Question My HDD is not showing via USB or SATA ?

[Novice2024]

hi guys,
I really am stuck. I sold my old laptop but took HDD out to make it external storage. I plugged in to my new laptop and it showed up. i copied the docs and left the media there. Next time when i plugged it in, it won't show up. I don't understand why. i don't see any reason it can be damaged. It has Win 8.1 installed and i do remember it had some issues on my prev laptop when it won't boot in UEFI and changing to Legacy would make it boot but that's when it was being used as OS not externally. I tries many recovery softwares but it didn't show anywhere.
I have also tried to boot from it on my other old systems (using Win7) but no way. I don't have any system with Win8.1.
Any help would be great for a novice like me 🙁

 

[USAFRet]

You have your personal files copied from it?

What else are you expecting it to do?

 

[Novice2024]

Like i said, I only copied docs not the whole media, its a 750GB HDD and i wanted to use it as external

 

[USAFRet]

Like i said, I only copied docs not the whole media, its a 750GB HDD and i wanted to use it as external

An external what?
To boot from its OS? That is not going to work, for multiple reasons.

 

[Novice2024]

sorry, i think i did write i want to use it as an external storage.

 

[USAFRet]

sorry, i think i did write i want to use it as an external storage.

So...
It does or does not appear in Disk Management?

 

[Novice2024]

no it doesn't, not even in device manager under storage i am afraid

 

[USAFRet]

no it doesn't, not even in device manager under storage i am afraid

What specific USB enclosure?
What specific drive?
What specific USB port?

 

[Novice2024]

What specific USB enclosure?
What specific drive?
What specific USB port?

USB to SATA
HITACHI SATA 3.0 GB/s 750Gb 5V 700mA
there are two ports so it's one of them, not sure its number.

 

[USAFRet]

USB to SATA

Specifics, please.
Specific connection device? Online link, if you can.

This is an HDD?
2.5" or 3.5"?
Part number?

 

[Novice2024]

Specifics, please.
Specific connection device? Online link, if you can.

This is an HDD?
2.5" or 3.5"?
Part number?

 

[Novice2024]

Yes, it's HDD
2.5
P/N 0J15083
Brand: Hitachi
S/N: 21J4UR6J

 

[USAFRet]

And how is this USB connected?

Specific device used?

 

[Novice2024]

USB to SATA cable

And how is this USB connected?

Specific device used?

By using a USB to SATA cable

 

[USAFRet]

USB to SATA cable

By using a USB to SATA cable

Yes, I understand that.

Did this specific drive ever work with that specific "USB to SATA cable"?

 

[Bob.B]

hi guys,
I really am stuck. I sold my old laptop but took HDD out to make it external storage. I plugged in to my new laptop and it showed up. i copied the docs and left the media there. Next time when i plugged it in, it won't show up. I don't understand why. i don't see any reason it can be damaged. It has Win 8.1 installed and i do remember it had some issues on my prev laptop when it won't boot in UEFI and changing to Legacy would make it boot but that's when it was being used as OS not externally. I tries many recovery softwares but it didn't show anywhere.
I have also tried to boot from it on my other old systems (using Win7) but no way. I don't have any system with Win8.1.
Any help would be great for a novice like me 🙁

The 1st time you plugged the hdd into the pc via usb it worked and you copied files to it.

The 2nd time you plugged it in it does not show.

Do you have access to another hdd/ssd that you can connect to the adapter just to see if it shows?

 

[Novice2024]

right, i have tried all troubleshootings including the one yu mentioed. connector is fine.

The 1st time you plugged the hdd into the pc via usb it worked and you copied files to it.

The 2nd time you plugged it in it does not show.

Do you have access to another hdd/ssd that you can connect to the adapter just to see if it shows?

 

[Bob.B]

right, i have tried all troubleshootings including the one yu mentioed. connector is fine.

If this disk is important take it to a service counter and see what they have to say.

If it's not important consider the recycle bin.

 

[BFG-9000]

HITACHI SATA 3.0 GB/s 750Gb 5V 700mA

By default a USB port only delivers 5v 100mA which can be negotiated up to 5v 500mA. As you'd expect, a 5v 700mA drive couldn't be expected to reliably spin up if so limited in power. It might only work sometimes on hot days.

Without knowing what your super secret USB cable is, nobody here can help you. There are cables that have two USB-A ends to get extra power for a spinning HDD (1000mA, generally SATA SSD do not need those), and also SuperSpeed USB 3.0 cables that can negotiate up to 900mA from a single port. But you have been asked 4 times to identify the cable and you have refused to answer.

So all we can suggest is to try the disk internally on another machine to rule out the cable (yes, laptop SATA drives plug right into desktops) or try a USB port on a different machine that may supply a bit more power.