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    External Hard-Drive Connector Broke - Data Recoverable?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Voodooi, Jan 16, 2011.

  1. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

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    Greetings,

    The entrance point of the external HD that you place the USB input is snapped off and it's floating around in the HD.

    Is the data recoverable? Some of it is VERY important = /
     
    Voodooi, Jan 16, 2011
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  2. Astrogiblet

    Astrogiblet Notebook Evangelist

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    Inside is an internal hard drive. Pull the drive out and put it into any desktop or hard drive dock and you should be able to take your data off. Or you can even buy an external enclosure to put it in if you want to keep it as an external drive.
     
    Astrogiblet, Jan 16, 2011
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  3. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

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    You're a life saver. I'm glad I can recover it b/c the laptop in my sig got RMA'd one day after this external broke, so I would of lost my entire collection.

    I assume Iomega and Western Digital are the best choices for externals since they seem to be the best rated on newegg? I'm going to purchase one, that's why I ask.
     
    Voodooi, Jan 16, 2011
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  4. Astrogiblet

    Astrogiblet Notebook Evangelist

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    Not sure, I don't use externals much.

    Couple of recommendations:
    -Try and find an external HDD with a fan. If you can't find one, buy an internal drive + an external enclosure with a fan.
    -Might consider a laptop HDD. Some are powered entirely off USB and laptop drives are usually more cushioned to fall/bump damage.
    -Keep in mind that nearly all external drives tend to die considerably quicker than internal drives so I wouldn't rely on an external drive to be your sole form of backup. I would use multiple forms of backups to properly secure your data.
     
    Astrogiblet, Jan 16, 2011
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  5. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Some manufacturers and more are following this trend are soldering the SATA to USB bridge onto the hard drive with no viable way to remove it. I know Passports SE (some models) have this.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jan 16, 2011
    #5