Help.

[_carmi]

Hi there fellow Streethoppers,

So my laptop decided that it wouldn't load anymore. coincidentally, this happens after a Windows update. Now I want to back up my computer (option offered iwth my recovery cds) but now external hd decides it doesn't work anymore, not recognized as an USB drive (tried it on another computer, same thing). Seems like it doesn't want to start as when I put the switch to on, there is no sound at all coming from it.

Now all I have to back up is a 8gig Iphone or an 80gig Zune. I tried the Zune, won't be recognized as an USB drive. I don't wanna fuck up my bf's Iphone so I haven't tried just in case.

I am desperate, I don't care about programs or tv shows I had but I want to keep my pictures and documents. What can I do?

PS I tried system restore, won't work. I don't wanna format my computer before I've backed up at least my pictures.

 

[Prize Gotti]

Indeed, don't delete the carmi porno

 

[Duke]

Friend of mine had his HDD go out a few days ago. Turns out the problem was a faulty power cable.

So check if the external drive is getting power at all. Might be worth it to replace the cable.

 

[_carmi]

Friend of mine had his HDD go out a few days ago. Turns out the problem was a faulty power cable.

So check if the external drive is getting power at all. Might be worth it to replace the cable.

Actually after I saw your post. I remembered I wasn't sure the power cable was the good one with the HDD but hadn't found another one in my drawer. So I went to check again, found another one and guess what, my HDD works. I fucking love you. Thank you!! To think I was this close of going to buy another one online.

now hopefully after it's all backed up I'll figure out how to put it all back on my PC from my HDD. shouldn't be so hard shouldn't it?

 

[masta247]

Are there actually external hdds powered by a separate power cable with power supply adaptor and stuff?
I have never seen something like that for all my life. What kind of hard drives do you guys use?

I use 4 external hdds. One is an old school 160gb Toshiba, another is my friend's 1TB WD and there are also 2 no-name drives (Samsung and Seagate Hdd's packed in a custom case).
All of them are powered by a single USB.

 

[_carmi]

Are there actually external hdds powered by a separate power cable with power supply adaptor and stuff?
I have never seen something like that for all my life. What kind of hard drives do you guys use?

I use 4 external hdds. One is an old school 160gb Toshiba, another is my friend's 1TB WD and there are also 2 no-name drives (Samsung and Seagate Hdd's packed in a custom case).
All of them are powered by a single USB.

mine has a USB to plug in on the computer and a power cable as well. bought it around xmas time 2008... so not that old.

that is mine http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10114452&catid=

 

[Flipmo]

FutureShit.ca ... you mean

 

[Casey]

I have a 300GB external harddrive and another one that's 1.5TB - both are externally powered.

 

[masta247]

Wow. You guys should look for USB powered external drives. It has to be USB 2.0 to supply enough power though.

I use an older version of this:
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Portable-External-Drive-HDDR320E03X/dp/B0013FVZXC

It's powered by a single usb cable, is pretty fast, noiseless and smaller than an iphone.

 

[Casey]

External power supply is more stable for high level audio and video editing.

 

[Prize Gotti]

External power supply is more stable for high level audio and video editing.

Indeed, USB is only 5V, HDD's really need alot more.

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

I'm using a typewriter.

 

[Prize Gotti]

I'm using a typewriter.

from now on, i will call you Jessica Fletcher and hear the theme tune from Murder She Wrote upon every post you make.

 

[masta247]

Indeed, USB is only 5V, HDD's really need alot more.

Yes and no. USB is ~5v(usually should be 5.25 though) at 500ma. Standard 3,5' drives do require 12V for the motor (and indeed most cheap external drives are simply 3,5' drives in cases) but most 2,5' (the type you have in your laptop and in most better external drives) are perfectly fine with 5V.
In case you have an older USB 1.0 you get a 1-2 USB cable so you can plug it to 2 USB ports at the same time giving it a total of at least 10V @ 1A which is more than enough.

The reason why I have never encountered an external hdd with a power cord is that we don't really use external 3,5' hdds here since they are not too portable and good companies rarely produce them. Most 3,5' externals are produced by either no-name companies or are homemade from normal PC hard drives.
2,5' are better and actually fit in your pocket.

 

[Da_Funk]

TECH TALK!!!

EDIT: WHY CAN'T i TYPE ALL IN CAPS?????

 

[_carmi]

Yes and no. USB is ~5v(usually should be 5.25 though) at 500ma. Standard 3,5' drives do require 12V for the motor (and indeed most cheap external drives are simply 3,5' drives in cases) but most 2,5' (the type you have in your laptop and in most better external drives) are perfectly fine with 5V.
In case you have an older USB 1.0 you get a 1-2 USB cable so you can plug it to 2 USB ports at the same time giving it a total of at least 10V @ 1A which is more than enough.

The reason why I have never encountered an external hdd with a power cord is that we don't really use external 3,5' hdds here since they are not too portable and good companies rarely produce them. Most 3,5' externals are produced by either no-name companies or are homemade from normal PC hard drives.
2,5' are better and actually fit in your pocket.

mine is 3,5'. so there you go. i got mine on sale lol. i just wanted most memory at the cheapest price. as long as it does the job it's supposed to do i'm good.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

mine is 3,5'. so there you go. i got mine on sale lol. i just wanted most memory at the cheapest price. as long as it does the job it's supposed to do i'm good.

same, i too got an excellent deal when i bought mine.

anyone want to buy my 3.5" External 160GB HDD?
special price of £20, shipping is £65.

 

[_carmi]

so my recovery disks aren't working .tried system recovery, then factory image recovery. got same fucking error message. tried everything i could do. don't wanna pay to get it fixed but at this point i might have to.. and i'm starting school next week with no laptop it seems to be

 

[THEV1LL4N]

so my recovery disks aren't working .tried system recovery, then factory image recovery. got same fucking error message. tried everything i could do. don't wanna pay to get it fixed but at this point i might have to.. and i'm starting school next week with no laptop it seems to be

not too sure about this. do you know what may have caused your computer to behave this way and cause these problems?

also, you may have to resort to doing a disk recovery and back up onto your HDD if you havent done it already (pictures and everything you wanted), then do a clean install of windows and its drivers again.

 

[_carmi]

i did a backup already. my issue is that it won't let me do a system recovery or a factory image recovery. it stops at 2% with the same error message. it's fucking annoying. i NEED my laptop.