Hi,
Yesterday I accidentally knocked over my Buffalo 1TB DriveStation External USB 2.0 Hard Drive (Model HD-CE1.0TU2)(Model HD-CE1.0TU2).
It was plugged in on my laptop and I picked up the laptop towards me off a wood table and it yanked the USB cord hooked up behind the HD causing it to tip over on its side.
The drive was plugged in(power adapter + USB), the HD light was on, NO data was being transferred.
Right after tipping over the HD started to make this barely audible sound, I felt a vibration when I placed the HD back upright, so I put my ear to the vents and heard this low repeated sound (download sound mp3 below). I didn't want to disconnect the HD without safely removing it(tried but didnt work) so I shutdown the PC and then disconnected it.

BEFORE
So, This is (in steps) what the HD USED TO DO before tipping over:
1) Plug in POWER ONLY - (USB STILL DISCONNECTED).
* Drive lights up, simultaneously makes this loud CLICK (sounds like a electromagnetic Relay switch clicking).
* Spins a lil bit, accesses HD (heads moving), then realizes that USB is disconnected and powers off with that same loud CLICK (lights off, no hd spin, no sound from HD)

**This whole event occurs (from power plug in --to--> auto power off) in a duration of about 2 seconds*
**In specifications this External HD has a "Power Savings Mode - Reduces Power Consumption up to 75%"

2) Plug in USB in computer (after the drive has auto powered down)
* Drive lights up again simultaneously makes the loud CLICK (maybe electromagnetic Relay switch clicking) again.
* Spins and starts accessing the HD (heads start to move)
* Shows up the HD partition in My Computer

AFTER
Now this is what the Ex HD does:
1) Plug in POWER ONLY - (USB STILL DISCONNECTED).
* Drive lights up, NO CLICK
* NO SPIN, NO realization of USB disconnection, NO AUTO POWER OFF, NO CLICK.
* Makes the same repeating sound that it did after getting tipped over.

2) Plug in USB in computer (the drive hasn't auto powered down)
* NO Change in HD(as it stayed powered on before)
* PC detects a USB connection, shows a Safely Remove USB icon in System Tray.
* NO HD partition in My Computer
* NO HD Disk & Partition in Disk Management
* NO HD Disk & Partition in commercial Partitioning Software.
* Trying to Safely Remove HD via the Safely Remove icon in System Tray.
** After clicking the icon, the drive name shows up in the pop out, BUT no Partition Address/Location (C:\, E:\ etc).
** CANNOT Safely Remove - After selecting the HD in the pop out, then waiting about 2 mins a error shows up that the drive is in use and windows cannot safely eject.

** After about 5 mins of being powered on and just making the sound, the HD "kinda" powers off(NO LIGHT & NO SOUND), whether USB is connected or not connected(Maybe a time out feature).
** But when it does.. there is NO CLICK and the Safely Remove ICON IS STILL THERE(USB CONNECTED).


Download HD Sound Mp3's
1) HD Sound
2) Full Sound Volume (less representative)
**** The SOUND file #2 PLAYS VERY LOUD compared to its actual volume or sharpness. I just put the HD vent right next to the microphone on my laptop (1mm away) to record the sound. When you put your EAR to the HD, it sounds like a BUZZ a low buzz. Without paying attention to it the sound cannot be heard.


So, here I am,
I have used about 500GB on this 1TB HD. The HD contains very important valuable Data.
I don't know if Buffalo makes their own HD or if they use some other company HD and make the Case.
If it helps.. from looking in the External Case vents, I can tell that the HD tipped on the metal plate side of HD facing down.
What do you think happened in the HD after the tipping over.(Power/connection issue, heads, spindle, platter, etc)?
What can I do myself to maybe repair the HD depending on what might have messed up in it?
What are the chances that the HD Case is messed up(power or connection) and the actual HD is OK?
Any Diagnostic software that I should try to identify the problem?

ANY HELP would be really appreciated!!!! I know there are very smart and experienced folks on this site
Quote the above text as much as you want, so I can identify the exact problem/event that the response relates to.
PLEASE go into as much details as possible, it helps

Thanks!

Spindle is stuck and cannot start, for whatever reason. Will require professional mechanical intervention.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Hello,

From the noise, it is head stuckage or spindle stuck.
Sorry to say, but this case require a pro.
At this point, you can not do anything good, except leave it off and move carefully to a good dr company near you....

Just for preventing the additional problems:
results-the-yourself-solutions-t11912.html?hilit=results

Please ask before you do anything, if your data is really important....

Janos

It sounds like money to me . . . .

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

Are you suggesting the BFH be applied to a precision instrument?! With any hope of it surviving?!