Data Access I have a Firewire only external drive. My desktop PC died and I had to replace it with a HP laptop. There is only a USB port. How can I get to the data on the drive now?

SOURCE: Transcend external hard drive not working.

Contact Transcend Support:

support@transcendusa.com

SOURCE: My PC is not recognizing my WD Passport 120GB USB external drive.

I have the 80GB WD passport and it suddenly stopped working one day.  The unit lights up but nothing else.  Finally I cracked the case open and found, as I suspected, that the drive is simply a SATA laptop drive with a SATA-to-USB conversion card built in.  I suspected that the card was **** so I disconnected it and used a USB hard drive adapter (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3770&name=USB_Hard_Drive_Adapter) and I can read/write to the drive just fine.  Best part is that the adapter I use has its own power supply so I'm not pulling juice through the USB cable for a SATA drive. 
Even though mine "works" again I don't recommend these drives to anyone.  They're just not sturdy enough or well designed.

SOURCE: USB port broken in 1TB seagate Freeagent external hard drive

Hi there,

Yes you can just take the hard drive out of the case, can use it with any other case, you can also just put it inside your computer and connect it to the sata cable :)

Heres a case you could use for your drive... Click Here

Please rate

Many thanks

SOURCE: How to recover data from a seemingly dead/non-functional USB flash drive

It sounds like your media is malfunctioning (electronics).
For this type of problem, we offer a data recovery service.
You simply have to send your media to us.
Our technicians will recover your files on CDs and return everything
within 48h. You just need to send us your Lexar with this form:
http://www.lc-tech.com/documents/LC_Technology_Data_Recovery_Service-SD-Eric.pdf


There is a charge for this service, but ONLY if we
are successful. The pricing is on the form. Please note
that the chances of recovery are around 90%.

Eric Beaudoin
ericb@lc-tech.com
1-866-603-2195 ext 103
LC Technology International

SOURCE: Data Recovery from Seagate Desktop Expansion 500GB External Hard

This is a solution I have used in the past and it has worked. It's a Seagate Recover utility for end users.
https://services.seagate.com/diysoftware.aspx

If the data is absolutley critical and very valuable, you can send it to Seagate and they are very good at recovery as well. It gets a little pricey at $800, but I too have had to use that as well for mission critical data I could not afford to lose.

https://services.seagate.com/consumer_standard_services.aspx