GloFlex Home drive doesn't connect using USB/ATA connector on Win 7

[jnandi1]

Hi, I tried to connect my GoFlex Home to my Win7 Pro desktop over USB (using a SATA/USB adapter kit). The drive initially connects, starts looking for a driver, installs it, and then gives an error. Then I in "safely remove devices", I only see USB to ATA/ATAPI bridge listed, but no drive letter is assigned. Control Panel-Systems-Device Manager shows the new drive. When I use disk manager, to look for this volume, it says the volume needs to be reformated. I can't do that since in I am doing this to retrieve some data (there is some problem with the network access to the goflex base, but that's a separate problem).

Probably Win7 is having a problem since it is a Linux EXT3 F/S. Any thoughts on what will fix this problem?

 

[hang-the-9]

Why are you using an adapter? Either use a USB cable or a SATA cable. No since in using an adapter when your computer should have the ports for it.

To read the file system, try this software http://www.blogsdna.com/1859/access-linux-ext2-ext3-volumes-directly-from-windows-using-ext2-installable-file-system-for-windows.htm link is about half way on the page before the comments start.

 

[jnandi1]

Why are you using an adapter? Either use a USB cable or a SATA cable. No since in using an adapter when your computer should have the ports for it.

Because the GoFlex Home is a NAS connected on Ethernet. Once you unplug it from the base unit, it has a SATA power/port - which you need a ATA/USB adapter kit to directly connect on USB to PC.

 

[hang-the-9]

Why are you using an adapter? Either use a USB cable or a SATA cable. No since in using an adapter when your computer should have the ports for it.

Because the GoFlex Home is a NAS connected on Ethernet. Once you unplug it from the base unit, it has a SATA power/port - which you need a ATA/USB adapter kit to directly connect on USB to PC.

You probably mean a SATA to USB, ATA to USB is different. The base should have a USB connection on it, does your model not have it? Also you can just connect the drive directly to the motheroard of the computer with a regular SATA drive cable. The issue may be that the case electronics are causing the drive not to be seen. If the thing is out of warranty, you can crack open the case and try to connect the drive directly to the computer bypassing the case connections.
That's after you try the software to get Win 7 to read the file system.

 

[jnandi1]

You probably mean a SATA to USB, ATA to USB is different.

Yes, thanks for pointing that out.

The base should have a USB connection on it, does your model not have it?

Yes, there is a USB port on the base of the GoFlex Home. When I connect a standard FAT32 USB storage stick, it mounts automatically, and shows up. If I however, use the same USB port to connect the GoFlex storage disk using the SATA/USB cable, it does not mount it.

Also you can just connect the drive directly to the motheroard of the computer with a regular SATA drive cable. The issue may be that the case electronics are causing the drive not to be seen. If the thing is out of warranty, you can crack open the case and try to connect the drive directly to the computer bypassing the case connections.

Haven't tried this as yet. Going step by step, now trying to figure out why the GoFlex storage doesn't get detected when connected to the USB port at the GoFlex Base, first.

That's after you try the software to get Win 7 to read the file system.

Didn't try this software as yet, but tried ex2fs volume manager (which is similar). The problem is when I connect the device to the PC using the PC's USB port, only ATA/ATAPI to USB bridge shows up as storage device but no drive letter is assigned. Disk manager shows it as RAW file system. The ex2fs software tries to assign this volume a drive letter, but as soon as a drive letter is assigned, Windows says it needs to initialize the disk.

Any further pointers would be appreciated.

 

[hang-the-9]

Maybe a bad drive, but it could also be the box electronics causing issues. I think the ultimate thing to try here is to take the drive out of the case, then you'll know if it's working or not for sure.

 

[jnandi1]

Maybe a bad drive, but it could also be the box electronics causing issues. I think the ultimate thing to try here is to take the drive out of the case, then you'll know if it's working or not for sure.

Yes, I have taken it out of the plastic case (that's the only way the SATA/USB adapter plugs in, else there is not enough space). Is that what you meant? However, as I said, with that USB port - I connected to PC directly, no luck - as FS read as RAW, and connected it to the USB port of the GoFlex Home base unit, and the storage is not recognized. (NOTE: If I put in a USB stick FAT32, that is recognized). So, apart from trying the last resort of hooking the disk directly on the SATA connector on the PC, I guess there is no other option? Even then, given the symptoms I see even with the USB connected directly to PC, the disk might still show up as RAW? Not sure what to do then ... :-(

 

[hang-the-9]

There are ways of getting data from a disk that shows up as RAW.
TestDisk is free and works well
http://forums.techarena.in/tips-tweaks/1352757.htm

Also
http://www.easeus.com/resource/repair-raw-disk.htm

Recuva should do the same thing the easeus software does.

 

[jnandi1]

There are ways of getting data from a disk that shows up as RAW.
TestDisk is free and works well
http://forums.techarena.in/tips-tweaks/1352757.htm

Also
http://www.easeus.com/resource/repair-raw-disk.htm

Recuva should do the same thing the easeus software does.

Thanks. I will try this if the disk stabilizes. It keeps appearing and disappearing as USB to ATA/ATAPI bridge on the Win 7 Pro PC "devices". On device manager, it first shows up under disk drives, but then after some time, it goes into the USB controllers, as USB mass storage device, and after a while it shows the "!" mark. So, I don't know what the Win 7 drivers are doing to the disk! I have uninstalled the device, connected the USB to front/back USB ports of my PC - same symptoms. I guess I should try a direct SATA connection to the PC, instead of through the USB/SATA cable.

Any suggestions welcome!!

 

[hang-the-9]

Yes, try a direct connection and removing the drive from the case will rule out any issues with the enclosure. Assuming you are OK with maybe ruining the setup to get the drive data out. If it's in warranty you would want to contact the maker first and explain you need to get the drive out and how you'd do that and maintain the warranty.

 

[jnandi1]

Yes, try a direct connection and removing the drive from the case will rule out any issues with the enclosure.

OK connected the drive directly. Wasn't detecting for a while, until I removed even the metal enclosure (attached with 4 screws on the siide). Now the drive is detected, was showing unallocated first, then asked me to initialize. Used NTFS defaults. The drive did not get formatted, but a drive letter was assigned, and it shows as RAW now. (ps. I had tried to format using the GFH web console also, since the drive was showing inactive earlier, but that too said can't format!)

Assuming you are OK with maybe ruining the setup to get the drive data out.

Not really! I have UFS explorer, but that too shows the drive as RAW, and can't see anything in it.

If it's in warranty you would want to contact the maker first and explain you need to get the drive out and how you'd do that and maintain the warranty.

Not under warranty. Bought over 1 year ago . A piece of junk in my opinion. Have had some issue with it or the other in the first 3 months. Serve me right for thinking 1TB network storage at its price was worth it!

Help!! (ps. Thanks a ton to get it at least to the stage I am at)

 

[hang-the-9]

Sounds like the drive is bad, you can try a Linux boot disk and see if that will read it properly, or at least be able to format it.