Issue with recognizing a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex external hard drive.

Hello,

Have you checked if it appears in the disk manager?

Hello Papludric

The hard drive does not appear in the list of hard drives unlike the others.
I would like to add that the hard drive in question was full.

Is it a hopeless case?

Thank you in advance for your help.
Utez

Hello,

Does it no longer appear in the computer or in the disk management?
In the computer, apparently not.
Is it present in the disk management?

Hello,

You need to right-click on the "Start" button or the Windows logo depending on the version, and select "Disk Management" or "Run" then type "Diskmgmt.msc"

A new window will open titled "Disk Management"
The problematic hard drive should be visible there, if not in the upper part, at least in the lower part of the window.

Hello utez,

To access the disk management on your computer:

If you are using Windows XP, 7, or Vista: in the "Start" menu, right-click on the "Computer" icon and choose "Manage" from this menu. This will bring up the Computer Management window. Then, click on "Disk Management" that appears on the left side, under the "Storage" section.

If you are using Windows 10: right-click on the Start menu, choose "Disk Management," and take a screenshot of the disks recognized by the operating system.

To share the screenshot with us, you can use an image host like this one: https://www.cjoint.com/

See you,

--
Seagate Technology │Official Forum Team
IronWolf Drives for all NAS Applications - SkyHawk Drives for Surveillance Applications - Barracuda Drives for PCs and Gaming

Good evening

I am attaching the link that will show a screenshot of my screen.

I hope I followed the instructions correctly. This is all new to me.

The external hard drive that does not appear is called Seagate Free Agent GoFlex.

https://www.cjoint.com/c/IBvs4R8dn7u

Thank you again for guiding me.

New screenshot with only the concerned hard drive connected.

https://www.cjoint.com/c/IBvtFKfLgou

Hello,

The disk isn't showing up...
How is it connected to the PC? I assume with an adapter. Does it have an indicator light? Does it light up?

Good evening Papludric

It is connected via a USB port to the computer.
It turns on.

Good evening,

Is it possible to do a cross-test?
That is to say,

1/ Connect another (healthy) disk with the same adapter and cable.
- If the same issue occurs, the adapter/cable is at fault.
- If the second disk is recognized, the Seagate Free Agent GoFlex really has a problem...

2/ Or connect it to another PC
- If the same issue occurs, do test 1/
- If the second disk is recognized, it's the PC that's problematic (but I don't believe that)

I hope I'm wrong. Other forum members may be able to confirm or suggest other solutions.

Question: What happened to this disk between the time it was working and now?

I did the test: same cable on the same USB port. I plugged it into a camera because the plug was different on another external hard drive.
The device is recognized. Ouch!!!

This hard drive was full. A backup was being made on this drive.
I would sometimes delete the old backups to free up space.

Good evening,

I did the test: same cable on the same USB port. I plugged it into a camera because the connection on another external hard drive was different.
The device is recognized. Ouch!!! ---> the camera?

There’s still the idea that the adapter might be the issue...

Has the hard drive been dropped?
Does it make any noise, even faint, when it’s connected?

Yes, the camera is recognized.

The drive vibrates with a slight noise once connected.
I don't think it fell, I can't remember.

Which adapter is it?

It is connected directly to the laptop's USB port via the cable.

Hello,

I didn't explain myself well when talking about the adapter...

The hard drive is installed in an enclosure. This enclosure is connected directly to the USB port on the PC. Is that correct?
Does this enclosure have a separate power supply?

Then there's the idea of a defective enclosure or, at worst, the hard drive itself. For me, the best solution would be to take the hard drive out of the enclosure and try connecting it to a desktop PC or with another enclosure.

Hello Papludric

The enclosure has no other power source than via the USB cable.

How do I remove the hard drive from the enclosure and how can I obtain another enclosure?

Hello,

To open the case and access the drive, it depends on the case, but from the little experience I have, it's either by unclipping the two parts of the case or by unscrewing screws that may be hidden by rubber covers, labels...

But before buying anything, it's better to make sure that it is indeed the case. Which has not been proven yet...

It might be better for me to consult a professional, as I'm not an expert in this field.

Thank you for your explanations.

Hello,

It's not that hard to open, and you have to start somewhere :-) If there are no visible screws, it's probably clipped. A photo of the beast might help maybe ;-)

And for those following this post, some might have another solution...

Hello utez,

Changing the case is not complicated, you just need to be careful not to damage the disk.

Furthermore, we would like to inform you that it is very important to back up your data on at least 2 different media to avoid an imminent loss of your files.

Best regards,

--
Seagate Technology │Official Forum Team
IronWolf Drives for all NAS Applications - SkyHawk Drives for Surveillance Applications - Barracuda Drives for PCs and Gaming

Hello Seagate_surfer

How can I get another case? I suppose I'll have to buy it. Will I find the same one?

Thank you for your advice.