Need help with an external hard drive problem: I am wondering if anyone has experience with an external hard drive that has had the port area (where you plug in) collapse and if you...

RE Loc: California

I am wondering if anyone has experience with an external hard drive that has had the port area (where you plug in) collapse and if you know where I should take it for repair or even if it can be repaired. I have a ton of photo's on it that are now lost to me unless I can get it repaired.

Rena

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

RE wrote:

I am wondering if anyone has experience with an external hard drive that has had the port area (where you plug in) collapse and if you know where I should take it for repair or even if it can be repaired. I have a ton of photo's on it that are now lost to me unless I can get it repaired.

Rena

You can buy another case and install the drive in it.

johntaylor333

You can buy an inexpensive SATA to USB adapter, plug the drive into the adapter, plug the USB connector into your PC and off you go.

Exemplifies the backup issue where you need at least 2 (preferably 3) copies of all files you want, with at least 1 offsite (normally in the cloud).

My setup has a 12TB 4-drive RAID array for local backup and Crashplan Pro/Businesss (less than $100/year) for the cloud backup (also Amazon Drive/Pictures for photos if you are Prime is free)

RE Loc: California

Thank you, i will look into that.

RE Loc: California

johntaylor333 wrote:

You can buy an inexpensive SATA to USB adapter, plug the drive into the adapter, plug the USB connector into your PC and off you go.

Exemplifies the backup issue where you need at least 2 (preferably 3) copies of all files you want, with at least 1 offsite (normally in the cloud).

My setup has a 12TB 4-drive RAID array for local backup and Crashplan Pro/Businesss (less than $100/year) for the cloud backup (also Amazon Drive/Pictures for photos if you are Prime is free)

Thank you johntaylor333, i will try this! I did not know about Amazon's fred storage, i need to take advantage of that!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

johntaylor333 wrote:

You can buy an inexpensive SATA to USB adapter, plug the drive into the adapter, plug the USB connector into your PC and off you go.

Exemplifies the backup issue where you need at least 2 (preferably 3) copies of all files you want, with at least 1 offsite (normally in the cloud).

My setup has a 12TB 4-drive RAID array for local backup and Crashplan Pro/Businesss (less than $100/year) for the cloud backup (also Amazon Drive/Pictures for photos if you are Prime is free)

Good solution, but this is just a temporary one. The OP's drive case USB connector is still broken and needs to be addressed. He needs a new case, not an adapter.

RE Loc: California

Gene51 wrote:

Good solution, but this is just a temporary one. The OP's drive case USB connector is still broken and needs to be addressed. He needs a new case, not an adapter.

Hello Gene51, wondering where I would get anee case. I looked on Amazon to no avail, I was thinking maybe I need to contact the manufacturer Seagate.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

RE wrote:

Hello Gene51, wondering where I would get anee case. I looked on Amazon to no avail, I was thinking maybe I need to contact the manufacturer Seagate.

An external case can be purchased from Amazon, Newegg, or any other retailer that sells computer components.

You just have to match up the drive size - 2.5" or 3.5" - then you need to find out what the fastest connection is to your computer - USB2, 3, C or Thunderbolt (for MAC). The Thunderbolt enclosures are more expensive.

Installing the drive should take about 5 mins or less.

You can start here:

https://www.newegg.com/Hard-Drive-Enclosures/SubCategory/ID-92?Tid=161330

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

RE wrote:

I am wondering if anyone has experience with an external hard drive that has had the port area (where you plug in) collapse and if you know where I should take it for repair or even if it can be repaired. I have a ton of photo's on it that are now lost to me unless I can get it repaired.

Rena

https://www.sabrent.com/product/EC-DFFN/usb-3-0-sata-external-hard-drive-lay-flat-docking-station-built-cooling-fan-2-5-3-5in-hdd-ssd/

I've got several of these, easy to use, no tools just drop a SATA drive in (takes both 2.5 and 3.5 drives) and slide it into position. It also has a built in fan to keep your drive cool and they come with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty. They also have IDE drive models in the event the drive in your unit isn't SATA or eSATA. As already suggested get a second preferably a third drive and do backups, keep two in two different locations (office/bedroom) in your home and the third off site. Good luck and happy shooting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Gene51 wrote:

You can buy another case and install the drive in it.

Yep! Easy Peasy. What model and brand? Large or small?

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=enclosure+for+hard+drive&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aenclosure+for+hard+drive

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

i believe that only 5 gb is free; I was just notified by Amazon that they will start deleting files

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

From Amazon's website (Prime users)

"Prime Photos: Prime Photos offers free online photo storage to Prime members, who can save and share unlimited photos on desktop, mobile, and tablet. Share unlimited photo storage with up to 5 people, and collect photos together in the Prime Photos Family Vault. With the Prime Photos mobile and web apps, photo backup has never been easier. Use the iOS or Android mobile apps to auto-save your photos, then safely delete them from your phone to free up space on your device. Upload photos from your desktop computer, and store them safely all in Prime Photos web app. Access your content anywhere, across desktop, mobile, and tablet."

Ed Chu wrote:

i believe that only 5 gb is free; I was just notified by Amazon that they will start deleting files

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Ed Chu wrote:

i believe that only 5 gb is free; I was just notified by Amazon that they will start deleting files

Isn’t that Prime Music storage? I received an email from Amazon last week suggesting that if I wanted to keep my Amazon cloud stored, I needed to log in and click on a tab, “Keep my Music.”

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Ed Chu wrote:

i believe that only 5 gb is free; I was just notified by Amazon that they will start deleting files

An alternative is Amazon S3 cloud storage which has no limit except what you can afford. There are 3 levels/tiers with different prices available depending on how often you need to access the files. I pay about $3.00 per month for probably 300-400GB in their mid tier.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Rena, external hard drive enclosures are not that expensive and far better than factory brand enclosures.