Other External products

[mdelaurence]

I have a Maxtor 5000DV  ---external drive - Its started to make a clicking whirling noise.

I cant access anything on the drive. Its not being recognized by my computer

Any suggestions other than spending big bucks to try to get a recovery.

Thanks

[Hamartolos]

Try the troubleshooter.

If it doesn't work, do some searches on this forum for data recovery or removing drive from case, etc.

[cnmoore]

Listen to these failure sounds - http://http://www.metacafe.com/watch/323388/hard_drive_failure_test/

I hope you're not having any of those!

[rogerhastings]

I had the same problem and thought the drive was lost. I kept unplugging and replugging the power and data cable at the back of the drive, eventually it started to run but took hours to see the folders and files and wasn't working properly when I tried to open folders or files. It just took forever. I couldn't really save anything off the unit because it took so long - 4 small files overnight. I thought it was a Vista compatability issue so I took it to work, where I have XP. Slightly better results but the important thing to note is that all of my data was still safe on the disk. The unit was still running extremely slow and clicking almost constantly. Then I decided to take the unit apart. All that's in there is a little circuitry and a typical internal hard drive. It's easy to take the drive out.

Here's how I resolved the issue: I have an inexpensive adapter that allows you to connect an internal drive to the computer while not having to take the computer apart and install it on the inside. This worked perfectly. The drive spins perfectly, doesn't click at all, and all of the data is fully accessible. I'm now copying the data off the drive to a new drive, but this drive is still usable!

Here's the link to the hard drive adapter: http://www.cooldrives.com/ide-ata-adapter-sata-hard-drive-adapter.html It comes with a power conncection and fits multiple drive connection types. Excellent product, it's paid for itself for me many times over. I think the one I bought was the SS-124ASD. I had absolutely no problem with my order.

[MrButkus]

If you have a 12V power supply.. it could be a failing power supply.  Had that happen with a Netgear "toaster" of mine and a Qube 2. 

Not enough power to get the drive to run, so it searched (clicked) and then retried due to the low power, (clicked) so it could be a  bad power supply.  After replacing the power supply... both worked fine.

I don't think there is a way to tell if the PS is going as it's the amps, not the voltage that's bad.

Replacing the case replaced the PS... so that may be why many find a new case fixes the drive.