Brasch
asked on
SATA->USB Harddrive problem in Vista
Hi,
I have a damaged harddrive from my laptop that I need to extract som files from. It's a SATA drive and I'm using a SATA to USB adapter. The thing is, it doesn't work. It worked only once, the drive letters from the drive appeared on My Computer along with the internal drives. Since that first time, the drive doesn't appear anywhere. I've tried removing all the USB devices in device manager, it installs all the drivers but still the drive doesn't appear. I've tried it on 2 laptops and 2 desktops, it only worked once on one of the desktops. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium on 3 pc's and Vista Business on 1
I have a damaged harddrive from my laptop that I need to extract som files from. It's a SATA drive and I'm using a SATA to USB adapter. The thing is, it doesn't work. It worked only once, the drive letters from the drive appeared on My Computer along with the internal drives. Since that first time, the drive doesn't appear anywhere. I've tried removing all the USB devices in device manager, it installs all the drivers but still the drive doesn't appear. I've tried it on 2 laptops and 2 desktops, it only worked once on one of the desktops. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium on 3 pc's and Vista Business on 1
McKnife
Sounds as if the drive is completely broken by now.
If you have tried it on that many computers, I would bet that the hard drive is damaged beyond help.
there is also the chance that you could run fdisk /mbr, but Vista does not have this utility any more, so you would have to find a 2003 or earlier to use it.
there is also the chance that you could run fdisk /mbr, but Vista does not have this utility any more, so you would have to find a 2003 or earlier to use it.
ASKER
well, I don't really think it's that dead. I worked fine 12 hours ago (the one time it got connected). My own thoughts are that it's related to the USB connection, which on 2 of the pc's have caused a lot of trouble earlier. Any other ideas?
try to see if there is a drive letter attached to it.
right click my computer > manage> disk management > right click on your drive if in the list and change driveletters and paths...
right click my computer > manage> disk management > right click on your drive if in the list and change driveletters and paths...
ASKER
not at the moment no. Any solutions with USB I don't know?
assign a drive letter if there is none. sorry confused by your answer?
you need a drive letter assigned to be able to use the drive.
you need a drive letter assigned to be able to use the drive.
ASKER
it doesn't show up in the disk management, but it appears as a storage device in device manager
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ASKER
if I put it into my laptop, windows starts to boot as always
ahh... maybe when in the enclosure you need to remove the jumper from teh back of the laptop drive.
ASKER
got a code 10 in the device manager now (swapped the harddrives back again)
ASKER
no jumper is on
SATA doesn't have drive select jumpers like IDE. SATA is single channel so no master/slave.
"well, I don't really think it's that dead. I worked fine 12 hours ago (the one time it got connected). My own thoughts are that it's related to the USB connection, which on 2 of the pc's have caused a lot of trouble earlier. Any other ideas?"
Perhaps your adapter died. Try attaching a different drive to the same adapter.
"well, I don't really think it's that dead. I worked fine 12 hours ago (the one time it got connected). My own thoughts are that it's related to the USB connection, which on 2 of the pc's have caused a lot of trouble earlier. Any other ideas?"
Perhaps your adapter died. Try attaching a different drive to the same adapter.
If you put back the drive in laptop and it works, so that it confirmed the adapter you use now is not working. Try usb enclosure.
can you test with another disk on the adaptor? that will confirm what is bad