use ext HDD as less time as possible, it will prolong its life; ext HDD aren't designed to operating for days.
most importantly....DO NOT DROP IT!!!

hi, i have some problems with my external hard disk

I broke the port on my external hard drive. It isn't visibly damaged, but when I plug the USB cable in, the port feels wiggly, like it's not connected to what it should be connected to. Nothing happens when I plug it into my computer. How can I fix this or recover the data?

The items in my external hdd are important, is there any way i can recover it?

My external hard disk is Samsung Portable S2

Please give me suggestion or advice on how can i fix this problem.

Thanks in advance

Unless you're good at soldering, it's advised to take to someone for repair, it's probably the solder inside the board loosen or broken off.
If you needs to recover the data this way, this can consider breaking the warranty if it's still valid at this point, at least it's still better than losing or spend a fortune to send for expert data recovery.

Good luck.

Thx for the reply sir
Does the local computer shop can fix this problem or at least recover the data?

Because i did not manage to do another backup since I have 1 external hdd only...

I do not know about this, some may have a good soldering skills to help you with, you may try to state your situation and see if any can help you with it.

p/s: Make a call first is a good start, won't waste your petrol asking for nothing.

if the data in the hdd is very important, can open the hdd then put internally in pc to copy the data.
wheres ur location?
pm me. maybe can be done.

This post has been edited by Max: Feb 18 2014, 03:37 PM

hi there,
thanks for reply.
I already took my external hard disk to the local computer shop. They inspected the external hard disk and found out the port connection the hdd is broken. Besides that, my external hard disk is on-board type so it seems unable to recover the data.

Does my external hdd still have chances to be saved?

Well, like I said, most probably the connector's solder is loosen, need to re-solder it back, if the connector itself is totally out of shape (metal is bent or disjoint) then the chances is low unless they have the exact replacement parts which I doubt so.
The shop probably do not want to make your repair, very rare people wants to risk their business repair very sensitive part, you can however ask a few if you can come by, probably some electronic shop that do electric watches repair? If you seriously want to get your data back, that is.
Otherwise expert/professional recovery option is very expensive, checking only cost you RM300 no including postage, and will depends on how much you want to recover, they may charge you per GBs, this one I don't know how much le...

did they crack open the hdd case?
usually external hdd also same as internal hdd. just with casing and usb interface.

So what HDD brand is the best nowadays, in term of reliability?
I've been using Samsung Spinpoint F4 for years now without any problem.

I'm looking to buy new HDD but has a question regarding which brand to choose.

Should i buy the same Samsung HDD or is there any good reason for me to buy other brand instead?

you already have your own answer

I'm just wondering if other brand of HDD is better ya know.
Well i guess i just buy samsung brand then.

You do know right that Samsung hardisk division was bought over by Seagate?

yet both brand existed

I didnt know that.
Just googled and read the news.

Apparently Seagate did bought Samsung harddisk division back in 2011.
Huh, interesting.

Can you still get Samsung F4E brand new?

All good brands telan by bigger companies. WD telan Hitachi which is my favourite HD manufacturer. But then WD still allows Hitachi to manufacture from their Shenzen plant and sell them out in the market unlike Samsung which you cannot find anymore.

can someone help me.. my external drive can't be detected. When i plug it in, the external drive does not show up in My computer.

When i open the drive manager, i can see My passport. I formated the external recently and this happened.

any advice?

Just assign any drive letter to the external drive and you should be able to see it at My Computer.

never buy any samsung hdd tho
but all computer shop do list Samsung brand under their hdd catalogue

Which shop list Samsung brand hardisk?