Solved Failed Driver software installation - TOSHIBA USB drive

[visruth]

I have a toshiba canvio basics 1TB portable external hard drive usb powered. Model no. E05A100BBU2AK. I had purchased it some 3-4years back. It worked for some 4-5months or so. Then, whenever i plug it in the port, an error comes "FAILED DRIVER SOFTWARE INSTALLATION". The device doesn't come with a software installation CD or guide... It's plug and play only I think. The white LED light goes on flickering right when i plug it in till i remove it. A click sound along with metallic scratching sound comes from the device at a regular interval while plugged in & also I can feel the drive moving inside as soon as it is plugged.
I had tested it in all the ports of my system, also in many other systems of my friends but gives the same error on plugging in or the system does not identify it. It cannot be seen in My Computer. the hard drive is not getting recognised. In Device manager I cannot see any error in USB ports & everything is workng properly. USB ports works when other devices are plugged in.
Kindly help me with this issue.

Visruth

 

[frozwire]

I think the problem is within the enclosure's interface controllers. You can try to take the drive out of the enclosure and connect it directly to your PC via and available SATA port.

 

[visruth]

ok. so I should take out the drive. mine is Toshiba canvio 1tb usb 2.0. i'm not able to open it, I have to take care not to break it right. its tough one. could u tell why I need sata port. mine is hp pavilion 15 notebook & don't think it has sata port.

 

[frozwire]

could u tell why I need sata port.

This is to find out whether the hard drive is fine and if its only external enclosure is faulty.

mine is hp pavilion 15 notebook & don't think it has sata port.

You can try to connect it to a PC in which you have access to a SATA port or you can obtain an extra enclosure/adapter for you to use it to test in your laptop.

 

[visruth]

I have the mini usb to USB cable that was used to connect the portable drive to my laptop, isn't that what is needed to connect after removal? That's why I had doubt regarding why specifically sata port.

 

[CountMike]

I have the mini usb to USB cable that was used to connect the portable drive to my laptop, isn't that what is needed to connect after removal? That's why I had doubt regarding why specifically sata port.

It's likely that Disk inside enclosure is a SATA disk and enclosure has adapter from SATA to USB. If that adapter malfunctions you can take disk itself from the enclosure and connecting to a SATA port on a computer you can check if the disk drive itself is working or it is adapter's fault.
Beware, some external disks have direct USB connection without adapter to USB.

 

[visruth]

@CountMike OK now I got it. But would the regular scratching sound & clicks be caused by enclosure... I don't know anything about these, just asked out of curiosity

 

[CountMike]

@CountMike OK now I got it. But would the regular scratching sound & clicks be caused by enclosure... I don't know anything about these, just asked out of curiosity 

If it is trying to initialize and USB part is not good, than yes. On the other hand, noises like that can come from disk itself if it's faulty. Do you have an AC or car adapter to USB for charging phones ? They give 5v only and data connectors are not active. if you plug that disk in one of them it will get power only, so if it makes noises than, it's disk's fault and you are probably SOL.

 

[visruth]

@CountMike when I asked about the repair with Toshiba guys they told they only deal with replacement and backup of these hdd & that these type of issues come due to frequent plugging out without waiting hdd to stop running.

 

[visruth]

I'll try that. So there's no problem with plugging it to ac adapter?

 

[CountMike]

@CountMike when I asked about the repair with Toshiba guys they told they only deal with replacement and backup of these hdd & that these type of issues come due to frequent plugging out without waiting hdd to stop running.

Yes that can happen with mechanical drives, you get a "Head crush", heads do not park immediately and disk doesn't stop till than. Capacitors in it keep drive spinning until cache finishes writing to disk and heads park. That's why you should use "Safely remove Hardware and Eject media" before disconnecting them, It's not critical with solid state drives but mechanical......
Also, jarring them while they are spinning can ruin them.

 

[CountMike]

I'll try that. So there's no problem with plugging it to ac adapter?

No problem, only 5v on them. (outer two contacts on USB connector).

 

[visruth]

@CountMike OK. I tried it with ac adapter, problem persisting....

 

[CountMike]

@CountMike OK. I tried it with ac adapter, problem persisting.... 

Hope you don't have anything of great importance on it. Suppose that warranty is out too.

 

[visruth]

@CountMike so that's the end of it right? I can't try for replacement as it's out of warranty. Backing up costs double the mrp of the device... Toshiba guys cautioned!

 

[visruth]

@CountMike had few personal items, family pics, college snaps...

 

[CountMike]

@CountMike had few personal items, family pics, college snaps...

Well, it's either service or can still try to take HDD out so you get direct access to it and maybe salvage something out of it. That's what they would start with in the repair shop.

 

[visruth]

@CountMike I don't know how to take it out in the first place, you just Google my hdd in... You can see that it's completely closed without a single screw. I fear it might break all together. Could u help me out in disassembling it....

 

[CountMike]

@CountMike I don't know how to take it out in the first place, you just Google my hdd in... You can see that it's completely closed without a single screw. I fear it might break all together. Could u help me out in disassembling it.... 

Any other name or type marked on it, can't see to be able to find it at Toshiba by those numbers.?

 

[visruth]

@CountMike similar to this one... Product number too almost similar, Toshiba Canvio Basics 1.0 TB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive E05A100BBU2XK (Black):Amazon:Electronics
No other specs written on it. There's 06/11 marked... May be that's manufacture date