Data Recovery from External Disk Drive [ Edited ]

[Mumbodog]

@ Huffer, Re-read the question,

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It is a Lacie d2 200GB hard drive. It is one of their older models and this design almost impossible to open. Any useful tips on how to open the outer case for this device?

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[WaliN]

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Mumbodog wrote:

Most likely the hard drive is OK, it is a failure of the USB controller or power supply inside the enclosure.

You can disassemble the enclosure to remove the hard drive, then use a hard drive to usb adapter to get your data. 

Google "disassemble <your enclosure model>", you might find instructions for your particular model.

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I now have removed the enclosure on the hard drive and I obtained a usb adapter. How do I use the hard drive to usb adapter to get my data?

[Mumbodog]

Are there no instructions that came with the adapter?

Normally you connect the adapter to the data port, then connect the power supply to the power connector on the hard drive, plug in the power supply to a wall outlet, the hard drive should spin up, then plug the usb into the PC, it should take a few seconds for Windows to load the driver for the adapter and hard drive, then you should see the drive in Windows Explorer with all your data. 

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Do we have to be so literal? 2 screws will let you peek at the hard drive. To get it out of the enclosure to do anything useful with it is going to take a lot more. But finding the video on youtube was excellent work. I was referring to LaCie drives as the ones that can be a real bear to get into. 

And here is a site showing in pictures how to use the ide to usb adapter just like the one I have, and recommend.

pictures

One big pointer to emphasize is the the ide hard drive should be jumpered master or it may not work right.

[WaliN]

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Mumbodog wrote:

Are there no instructions that came with the adapter?

Normally you connect the adapter to the data port, then connect the power supply to the power connector on the hard drive, plug in the power supply to a wall outlet, the hard drive should spin up, then plug the usb into the PC, it should take a few seconds for Windows to load the driver for the adapter and hard drive, then you should see the drive in Windows Explorer with all your data. 

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The instructions with the adapter are cryptic.  I found the video really helpful. Is there a video for this procedure?

[Huffer]

check post above for pictures of how to do it

[Mumbodog]

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Huffer wrote:

Do we have to be so literal? 

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Yes I do, I post on too many forums and get pounded when I don't answer specific questions with specific answers. Now I am getting pounded for being specific here.....but i digress.

[Huffer]

Hey we are all friends here...no pounding I promise

[Mumbodog]

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Huffer wrote:

Hey we are all friends here...no pounding I promise

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Darn, I was beginning to like it. 

[WaliN]

Mumbodog and Huffer, you are amazing! Your solutions worked and saved my precious video files that I thought were lost. I would had to pay a lot of money for a data recovery service, but not anymore. Thanks!