External hard drive not detected or recognised

[firenice03]

So I'm still baffled.  How come in Windows this portable external drive is listed in Device Manager but not in Disk Management?  How come in Linux Lite under System Info>Storage the drive shows up (with SCSI2 as controller), but is not seen - at all - in GParted?

Sounds like only the controller/connection is seen... Beside another caddy, have you tried connecting this disk directing to the MOBO (SATA/IDE) if you have ability via a desktop pc.
But seeming more and more like HD failure.. Only other thought that comes to mind would be some sort of Iomega Encryption; more than likely not since never being used prior...

Info: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/268418...d-computer

[br1anstorm]

Sounds like only the controller/connection is seen...
But seeming more and more like HD failure..
.....

Ah, that's interesting.  Also to my untutored mind the most likely conclusion. I didn't know how to interpret the evidence about the portable drive (or bits of it!) showing in some locations but not others.  It seems entirely credible to me that the computers are "seeing" the controller/connection/interface (which is working) but not the actual hard drive beyond it (which is dead.....and maybe just spinning in its grave).  So richtea was probably right!

I don't think the encryption angle is relevant:  the drive is brand new out of the box - I have not been able to see it, never mind put any data on it or encrypt anything.

I can't test it myself by connecting direct to a motherboard, as I don't have a computer which would enable me to do so.  But I suppose at some stage I could remove the hard drive and get it tested/checked somewhere.

Until then, maybe that's as close to a solution as we're likely to get.  Huge thanks again to all who helped with the detective work.

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

I'm almost certain the Seagate IOMEGA HD is a SATA drive.
If you have another PC, temporarily disconnect the drive(s) in that.
Plug in the drive from the IOMEGA.
Stick a Live USB stick in that PC and boot it, can you then see the IOMEGA Drive.?

Just a thought.... GL
ps
It does sound like the HD is toast though....

[trinidad]

The disk path is listed the way it is (basically prepared for editing) so you can configure the correct disk path from a windows command line disk utility, i/e sda0 sda1 etc. and configure the bus start up conventions, however that will still not be correct if you attempt to run it from another computer. Your best bet is probably to try the windows command line, and if you can get to mount properly clear it with the windows partition manager. Then go to a Linux disk utility and format it however you like. Right now it is being seen as storage in linux because it is SCSI on a USB. You might be better off to buy a 10$ SCSI to SATA adapter as suggested if you cannot use the windows disk manager to configure the disk order and convention in order to mount it. It's not mounting in Linux so the volume itself maybe using a proprietary paged startup convention, which only allows it to appear correctly in the windows build it was set up for, or it has an older windows security feature enabled, or it is using a striping convention for an older dated raid setup. Redo Backup might be a solution too. It's hit or miss as to whether the disk is still operable, but if it was working when you stopped using it, it is probably still operable, unless you had it in a high dust or high humidity area.

TC

[trinidad]

Sorry again. I just noticed you said you never used it. Do you have the initial paperwork shipped with the drive? Start there if you do, and the serial number from the drive on the outside of the case.

TC

[merlin]

Try this tips, visit link below this
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/external-dr...n-windows/

Regards

[br1anstorm]

.....
Your best bet is probably to try the windows command line, and if you can get to mount properly clear it with the windows partition manager.
.......
You might be better off to buy a 10$ SCSI to SATA adapter as suggested if you cannot use the windows disk manager to configure the disk order and convention in order to mount it. It's not mounting in Linux so the volume itself maybe using a proprietary paged startup convention, which only allows it to appear correctly in the windows build it was set up for, or it has an older windows security feature enabled, or it is using a striping convention for an older dated raid setup.
....
It's hit or miss as to whether the disk is still operable, but if it was working when you stopped using it, it is probably still operable, unless you had it in a high dust or high humidity area.

TC

Thanks trinidad for those further thoughts.  Not sure I have fully grasped all the detailed tech advice (I'm no expert in configuring, mounting, bus start up conventions, and all the other procedures you mention - and unaccustomed to command prompts in Windows and also command line working in Linux).

But what I can say is that, using some online advice (youtube...) I did try to find or see this pesky drive in a Windows laptop using command prompts (diskpart and list disk).  It didn't show up. And I have no idea how to "get it to mount" in Windows.  The disk clearly won't mount in either Windows or Linux, although both seem to see the SCSI controller and list the device as a USB device - with the reference ST 932032 5AS (which seems to be the ID or model number for the Iomega 320GB portable HDD, as my other external drive, which is the same Iomega model, has the same ref number...).

I don't quite understand the "SCSI to SATA" adapter comment.  When I took the actual hard drive (its a standard 2.5 HDD just like those in most laptops) out of the Iomega enclosure and tried it in another caddy, it was clear that the drive had the standard SATA connector.  This plugs into the PCB interface/adapter in the caddy which enables the USB connection.

I have all original packaging, instructions and serial number.  The drive doesn't have any fancy configuration or encryption:  it is supposed to be usable out of the box on Windows or Mac.  My other identical drive is configured NTFS, works fine with Windows and Linux.  The packaging says some proprietary EMC Mozyhome online backup software is preinstalled.  I have tried contacting Iomega Customer Service (now owned by Lenovo).  Their answer was 'can't help, it's out of warranty' (even though it is new and unused).

So I fear this may be a lost cause.  Unless or until I can get to see the drive in either Windows or Linux, I can't format, initialise, or do anything else with it on the lines of those tips in the link kindly provided by merlin.  There is no personal data on the drive which I need to retrieve.  With regret, I'm coming to the conclusion that the HDD itself is faulty or dead and that there is no easy way to bring it back to life.

[trinidad]

My last thought on this is that the drive may be formatted as exfat. This was common a few years back on MS storage devices.

You could try: sudo apt-get install exfat-fuse exfat-utils

best of luck
TC

[br1anstorm]

My last thought on this is that the drive may be formatted as exfat. This was common a few years back on MS storage devices.
.....

Thanks for your continuing interest!  But no, the paperwork confirms that it shipped formatted NTFS (the user leaflet even includes instructions on how to reformat for use in a Mac).

I think it's definitely R.I.P. for this deceased Iomega drive!

[Wirezfree]

If you have another PC... put the drive only directly in that, boot LL Live and see if you can see it..??
That will prove the drive is Kaput... You said you have already ruled out the caddy...