Thread: can't get external hard drive to open

I have just installed a new hard drive on my desktop computer, and prior to this had backed up all of my files on a western digital external hard drive. I am unable to access this external hard drive now. The computer recognizes that the mass storage unit is there however it says that it might not be installed properly. I have gone to the device manager and done all the usuall fixes such as driver update and un-install to no avail. I've tried the add new hardware and get a code 10 error message. All other periphials are working fine on the usb ports. I have tried to open the drive on several other computers with the same results. If someone can advise as to how to fix this problem I would greatly appreciate it. Also at this point I don't really care if it is fixed so much as being able to retrieve the data from the hard drive. If there is another way to do so please let me know.
Thanks
Vic

USB Error Code 10 could be a driver problem. Is there a driver you can install first, before connecting the ext HDD? ref: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314464

Originally Posted by vicjr

I have just installed a new hard drive on my desktop computer, and prior to this had backed up all of my files on a western digital external hard drive. I am unable to access this external hard drive now. The computer recognizes that the mass storage unit is there however it says that it might not be installed properly. I have gone to the device manager and done all the usuall fixes such as driver update and un-install to no avail. I've tried the add new hardware and get a code 10 error message. All other periphials are working fine on the usb ports. I have tried to open the drive on several other computers with the same results. If someone can advise as to how to fix this problem I would greatly appreciate it. Also at this point I don't really care if it is fixed so much as being able to retrieve the data from the hard drive. If there is another way to do so please let me know.
Thanks
Vic

I have searched the manufacture for drivers but have been unsuccessful in finding them. At times I have been able to plug the external device into my laptop with the the message reading that the device is ready to use, however it doesn't show up in my computer. it does show in both the pci bus and disk drive sections of the device manager with no error signs accompanying them. I have tried updating the driver at this time only to receive the message that the current driver is the best match found. If you know of any drivers and where I might be able to find them I would appreciate the heads up. (Western Digital 80GB External Hard Drive)
Thanks
Vic

Vic, I recently had a similar problem on a Belkin external HDD. Turned out the external case circuitry went bad. Once I took it apart, removed the HDD and hooked it up directly, I could read all the data fine. If you have a second bay & connector set inside your computer you could install it there (be sure the jumpers are "Slave or Csble Select"). Another option is to take the HDD out of the case and hook it up to a USB to IDE/SATA adapter. I used this one:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...20-OTB&cpc=SCH

Let me know how this works.

Originally Posted by simrick

Vic, I recently had a similar problem on a Belkin external HDD. Turned out the external case circuitry went bad. Once I took it apart, removed the HDD and hooked it up directly, I could read all the data fine. If you have a second bay & connector set inside your computer you could install it there (be sure the jumpers are "Slave or Csble Select"). Another option is to take the HDD out of the case and hook it up to a USB to IDE/SATA adapter. I used this one:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...20-OTB&cpc=SCH

Let me know how this works.

At the moment I have got the disk drive plugged into the laptop in which it has said that it is installed and ready for use. However it still doesn't show up in my computer even though it shows up in device manager. I have tried to update drivers but it still says everything is current. Before I go about tearing into my hard drive I wanted to ask or see if there are any other available options. Also I've not opened an external hard drive before. (wouldn't the usb slot still be the same on the back of the disk drive as if I were to just get a usb to ide/sata adapter and pluged it into my internal ide/sata slot? ) in other words what is the point to opening up the case. Please advise.
Thanks

Vic, depending on how old the ext HDD is, it could be either an IDE or SATA connection on the actual hard drive itself. The ext box actually has some electronics inside it (pc board, etc.) which "switch" from the HDD connection to the USB connection (and power the HDD as well). It is possible a connection from your HDD to the ext box has gone bad or is going bad. (Matter of fact, it almost sounds as if the power to the drive is a problem.)

The only way to know what's wrong is to try and isolate the issue. If you remove the HDD from the box and directly connect it to your computer (bypassing the ext box), you will be able to verify that the HDD is still good and the box has gone bad. If that is the case, then you could sinply buy a new ext enclosure for a few bucks and be back in business. In the meantime, you will be able to recover all your data.

If, on the other hand, a direct HDD connection fails to read the drive, then you know you have a drive failure. Based on the info you have given previously, it appears that it is not a driver issue, but a box or HDD issue.

Are you using up-to-date XP or Vista? If so, then drivers are not a problem for sure.

Here is a link that shows how to open up a WD MyBook and it has some pictures of what you can expect to find inside.

http://www.ransackery.com/western-di...cover-data.htm

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by simrick

Vic, depending on how old the ext HDD is, it could be either an IDE or SATA connection on the actual hard drive itself. The ext box actually has some electronics inside it (pc board, etc.) which "switch" from the HDD connection to the USB connection (and power the HDD as well). It is possible a connection from your HDD to the ext box has gone bad or is going bad. (Matter of fact, it almost sounds as if the power to the drive is a problem.)

The only way to know what's wrong is to try and isolate the issue. If you remove the HDD from the box and directly connect it to your computer (bypassing the ext box), you will be able to verify that the HDD is still good and the box has gone bad. If that is the case, then you could sinply buy a new ext enclosure for a few bucks and be back in business. In the meantime, you will be able to recover all your data.

If, on the other hand, a direct HDD connection fails to read the drive, then you know you have a drive failure. Based on the info you have given previously, it appears that it is not a driver issue, but a box or HDD issue.

Are you using up-to-date XP or Vista? If so, then drivers are not a problem for sure.

Here is a link that shows how to open up a WD MyBook and it has some pictures of what you can expect to find inside.

http://www.ransackery.com/western-di...cover-data.htm

Hope this helps.

Well I decided to take your advice and crack the case as it were. Had I known that it was nothing more than a hard drive in a case I would have done it along time ago.
(Not really sure what I was expecting to find inside) It was a little tricky opening the case as I was doing my best not to destroy the thing, but once I realized what was inside and was able to locate the hidden screws I felt confident that this would fix my problem. My external hard drive was previously hooked to a system that was working with an ide connection as compared to now which I have the main hard drive attached using sata. If I understand the system correctly it works independent of each other when using a motherboard that supports both sata and ide connections so there is no need to select master or slave as the external should plug into the ide and not affect the existing sata connection to the main hard drive.
(Correct me if I'm wrong) I wanted to thank you for all of your help and hopefully I will be able to recover all my data.
Thanks again
Vic

Good luck - I certainly hope that you can recover all your data!