USB Connector problem I suppose - Disk doesn't spin up.

[desertfox]

My HDD with all my pics which is a backup of an existing disk has a major problem. While there is no clicking sound as such I can see that its just powering on for a mill sec and switching off. The HDD has no power supply. It is a 500gb western digital hdd which is powered on with a USB cable.

The drive is encrypted with bitlocker and I have the keys and password. I just cant get the damn powering on light to be stable. It just shows up for a milli sec and shuts up. I've kept this HDD in my wardrobe very carefully and do not use this HDD on a daily basis unless I need to add something to it.

Is there any company that just repair the usb connector part of my portable HDD? Are there any safe home tricks I can do? Or should I send it to the professionals? All I can say is that data is very important to me. The drive was never dropped.

Thanks

Adding video link -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx5ceauIn7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3tDRePilf8

[Vulcan]

My HDD with all my pics which is a backup of an existing disk
[...]
All I can say is that data is very important to me.

I don't understand - either it's only a backup disk (in which case you don't care if it fails, since the data exists elsewhere; that's pretty much the definition of a backup), or else this disk is important because some data only exists on this disk (in which case it's not a backup - it's your only copy of something). Please explain your comments about the disk being a backup and being important.

Is there any company that just repair the usb connector part of my portable HDD?

There are several possible reasons why a hard disk might behave as you described - and a USB power problem is not the only item on the list. Some simple voltage measurements on the disk PCB would quickly confirm or eliminate that possibility.

How exactly have you confirmed that the cause is a USB connector problem, or is that an assumption?

Have you tried connecting that hard disk to another computer (preferably one where that specific hard disk has been known to work before), in order to try to quickly eliminate the possibility of this just being a fault with the USB power on computer you tried already?

The next steps all depend what your skillset and available tools are, and whether you want to take any chances of DIY yourself. If you are not confident in your abilities, or you don't want to take any risks, then obviously finding a good pro will reduce the risks and increase the chances of successful recovery. Your data; your choice.

[craig6928]

sounds like your usb power case could be the problem as its not stable

try putting it in another case.

[fzabkar]

My HDD with all my pics which is a backup of an existing disk has a major problem. While there is no clicking sound as such I can see that its just powering on for a mill sec and switching off. The HDD has no power supply. It is a 500gb western digital hdd which is powered on with a USB cable.

Standard USB ports are current limited to 500mA. A typical 2.5" drive requires about 800mA during spinup. Some USB ports are OK with this, while others are not. In the latter case the problem is solved with a Y-cable that picks up power from two USB ports.

[Vulcan]

A typical 2.5" drive requires about 800mA during spinup.

Indeed It's actually even higher on the WD Scorpio Blue 500GB which is the likely drive inside an external WD 500GB portable enclosure, as desertfox reports: 950mA peak - with 500mA max during read/write:

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/?id=217&type=8

However since there is data already on the disk, then there hasn't been a problem with the USB port(s) used by the OP before having insufficient power. Ensuring the drive is getting enough power on whichever port the OP is now using, was the intent behind the check I suggested, on another PC where that drive has been used successfully in the past

My experiences on USB ports that can't give sufficient power, is that the drive's activity light does not flash briefly as seen in the OP's YouTube videos - instead the drive starts to spin-up, exceeds the current limit, the PTC causes the USB voltage to reduce, drive spins down, current reduces, PTC cools, USB voltage rises again and the cycle repeats, causing repeated flashing of the drive activity light. It's interesting watching this on a 'scope

Have you seen examples of insufficient USB power, where it only causes one brief flash of drive activity? That would good to know about

Anyway, it seems to me that the OP needs to give a better description of the history leading up to this point, instead of assuming (as I believe they are doing) that the USB connector is at fault...

[Vulcan]

Oops - correction to my post: that 500GB drive uses only 320mA during read/write (1.6W). Its some other Scorpio Blue models (like the 320GB models) that need up to 500mA during read/write. The 950mA max figure is correct for the 500GB drive.

[desertfox]

My HDD with all my pics which is a backup of an existing disk
[...]
All I can say is that data is very important to me.

I was unclear. The existing disk was overwritten accidently(used for 10 days after overwitten) and now the backup is not reading(the passport drive you see in the video).

I'm assuming its the USB connector problem. I dont know for sure. The drive wasn't dropped or manhandled. All I remember is the drive being undetectable a couple of times due to the similar loose contact usb issue.

I'm a power computer user but my knowledge of opening up electronics and doing stuff is very limited. I dont have a double y usb cable near my location so I cant try that solution you suggested.

Tried connecting the drive to my laptop and the same problem occurs.

Sent the drive to a professional company yesterday and am waiting for a report.