External hard drives
 

Unfortunately I dropped my external hard drive and lost all of my data recently so I'm in the market for hard drives, probably 2 TB. I've found some WD for around $120. Has anyone noticed any better deals?

Will likely be at getting 2 externals, an extra one to fully backup my other one just in case something happens to either one of them. Is there any particular software to do something like that? (using an Imac if that makes any diff)

you need a drive with AC adaptor or not? Some drives/units might not have enough power to power an external HDD, just keep this in mind...

Seagate desktop 2TB for $89 @ ME

Heres the list... see what you like
Hard drives @ ME
Hard drives @ NCIX

Just keep checking redflagdeals.com

Dell's Boxing day sale has a 3TB for $99.99 but 3.5in drive

Came into this thread because I read the title as 'extreme hard drives'

I should wear my glasses all the time.

:okay:

how do you know you lost all the data?....my cousin dropped his,stopped working...ripped the whole plastic case off then got to the hard drive it's self,hooked it up with a USB KIT and it was still working

+1 - external drives are just regular internal drives in a case with a USB-to-SATA interface - as long as the drive itself survived, you should be fine.

Instead of going cheap, spend a little extra for a drive with shock protection.

The drive makes 3 clicking sound and then stops spinning. I also took it apart the plastic casing, plugged it into my desktop PC and still doesn't read. Even device manager can't even see it.

I took a look at the seagate "expansion" drives. It's the first time I've heard the term expansion, are these just regular external hard drives using AC power?

Ah, that's the drive then.

Most 3.5" external drives require external power as the USB bus doesn't provide enough current. 2.5" drives are generally laptop drives designed for lower power and thus don't use external power.

Pretty sure "expansion drive" is just a marketing term, probably aimed at those who don't think a "portable" drive is suitable for "expansion" use. :pokerface:

Wrap it in plastic and toss it in in the freezer overnight and then try plugin it in. It should work for a bit so you can recover your files.

The freezer trick rarely works. Also from the sounds of it the hard drives controller board is probably toast.

But it's worth a try. Worked for me once.

First time i did the freezer 'trick', I didn't read the part about a ziploc bag.. i just chucked it in the freezer. That didn't work out so well..

thanks everyone! I just picked up 2 of these, great deal for anyone looking for drives.

Seagate Expansion 2TB 3.5in USB3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive - Black

thats a huge brick.....

Any suggestions for USB 3.0/thunderbolt? Also, where's the best place to get deals on such?

Thunderbolt is rare and expensive. Check Redflagdeals.com for sales.

I fucked myself up this time... I was cleaning my computer desk today and unplugged all my electronics. Unrealizing that my laptop 120w ac adapter is the same as my WD my book 12w adapter... When I plugged in the wrong adapter, the driver made a spark. Now with everything plugged in correctly, the computer makes a detecting sound but the driver never shows up.

I tried switching up the USB cable and even tired it on another computer. Samething.

Is my driver gone for good? Barely used 6 months.

This is what I have.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...1-a65b129fdd73

Take the external case apart and swap the drive into a new case, plug it into a drive dock or plug it into the computer directly (with the computer off) to try and read the drive. Chances are you just fried the adapter board and not the drive itself.

Thanks for the great advice. I swapped the hard drive out of its casing and it's made by WD. After plugging it into a hard drive dock. It doesn't do anything. I am thinking I need to replace the PCB board. Without having the right equipment to take it apart, any good place that doesn't charge $500?

The data doesn't matter to me anymore but having it purchased at the beginning of this year. Is it worth fixing the PCB board or should I just buy a new one?

If you don't care about the data you're probably better off just buying a new drive.