I needed to get a few files of my External HDD so I plugged it in to my MacBook but then heard it making funny noises (a buzzing sound every second). It won't show up on the desktop or display in Disk Utility if as a last resort having to reformatting it. Is there a method of recovering a HDD in this state without loosing files?

Thanks,
ChrisG.

If the HD is stuffed and it sounds like it is and you value what's on it, then take it to a data recovery specialist like Xber in North Sydney.
They helped me but it cost $400.00.
Call them fr more info T. 02 9906 7976

CF

That "buzzing noise every second" is not a very promising sign -- that often means that something physicaly has gone wrong with the hard drive itself (not the case that it is in, although that could have a problem too). If it is the HD itself, that buzzing is the heads trying to find track 0 as part of the power-on sequence, or the motor isn't firing up properly, or if it is the case, the case fan could be on its way out.

What sort of external HD is it? Can you power it up by itself without connecting it to a computer? Does it still make the noise?

The HDD isn't labelled with any company name. I won it at the Sydney MacTalk meet at the start of this year (I have contacted ClockWork regarding the issue). Also, whenever I connect it up to any computer whether it be PC or Mac it still makes the clicking sound. I have decided to stop connecting it up to the computers as that reduces the chances of recovering any data.

redacted, just saw the bit about it doing the buzz in any situation, D'OH!

Can you power it up without connecting it to any computer?

Is it a 2.5" or 3.5" design?

Can you open the case and find out what brand / model / capacity of hard drive is being used inside?

I just got an email back from ClockWork. Very nice guy. He said I can mail the External HDD to him and he will attempt to fix/recover the data from the hdd. I really appreciate the help ClockWork as well as Brains and captain fantasy have given me. You guys just maid my day

If the drive is USB powered, it's possible that the drive isn't getting enough power to spin up.
If this is the case the HDD inside may still be perfectly fine.

Here's hoping your data is OK.

Thanks for the reply geektechnu, I am using my External HDD via Firewire so I don't think that would be the case.

I have a problem with an external HDD doing something similar. It would spin up, make a clicking sound then spin down repeatedly. I took the drive out and connected it to my G4 as a slave and it works like a dream, just use it as an internal drive. If you're feeling technical you could try that.

If you are connecting via Firewire and it is not working, try connecting via the USB instead. I had a HDD that I ran using Firewire and it failed (also does not boot off IDE channel), but quite happily connects via USB, or as non-booting IDE device.

Data transferred - old HDD junked.

Thanks for the suggestion mmulhern, I will try and dig out an old usb cable and see if that fixes the problem, but I highly doubt it. Worth a try any way.