Phatmike Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hey guys,I've got a Western Digital Passport 320gb external drive (one of these:)Which has stopped working - when plugged in, the LED illuminates, the drive spins, and is recognised by the computer, but nothing comes up in terms of visible folders.Are there any 'free' software packages that might be able to help (on mac or windows), or if not - does anyone know any suitable data recovery specialists that can sort it, but won't charge hundreds!Thanks,Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Manual Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I've used this before. I found it 'cheap' pretty easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Shit, that reminds me, mines on its way out, need to get a new one before it dies and I loose everything.... May have to favourite this thread just in case. Anyone know of any good ones? needs to be powered off the USB not mains, otherwise it kinda defeats the point of a laptop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatmike Posted September 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I would've recommended this WD Passport until it stopped working! Infact no, I'd still recommend it - small, not expensive, usb powered, ideal. Just hope it doesn't go tits up.Cheers for the link John, I've just 'bought' a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 needs to be powered off the USB not mains, otherwise it kinda defeats the point of a laptop.Just look for one that says portable, heh. I'd go for the cheapest one, they're basically the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrayvon Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I'd avoid lacie personally. The seem very fragile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Lacie? They're.. built like brick walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrayvon Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I had 2, both broke within a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Really?I've had one, and it's lasted ages without any fault. Is yours a USB or Firewire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan-Walker Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Shit, that reminds me, mines on its way out, need to get a new one before it dies and I loose everything.... May have to favourite this thread just in case. Anyone know of any good ones? needs to be powered off the USB not mains, otherwise it kinda defeats the point of a laptop.How can you tell when its 'on its way out' ? is it louder then normal ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew_Gibson Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 my brother was the same sitation, but he lost a years worth of uni work. as well as EVERYthing else on his computer. his just died. couldnt get it back at all.. would have cost him loads to get the stuff back or sumat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 How can you tell when its 'on its way out' ? is it louder then normal ?Pretty much, it's making some dodgy noise's and something's loose and rattling around inside, the USB connections getting a bit sloppy, and the other day it kept turning off when using it on my mates desktop, although it hasn't turned off while connected to my laptop ever, so I don't know what was going on there, but yeah, it seems to be getting a little tired. Has lasted well though, I abuse the crap out of it, and really do make the most of it being portable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaRtZ Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Ive had 2 lacie lego bricks. One died and I think the substantial amount of porn on the other one is what's keeping it together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I've got a kinda mad question that Mike (and others) might be able to answer;My old Macbook just won't turn on any more, however it's got LOADS of old photos on it I'd really like to keep. I've got an E- Sata connector, will that do for connecting the HD up to my current laptop (Windows if that makes any difference ?) and transferring the photos across ? Macbook it a standard 13" screen jobbie from about 2 years ago ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I've got a kinda mad question that Mike (and others) might be able to answer;My old Macbook just won't turn on any more, however it's got LOADS of old photos on it I'd really like to keep. I've got an E- Sata connector, will that do for connecting the HD up to my current laptop (Windows if that makes any difference ?) and transferring the photos across ? Macbook it a standard 13" screen jobbie from about 2 years ago ?No expert with macs so a second opinion would be advised - but macs use a file format that is not recognised by windows, so you would need some conversion software such as MacDrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Also no expert on Macs - in fact, I can barely use one.I'm 99% sure you can't whack a Mac HD into a PC though - Like Anzo said you'd probably need to use some kind of conversion software. I've not dabbled in it at all though so really can't help.Sorry pal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 So what were saying is that I won't be able to take the pictures off the Macbooks hard-drive with my Sata cable without some "special" software ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 So what were saying is that I won't be able to take the pictures off the Macbooks hard-drive with my Sata cable without some "special" software ?Go to Southampton, to the Apple Store. Pay £X. Get photos back. Also, they can probably get it running again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Go to Southampton, to the Apple Store. Pay £X. Get photos back. Also, they can probably get it running again.No chance of them getting it running again, I've sold the keyboard, RAM, screen and speakers. Only thing left is the HD ! That won't work either, Windows will not read discs written by a Mac and as the guy from the Apple store in Portsmouth told me (yes, I phoned them yesterday afternoon!) they do have the facilities to do it but they won't do it for average joe off the street. Although, I have managed to get a free version of Mac Drive from a friend so with a bit of luck I'll be able to get the right cable for it today.Cheers for the help guyz... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 That won't work either, Windows will not read discs written by a Mac and as the guy from the Apple store in Portsmouth told me (yes, I phoned them yesterday afternoon!) they do have the facilities to do it but they won't do it for average joe off the street.No Apple store in Portsmouth. It's just a different formatting, don't know if Windows 7 can read it now? I remember having a mac only HDD and windows being able to read it, but not put stuff onto it though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 No Apple store in Portsmouth. It's just a different formatting, don't know if Windows 7 can read it now? I remember having a mac only HDD and windows being able to read it, but not put stuff onto it though..By pompey I meant Southampton, haha ! The one in the shopping center with John Lewis, next to sports world !!! I've got the software now, I just need to pop out an get the cable today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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