Another pesky Hard Drive problem

[Optomist]

As it's an external unit can you be sure that it it is the drive that has failed and not just the drive to usb interface board within the case. for 12€ you can purchase an external drive case from one of the local computer shops. Swop the drive to the new case and try it out if it still fails then these sort of companies can assist http://www.krollontrack.co.uk/data-recovery/data-recovery-services/hard-drive-recovery/   https://gillware.com/  they can be expensive though, by expensive i mean in the 500€ to 1200€ range... depends  how valuable the data is!
Failing that open the case and connect everything up and spin the platter up by a poke with a tooth pick. i have actually started a failed drive using this method once before. The drive will be scrap after though.

Thanks Compton , She had it looked at and taken apart as there was no way the guy could get it to spin , its definitely dead , so a waste of 40 pounds , looks like she might have to look into your other suggestion , shes the one to know what value to put on the data it contains , were just the ones to pay it haha  :lol:

[compton]

As it's an external unit can you be sure that it it is the drive that has failed and not just the drive to usb interface board within the case. for 12€ you can purchase an external drive case from one of the local computer shops. Swop the drive to the new case and try it out if it still fails then these sort of companies can assist http://www.krollontrack.co.uk/data-recovery/data-recovery-services/hard-drive-recovery/   https://gillware.com/  they can be expensive though, by expensive i mean in the 500€ to 1200€ range... depends  how valuable the data is!
Failing that open the case and connect everything up and spin the platter up by a poke with a tooth pick. i have actually started a failed drive using this method once before. The drive will be scrap after though.

[Queen Clare Shirley]

there are quite a few recovery programs you can use to recover lost files, such EASE US recovery software. If not try a pc support tech off the foru

[Optomist]

Any suggestions what can be done with a Transend external hard drive that wont start , just bleeps but wont spin . The daughter has course material and part essays done for the two degree courses shes taking and as one of them is in Italy she needs to have it with her and working or at least the files in the next couple f weeks when her Italian Uni start  .

Transent arnt interested , several emails and all they say is , "sent it back and we will refund you" , "read your warranty , we dont take responsibility for data stored on our equipment" , lots of troubleshooting links that are only any use if the thing is starting , if its dead there isn't a single suggestion , O and best of all is they say that External drives should not be used for backups .

None of that helps , paid to have it taken apart and put back together , just told cant do anything with it , need to find another way to recover the data .