard-home.html -- their database and the pdf(?) with the utility should provide a walk-through
For version 9, which includes what you need (else, with version 10, you might have to buy the Pro version):
https://filehippo.com/download_minitool_partition_wizard_home_edition/tech/60450/
Google also mentions filehorse -- which I've used in the past when filehippo didn't have the exact item I wanted

 

[technoaddict]

Most likely you might be having an issue with the wiring or maybe even Printed Circuit Board. Check all your wiring and test it on different machines. If that does not work open up your BIOS and check all settings into default to make sure you are not having any plug and play issues. After, access the disk management and see if your hard drive is showing up if it is, and your hard disk is not showing up in My Computer then your disk might need data recovery since this might be the sign of a logical failure. You can download a free trial of https://easyrecovery-professional.en.softonic.com/ and see if it's going to detect your hard drive, if it does, purchase the full version and recover your files, for the fraction of what you might get charged at a data recovery lab.

And here are some additional sources you might want to consider looking at:
http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/articles/hard-drive-not-detected-your-computer-what-could-be-issue-and-how-fix
https://www.aesonlabs.ca/hard-drive-not-detecting-or-recognizing/
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/external-hard-drive-not-showing-up