Hello,

I have a 280Gb Maxtor USB external drive that is said to be unreadable by Windows XP SP2. When I switch it on, the USB connection is normal with my PC but when I click on the Maxtor icon I get a message saying it is not readable.

This disk was my backup disk but some information on it does not exist on my PC. What should I do?

Thank you for your help.

Figure out if the disk has problems or it is only the enclosure.

How please?

From what I understand files on the disk have become corrupted.

take the disk out of the enclosure and plug it into a PC, IDE o SATA as the case may be. Switch the PC on. Do you see the drive? If so copy the data somewhere safe. Don't re-use drive or housing. If the disk does not show up under windows call a data recovery service.

You can try to plug it on another external enclosure. If the disk does not show up under windows as Mediaman said as then call a data recovery service.

I will try that but is there a software way to recover my drive?

Before deciding HOW to recover your data, the first step is to
determine the exact problem.

How much is important data and how much is worth in money?

Steve, I do not know precisely the exact problem. As I said, the drive is correctly connected through USB, its icon appears in Windows, and it is just when I click on the icon that Windows says it is unreadable. Before this problem, I had a message saying that files were corrupted last time I tried to access the drive.

BlackST, the data is not critical. It is just old data I would like to keep because it could be useful one day.

I should add that this drive also has a Firewire connection that I tried as well but the result is the same as the USB connection.

I know it's hard to diagnose a drive without experience, but you really can't fix something without knowing what needs fixing. Without diagnosis, you might as well try and fix it with a BFH (It's a hammer). I know it's tempting to skip a step if you can't do it, but that's not wise. There is software available, even free, that can help diagnose the drive, but if hooking up the drive internally is more like a last resort to you, you're in over your head. As I see it, you have 3 choices:

1) Accept a steep learning curve, and dedicate quite a bit of time and brain power to this. Accept that, after all that, you may still not have your data.
2) Send it to a professional.
3) Forget it.

There may be a software solution, but it depends on what the problem is. No, there is NOT a nice, neat program that works every time. There is no universal 'Click here to fix your drive' utility. Same way there is no universal pill a Doctor can give you to heal you of whatever ails you. That's why there are Doctors.

Ok, let's take solution 1). But how?

In effect when I bought cars they didn't ask me if I had driving licence or know how to drive...

OK I understand. You should first have clearly stated that you did not want to help me or did not know how to help me (probably the second option...). I would not have lost my time and you would not have lost yours. Next time, try to be honest. Life is better so.

Again : this is not a help desk but a line must be drawn, at this point.
If you are not able to open your enclosure and connect the drive to a known working PC, it is not OUR problem, it's that IT (Information Technology) is not for you. Or you are too lazy so we must stop doing our business and write you a step by step guide like "opening USB enclosures for dummies" or "DR for dummies".
OR let's go straight to the point : a decent diagnose in a decent computer store could cost $50 or about 30 / 40 EUR in Europe, taxes paid. Some computer shops (maybe they are fools, they are crazy or they are rich mecenates) offer such services for free : then find one and go there. Have you tried other forums ?

Follow the usb cable from the pc to the usb with bad hard drive.
That's the usb case you will need to open.
Inside there is a hard drive.
Disconnect usb cable and usb box power cable, open the usb case.
Remove the hard drive from the usb case.
Now connect the hard drive in to inside your computer drive bay secure with screws. Then connect the hard drive using correct cables.
Turn your pc on, then enter the pc bios to check your hard is seen there.
post back with the bios result.