Q&A for How to Fix a Physically Broken Hard Drive

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What should I do to fix an external hard disc connector problem?

Community Answer

An external hard drive is just a regular internal hard drive in an external case. You can open the case and take out the drive, and from here you can connect it to a computer in a number of different ways. Or you can find a replacement case and install the hard drive so you again have a functioning external hard drive.

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Question

How do I repair a laptop hard drive?

Community Answer

Most laptop hard drives are similar or the same basic structure of a desktop hard drive, and will require you to take it to a repair shop or follow the above steps.

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Question

How do I retrieve files and data from a broken hard drive?

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There are "data recovery services" that will disassemble your hard drive and do magic to the magnetic medium to recover as much information as possible. But they cost a lot of money. I might send an email to grc.com and ask them for a referral to a reputable data recovery service. At least you'll want to spend your money (and protect your privacy) on a company that has high customer satisfaction ratings.

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Question

My hard drive sounds like sand when shaken. What should I do?

Community Answer

It sounds like your hard drive's physical platter is damaged beyond repair and will have to be replaced.

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Question

Is it okay to smack it on a hard surface such as a table or floor?

Community Answer

If it's an iPod hard drive, where failures are generally due to drops, then your issue is usually a jammed arm. Smacking it gently while it is clicking might fix it for a while. This also works with any drive that was physically dropped (laptop drives, external drives). Otherwise, no, don't smack it on a hard surface. If data is crucial, do not even try it.

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Question

How do I find out the capacity of my external hard drive?

Community Answer

If you plug your external hard drive into a PC or a laptop and open Windows Explorer, then open the computer section and double click the name of your external hard drive, you should be able to see the capacity of your external hard drive.

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Question

I have an external hard drive which may be dead. I can't access it through my PC. The cable is fine but the LED indicator doesn't light up. What should I do?

Community Answer

You will need to take the hard drive out of its case - it is best to look on the manufacturing website to do this. Check to see if it works in a regular computer. If it does, then the case is at fault and you need a new one.

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Question

What should I do if the arrowhead of my hard drive has broken off?

Community Answer

Get a new one. It is much cheaper, and less of a hassle. You can find a faster one for probably the same size at about $50 USD; it really shouldn't be hard.

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What do I do if my external hard drive is spinning and the indicator light is on but it's broken?

Community Answer

If the indicator light is on, and the disk is spinning properly (no weird noises as described above), it might not be broken physically at all. Before attempting any repairs on the hard drive, make sure it's not other components that are causing the failure. If you're certain it's physical damage, then the problem is most likely caused by the broken logic board if the disk is spinning properly when powered on. Your best bet is to replace the PCB. However, keep in mind any kind of DIY repairs may really cause permanent damage, even if it's just replacing components, dust may get in and wreck the drive. If the data is important, it might be best to seek professional assistance.

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