External HD Problems

[HecKler]

Just connected my external HD back up after shipping it back from the UK. Power is connected and the light shows at the front but that's it. It's an older (08-9ish) model My Book Essential Edition 2.0 WDH1U5000 500gb external drive. My PC isnt recognising it anymore and it's just making an annoying 'ticking' sound anyone out there have any ideas for a fix? It's kind of important because it has a crapload of work and all of our music on it.

[SiD]

First try a different port or a different pc. If it boots up then, then it's probs a power issue.

 

If not.. then well, I have some bad news for you. It's dying or almost dead.

Edited May 2, 2014 by SiD the Vicious

[HecKler]

Thanks. It's a new power source that arrived today. I've tried other USB leads and plugging it into my laptop, PC and my wife's Mac and no joy. I don't think it's spinning up as it's just making the clicking noise.I am starting to lean toward the HD being out of whack after being shipped back and forwards across the Atlantic on a ship. There is a PC doctor place not far from us where they've worked on my old laptop before and managed to sort it out, so I think a trip to them might be in order.

[Xernicus]

If the ticking/clicking noise is quiet, then my guess is that the HD isn't getting enough power. I used a USB cable that was too long on mine once, and it did the same thing.

Have you put your hand on the drive enclosure to see if it's vibrating? If it is, the drive is spinning and there's been a head crash.
You can try taking the drive out and putting it in one of your PC's drive bays, see if there's any different of a result.

[HecKler]

Thanks, Xernicus. Yes. The ticking noise is very quiet and I cant feel any movement or vibrations. I am going to see if a friend has a different 12v DC power supply I can borrow.

[Krusnik87]

Or you can try to plug it via SATA  (but i guess you should need an adaptator to fit it correctly)