External hard drive corrupt, solutions?

UKTopGun · 14 Feb 2010 at 21:08

OK so my Western Digital 500gb Passport is no longer working. It's making crazy noises and it crashes finder when I try to load it.

What are my options? I've seen Data Rescue III but I dont see how that will work if I'm struggling to access my drive?

The drive is only 5months old and I haven't dropped it so I'm a bit disappointed

What are my options?

Cheers!

MagicBoy · 14 Feb 2010 at 21:39

What happens if you run a check in Disk Utility?

Mel_P · 14 Feb 2010 at 21:59

Try it in a different "caddy"? I had a WD USB thingy and the interface elcetronics failed. I put the drive in a different case and it was OK.

Mel

UKTopGun · 14 Feb 2010 at 23:10

I can see it in Disk utility. I tried first aid but that didn't work. After about 2-3minutes of being connected the drive randomly disconnects.

And I'm not sure how I can put it in a different caddy? Unless you mean a different cable (I haven't tried that) it's all built in so don't think I can put it in a different caddy?

Mel_P · 14 Feb 2010 at 23:19

NB - 5 MONTHS - STILL UNDER WARRANTY - THIS WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY!!! - SEND IT BACK!

Is the HD in a box? If so take it apart (screws / clipped together- I "sprung" mine which was in a plastic case with a thin knife!) and try the HDD via a different USB interface.

e.g. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-008-AK or
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-006-AK&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=72

Or straight in the PC if you have a spare IDE or SATA conection / cable?

Mel_P · 14 Feb 2010 at 23:29

Found via Google:
"5 Months failed. I have a boxy 250gb freecom that has been going strong for nealy 3 years , I have an ugly 160 gb samsung that has been going for over 4 years. But this thing. only lasted 5 months. What is the point of making these things sleek and shiny if they are going to fail after 5 months. First time I went for looks over substance. God damn it takes so long to fill these things then fail. No more WD drives for this man."

UKTopGun · 14 Feb 2010 at 23:46

Hmm don't really want to risk losing my warranty considering I can easily just send it back.

I'm pretty sure this drive is screwed, and I could back it up I reckon if it didnt keep randomly disconnecting, is there any sort of 'safe mode' or something I can boot into the drive to back up the data as Mac really doesn't seem like it..