Why does my external hardrive freezes when connected to the computer?

Question

I bought a 1 TB external hardrive on Christmas, and it worked perfectly at first. I stopped using it for 2 months though, and when I tried to connect it back to the computer (a Windows Vista laptop) again, it stopped working. When I access My Computer, it doesn't even appear. And sometimes, when it does appear, it doesn't let me open it to view the files. How can I fix this?
Also, I recently got a new laptop (Windows 7), and I tried viewing the files through it. However, the same thing happens.
Help, I really need to transfer some files into my hardrive.

Answer 1

a likely reason it doesn't work anymore is that you didn't safely remove the external hard drive via the system tray (that program accessible via this icon with the green arrow beside the system clock).



if you unplug the USB cable without a prior safely remove it can happen that the MFT (Master File Table) isn't completed what leaves a corrupt file system. once the file system is corrupted you can't access the files.



the only way to make that hard drive reusable is to format it (all data is lost).

Answer 2

1. For external HDD you have a power adapter?

2. It is USB or ext SATA?



A. if is unpluged without safly remuve ... you could run a chkdsk.exe in run (console).

but, if thai was the problem your os should be able to "see" the drive, but not to access it.

In taskbar, safe remove... you will see the hdd without volume.

B. if is not there (in safe remove ...) try first to change power adapter. same voltage, same polarisation on conector. Be aware! Overvoltage or changing polarisation will burn HDD!



ps hdd over 512GB need power adapter and yours I beleave have a great consumption.

Answer 3

Your external drive is faulty.

Answer 4

did anything happen during the two months you did not use it