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Maxtor M3 external hard drive not recognized on laptop

ccho -  
vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 44334 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -

Hello,

My Maxtor M3 T0 external hard drive is not recognized on my laptop (new), nor on my old one...

There are lots of important files on it...

What should I do?

Thank you for your help!

5 answers

  1.
    bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 273
     

    Hello.

    An external hard drive is just a normal hard drive in a case; sometimes it’s the USB cable or the case's connectors that are faulty.

    Try connecting your external hard drive to your PC with a different cable; if it still doesn't work, take the hard drive out of the case and connect it to your PC with this type of cable. If the drive is recognized, then it's the case's connectors that are faulty. In that case, you just need to buy a new case that fits the dimensions of your hard drive.

    bazfile
    Moderator/Security Contributor.
    A hello, a reply, a thank you are always appreciated.

    1
    1. ccho
       

      Hello,

      Unfortunately, I don't have a cable with a specific output for the hard drive.

      The enclosure is really well sealed: I can't see how I could open it...

      Thank you anyway for the references of the cables...

      Which service can I turn to for professional help?

      Thank you!

      0
  2. bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 273
     

    Unfortunately, I don't have a cable with a specific output for the HDD (hard drive).

    You can easily find one, for example: https://www.amazon.fr/B0BTDQLTKR

    Which service can I turn to for professional help?

    You can go to any computer repair shop, but it might cost you more than disassembling the case yourself and testing the hard drive, which is a very simple operation as seen in this video.

    Because if the hard drive is dead, the repair shop won't be able to do anything, to recover data from a dead hard drive you need to go through a specialized company and it costs a lot here are the prices.

    Test your hard drive yourself and if your drive is dead it will be ===> trash or data recovery at a high price.

    1
    1. ccho
       

      Hello,

      Okay, I've just bought the first cable you recommended. It will arrive in a few days. I'll keep you updated.

      If I ever need to take the hard drive out of its enclosure, do I need any specific tools?

      THANK YOU!

      0
      1. quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 313 > ccho
         

        You need small screwdrivers, like those used by watchmakers, among others!

        0
      2. bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 273 > ccho
         

        If I ever need to take the hard drive out of its case, do I need specific tools?

        See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HakoHteqxDU

        2
      3. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 44334 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   3 591 > bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         

        OK

        so clipped and standard SATA connector disk

        0
      4. ccho > bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         

        Good evening,

        I just received the new cable and everything is back in order! :-D

        My PC is detecting the hard drive to which I have access.

        A huge thank you bazfile!!!

        An affordable solution!!

        Thank you thank you thank you! :-)

        0
  3. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 44334 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassadeur 3 591
     

    hi ccho

    it's a MAXTOR of this type that you have

    with all the faces glued (but not clipped)

    considering the proposed answers, some would be better off saying nothing = he said Maxtor m3 t0

    bye+

    1
    2. ccho
       

      Yes, that's the one! :-)

      0
  4. linformaticienofficiel Posted messages 19 Status Member
     

    Hello,

    Is the USB connection detected on your PC (do you hear a sound when you plug it in or unplug it?)? Is there an error message displayed?

    Can you check in the device manager --> USB bus controllers if it is detected?

    Looking forward to hearing back from you :)

    0
    1. ccho
       

      Hello,

      Thank you for your quick response.

      When I plug in the USB, the blue light on the HDD (hard drive) turns on.

      But I can't find it on my PC. And there is no usual sound from the PC.

      When I go to Device Manager, I only see this:

      - USB connector managers > ACPI UCM USCI device. Plugging in the HDD makes no difference. Am I looking in the right place?

      Thank you!

      1
    2. linformaticienofficiel Posted messages 19 Status Member > ccho
       

      This means that the external hard drive enclosure is detected but not the hard drive itself, which is why you can't see it. You can remove the hard drive from the enclosure; to do this, I suggest you watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HakoHteqxDU

      Once you have managed to take apart the enclosure to access the hard drive, get back to me and we'll look at the next steps together :)

      0
    3. ccho > linformaticienofficiel Posted messages 19 Status Member
       

      Thank you so much!...I'm late, I thought I had activated notifications on my email but I haven't received anything, hence my delayed response...

      I just watched the video >> how far do I need to go? Because I need to find some specific small screwdrivers... ;-)

      Thank you!

      0
    4. ccho > ccho
       

      ++ I just reconnected it to my new PC, and while moving it a bit, the following error message came up: USB device not recognized: the last device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.

      Thank you!

      0
    5. bazfile Posted messages 58509 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 273 > ccho
       

      linformatienofficiel is not official in any way, if you go to his profile you will notice that he has only posted a few messages and he is already rated minus 2 by other members, he hasn't been active since July 25, you should rather refer to what I told you above.

      3
  6. billmaxime Posted messages 50523 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   6 150
     

    hi

    with the external hard drive plugged into the PC, check if you can see it in Disk Management

    to access it, right-click on start ==> Disk Management (depending on your operating system W10/W11)

    see you later

    0
    1. ccho
       

      Hello,

      No, it doesn't appear in "disk management"...

      Thank you!

      0
      1. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 44334 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   3 591 > ccho
         

        hi

        a dead integrated circuit on the PCB (the recognition IC)

        (from time to time, it doesn't stop it from running)

        see you

        0