How do you tell if your Toshiba usb canavio hdd is in a sleep mode?

[yoda313]

I have a 2tb usb external powered Toshiba Canavio harddrive (model hdwc120xk3j1).

It was working fine when I bought it new earlier this year. Now I can't access it.

I have been using it to to store dvds that i have muxed into m2ts files so I can play them back on my wdtv and my sony bluray player. I also have bluray rips muxed into m2ts on there as well as some video files I've downloaded from various sources from the internet.

Its all available elsewhere at home so its not irreplaceable I just can't access it right now.

I get a code 10 on an xp computer in the control panel for the usb port. It says device won't start or some such thing like that.

I can't access it at all on several ports on my vista pc whereas before it was perfectly ok.

And on my sony bluray player it says valid usb device is undetected.

I did a bit of a light research and it appears some toshiba harddrives have a sleep mode. Could this be stuck in a sleep mode?

I would have to dig around to find out if I'm still under warranty but regarding that I don't really want to send it back to either best buy or go through a return to toshiba as I have ripped videos and other stuff like that on it that I don't want to have exposed - not those types of videos mind you but just the fact their are any on their.

This model has a hard plastic shell over it with no obvious screws or bolts and no power or reset buttons that I can tell.

This has been unplugged and replugged in multiple times on various devices and will not be recognized.

Since I don't really want to gamble with a return because of the possibly incriminating evidence on the device will I have to remove the harddrive and get a separate usb enclosure for it?

Is there a more practical way around this?

Or is this toast?

It does power on and the blue light goes on. I do hear some access going on when its first plugged into a computer so something is being accessed but its not showing up as a useable drive.

Do I have a paperweight now or is there a simple solution to this? Or do I have to crack it open and get a different enclosure?

Thanks.

[aedipuss]

i'd take it out and use an esata cable if you have an esata port, otherwise you'll need a sata->usb converter. the plastic shell most likely has a seam that separates.

[yoda313]

i'd take it out and use an esata cable if you have an esata port, otherwise you'll need a sata->usb converter. the plastic shell most likely has a seam that separates.

I think I want to look around a bit more before I commit to taking it apart.

I do have an esata cable and a sata card on my vista pc. However I am using it for internal use for my bluray drive. I'm trying to remember but I do believe it has an esata external port on it. But can you use both internal and external sata ports on a pci sata card? Simultaneously that is?

And actually that would only be for data transfer to and from my vista pc.

Its main purpose is for playback from my wdtv and my sony bluray player both of which are usb not esata.

So I will also need to look into sata usb enclosures for the near future it seems.

Thanks.

If anyone else has experience with this kind of behavior please chime in.

Thanks aedipuss.

[hudsonf]

Have you tried a new usb cable?

[yoda313]

Have you tried a new usb cable?

Good point I haven't. I do have other usb 3 cables with my other usb drives. Who knows?

Edit - no luck - I tried another usb 3 cable from a different harddrive and same results on my pc, wdtv and bluray player.

Fyi there is a whirring noise and an audible click when it is trying to start (the harrddrive). So something is going on but its not starting and being accessed properly.

[fritzi93]

Like aedipuss said, there's most likely a seam you can separate. Just a month ago, I got a Seagate 3 tb external (it was cheaper than the bare drive) and successfully removed it without obvious damage to the case. Just a couple minor scratches along the seam. I swapped it with an older 1 tb drive from my HTPC. The 1 tb is working fine in the external case.

I tried looking up your model number for a video how-to (like I found for my Seagate), but no luck.

Anyway, find a seam corner and insert a flat screwdriver, prying it open enough to stick the edge of a thick credit card in. Then move the flat screwdriver along the seam looking for a locking tab. This works best with a thin screwdriver or knife. If you can find a locking tab, you have it made. Press on it with the screwdriver and crack it open a little. After the first one goes, the rest are easy.

It's possible the above won't work with that model, I dunno. But it's worth a try.

Good luck.

[lingyi]

Have you tried a new usb cable?

Good point I haven't. I do have other usb 3 cables with my other usb drives. Who knows?

Edit - no luck - I tried another usb 3 cable from a different harddrive and same results on my pc, wdtv and bluray player.

Fyi there is a whirring noise and an audible click when it is trying to start (the harrddrive). So something is going on but its not starting and being accessed properly.

That click is a bad sign. The drive has probably failed mechanically. It sounds like the head mechanism is stuck. Try some of the below before trying the following as a last resort. Give the drive a light smack on the side when the drive is off. Note that this may well REALLY kill the drive. If it does work, do not turn the drive off until you've done whatever you want with the data (move or erase).

Is the drive recognized, but not accessible on your PC (i.e. visible in System/Device Manager/Drives)? If it is, the connection is fine, there's something else causing the discconect.

Try mounting the drive in a live Linux distro (Knoppix, Puppy Liunx or DamnSmallLinux are free and easy). You can boot from a CD or USB. Linux is a lot more forgiving about software drive errors than Windows. See if you can mount the drive and access the data from there. If you can mount the drive, but still can't access the data, it's likely not available.

Your drive is likely still under warranty, my 3TB Canvio has a three year warranty and I believe your drive probably has the same warranty. If you really want to open the drive, here's a page that describes how to do it. http://www.gearhack.com/myink/ViewPage.php?file=docs/Toshiba%20Canvio%20Desktop%20Exte...%20Disassembly Note that you'll likely break some or all the tabs and void the warranty.

[yoda313]

lingyi --- thanks ill try linux when i have some time.

what about returning it to toshiba with ripped videos on it?

do they exchange it no questions asked?

thanks fritzi