Member Avatar for hailsontherocks

3 days ago I plugged in my external into a USB hub to connect it to my laptop and be able to use a USB mouse and keyboard at the same time.

I was running music off it (My iTunes library is on my external) when I heard it make the "disconnected noise" and iTunes crashed.

I unplugged the device and plugged it back in and it came up with the following message:
"cannot read device
must be formatted first"

It didn't recognise a size or name for the device but it could read that it was a Maxtor.

I restarted the computer and the same problem kept re-occurring.

I tried to rebuild the NTFS as I thought it might haved Cr*ped itself while reading. But it kept coming back that it couldn't read any of the sectors....


now it has been unplugged for a day, I just plugged it in and it reads fine. Im not sure what the problem was, just wondering if anyone could help me out on what it was. I know that Maxtors have a high fail rate, is it time to get a new external?

Cheers for anyhelp

  • 3 Contributors
  • 3 Replies
  • 181 Views
  • 11 Hours Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by hailsontherocks

Dani AI

Generated

A short expert summary and safe next steps based on the thread: the behaviour described (drive disconnecting while in use, then later mounting again) most commonly points to an intermittent USB/connection problem — a flaky hub port, cable, or the enclosure’s USB-to-SATA electronics — rather than an immediate catastrophic platter failure. and were on the right track about the hub; later noting a port that “constantly drop[s] out” makes the hub/cable the prime suspect. Critical files should be copied off while the drive is accessible; continued use without diagnosis risks further data loss.

Immediate checklist (do these before attempting repair utilities):

  • Plug the external directly into a known-good USB port on a different PC, using a different USB cable.
  • If the enclosure is user-serviceable and warranty is not a concern, try the internal drive in a known-good SATA or USB-SATA adapter to rule out the enclosure bridge.
  • Check Disk Management/Device Manager for how Windows reports the disk and whether the partition shows as RAW or offline.
  • If the drive is noisy (clicking/slamming) stop powering it and consider professional recovery.

If the filesystem looks corrupted or Windows wants to format: do not run chkdsk or other repair tools until a full sector image has been captured — running repairs can make recovery harder. Data-recovery best practice is to image the drive first, then work on the image rather than the original. (ontrack.com)

Useful, non-destructive tools and next steps:

  • Run a SMART check (smartctl/smartmontools) to see drive health. (smartmontools.com)
  • Create a sector image with a resilient tool such as GNU ddrescue (examples and workflow in the manual). A common two-step approach is a fast first pass to grab readable data, then slower retry passes for bad areas. (gnu.org)

For brand diagnostics and warranty support (Seagate now manages Maxtor legacy support), SeaTools can run non-destructive tests; use it after imaging if practical, or when checking an otherwise healthy drive. (investors.seagate.com)

If uncertainty remains or the drive shows mechanical failure, stop DIY attempts and contact a reputable data-recovery service.

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

Member Avatar for techsheaven

Are you using a powered, or un-powered hub (does the hub have a power adapter)? An un-powered hub splits the amperage of one USB port among all the devices you plug into it. You may be under-powering the external hard drive. A powered hub will supply full amperage to your devices.

Edited by techsheaven because: n/a
Member Avatar for Rik_

It was most likely the hub at fault. You may have exceedit it's bandwith or amperage capability!

Member Avatar for hailsontherocks

Yes, I believe it was the hubs fault. it is powered but it has never been perfect since day one. One of the Ports will constantly drop out! Thank you for your help.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.