Seagate 7200.11 USB not recognized problem

[Blondie]

Inspired by a kind suggestion of jaclaz, I'm starting this thread hoping to find a solution for my broken HP external hard drive. When I try to connect it to a computer, the message pops out USB device is not recognized. Not only I need to fix it, but it is very important to make sure that all of my files (pictures) remain there, so I could save them somewhere else.

jaclaz, on 23 Oct 2013 - 12:48 PM, said:
An External Hard Disk Drive basically is made of four things:

1. the actual hard disk drive
2. the actual enclosure (metal or plastic case)
3. some electronics (to provide power to the hard disk)
4. some (more complex) electronics, including a controller that converts the hard disk bus (SATA) to the external (USB) bus

Excluded #2 above, any of the other three may be cause (or part of the cause) of your issue, to which you add that there could be similar issues caused by the actual OS install/Registry settings.

Things I've done so far

1. Tried EXD with the other computers - didn't work
2. Got a NexStar CX external hard drive enclosure eSata & USB 2.0 Data interface - didnt' work
3. Tried to use another set of cables - both, power and USB - didn't work
4. #4 have no idea what to do with that

Any help with my issue will be heartly appreciated.

PS Whoever did this website - great job! Design, functions, colors - neat! I wish I could do like that

[jaclaz]

Good. (which means bad )

So - since it doesn't work as well on another PC we can exclude that is anything connected to the OS (or it's Registry).

And evidently also not the case (all parts of it) since the same disk in another case also fails to work.

Next thing is to check if the drive is operational (it spins).

For this test normally you can hear it (the motor whirls) as soon as you provide power to the case, if you are in a silent environment.

If you hold the drive in your hand (flat/horizontal) and try to move it in a vertical position and back, you should feel "nothing" when the drive is powered off, while you should be able to feel the "gyroscopic effect", i.e. you will feel a kind of resistance while attempting to turning it.

When you power it you may also hear/feel some "clicks" if there are none or just one or two it's ok, if more than that (like 8 or 11) there is an issue but it is another one .

If the disk spins (and doesn't click), the next test needs a direct (SATA) connection to a (desktop) motherboard header (you might need a SATA internal cable), it is better if you also hook the disk to the PC PSU power header (i.e. do not connect - unless really needed - a disk powered through an "external" power supply directly to a motherboard SATA header).

The idea is that once you boot the PC, you press DEL/F1/or whatever key is used on that PC to access the BIOS and try to detect hard disks.

1. If it is NOT found, it may be a BSY (or BUSY) state.
2. If it is found, but reported as 0 in size, it may be a LBA0 state.
3. If it is found, but with some gibberish instead of a "senceful" device name/size is an alltogether different issue

For #1 or #2 the (hopefully) solution might be in the "monster thread" you already posted to, BUT you do not really need to read that thread, if you just read:

• the Read-me-first: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/143880-seagate-barracuda-720011-read-me-first/
• the FGA's: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/147532-fga-for-the-seagate-720011-drives/
• and Carter in Canada guide: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/133387-debricking-the-seagate-drives/

will be enough.

After reading those, you should have a fair idea of the procedure and methods, and if you have further questions/doubts, you can post them (here or on the "mega thread").

jaclaz