First try a new data cable. Make sure the ports on the computer are working and not disabled for security or power savings. (Try a known working device. If that doesn't work, then check the Advanced Power settings from the screen saver and the device manager.) Check if the drive is listed as an available drive in the Administrative Tools (Disk management). Start > Control Panel > System > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management

Does the external drive work on another computer? If not, then either the drive or the housing is bad. If the unit is out of warranty, open the unit and attach it to an USB/IDE/SATA drive adapter and then see if the computer can see the drive. (Alternatively, you can connect the drive to the motherboard of a desktop computer after opening it or put it into another drive enclosure (just make sure to get the correct size (2.5" or 3.5") and type (IDE or SATA)).)

This will let you get your data off the drive. If the drive is still under warranty, you can get it repaired or replaced but the company will not transfer the data.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

First thing, check to see if the connection are properly connected, and the drive is turned on. You rexternal hard drive should be able to work with windows Xp and up. If all connection is made, and other device can be connected via usb and not your drive then it your external drive that has malfuction. Try testing it on another computer to make sure, but at this point I believe your external drive is dead and malfuction. even though external drive enclosure still work if you see a power light coming from it, your hard drive disk inside it is damaged, and will need replacement. If you have important data saved to your fantom drive, you can maybe recover the files by sending it to bestbuy, office depot to see if they can recover the files, The fee upon that will vary on how much data is recovered.