External Hard Drive Problem

caharmon

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Aug 22, 2015
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I have a SimpleTech 2tb external hard drive (i'm not sure of the model number) which is close to, if not filled to capacity. It actually quit working several years ago. At that time, for reasons I don't remember I just put it in a closet and forgot about it. A few months ago I got it out to see what was on there. I know that it is all movies and TV shows but what I forget. The device powers up, but here is the problem. I am using Windows 10 on a Dell Inspiron 3531 laptop. The "This PC" section of the operating system doesn't see this device. However, Disk Manager does. With the help of a friend much more skilled at this than I am, over the phone I have tried to restore the partition with no luck. I know that this drive is probably junk. But, I would really like to get the movies and other stuff off of it, or at least see a list of what actually is on the drive so I can try and replace it later. Any ideas? Thanks
 
Solution
I honestly can't see how that configuration you described is possible with the device you indicated. It just doesn't make any sense. You might want to re:check the precise situation you're working with. Should it develop that somehow this problem involves USB-connected external HDDs configured in some RAID array I really am not competent to help you resolve this problem. It might be best for you to seek professional help if recovering the data mandates the expense involved.
Your best bet at this point is to remove the HDD (appears to be a Hitachi) from the enclosure and preferably install the drive internally in a desktop PC. If a desktop is unavailable you could connect the drive as a USB device using one of those SATA-to-USB adapters or (better yet) a standard USB external enclosure of your choice. (The problem you're experiencing is one of the primary reasons we advise PC users to purchase a USB external enclosure (or docking station) of their choice together with a HDD of their choice - rather than these "one-piece" integrated units).

Take a look at...
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=SimpleTech+2tb+external+hard+drive+
You'll come across some videos re removing the drive from its enclosure.

With luck you may be able to access the data on the drive after installing the HDD internally (or as another USB device) in a PC. If that's no-go then you can try one of the many (so-called) data "recovery" programs available on the net.
 

caharmon

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Aug 22, 2015
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4,510


 

caharmon

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Aug 22, 2015
4
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4,510
Thanks but there is one element I forgot to mention and for that I apologize. What I forgot to mention is that while I have not opened this device and looked inside I have it on reasonably good authority that the actual 2tb of space is made up of 2 1tb hard drives connected in a Raid array. Does that change things? Again, please accept my apology and thanks again for responding
 
I honestly can't see how that configuration you described is possible with the device you indicated. It just doesn't make any sense. You might want to re:check the precise situation you're working with. Should it develop that somehow this problem involves USB-connected external HDDs configured in some RAID array I really am not competent to help you resolve this problem. It might be best for you to seek professional help if recovering the data mandates the expense involved.
 
Solution