Is this HDD dead?

[Vectraat]

So I safely ejected a Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB from an Nvidia Shield then I plugged it into my Windows 10 desktop to transfer some files and it didn't show up in File Explorer so I figured I needed to assign it a different drive letter but I couldn't find the drive under disk management either....
After that I plugged it into a Windows 10 laptop and another desktop running Windows 7. I couldn't see the HDD on either computer in file explorer or disk management. Oddly, the only machine I could feel the HDD operating on was the Windows 7 machine. Is this drive toast? 

[19_blackie_73]

Does it still work with the shield?

[Vectraat]

1 minute ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

Does it still work with the shield?

Nope, rebooted the Shield and plugged it back in to check afterward and it doesn't show up. Kinda weird how simply safely ejecting and plugging it into a computer = dead HDD? 

[Spakes]

Does it show up in Device Manager or BIOS? If no, then controller is done, you can disassemble HDD casing and plug via general SATA ports.

But if controller is there (most likely, knowing Seagate), then drive is toasted, yeah...

[Vectraat]

11 minutes ago, Spakes said:

Does it show up in Device Manager or BIOS? If no, then controller is done, you can disassemble HDD casing and plug via general SATA ports.

But if controller is there (most likely, knowing Seagate), then drive is toasted, yeah...

Kinda don't wanna reboot my main desktop to check BIOS at the moment. It does not show up in my desktops device manager nor my laptops device manager and I have no idea where to find it in DELL BIOS. 

What do you mean by "plug via general SATA ports" ? 
So you're saying if there's a controller when I take it apart then the drive is just toast. 

[Spakes]

Drive might still be alive. Just plug it as typical 2.5" SATA HDD into your PC/laptop.

[Vectraat]

2 minutes ago, Spakes said:

Drive might still be alive. Just plug it as typical 2.5" SATA HDD into your PC/laptop.

Ok, so you're saying just take it apart and connect SATA data SATA power cables. 

[Spakes]

Just now, Vectraat said:

Ok, so you're saying just take it apart and connect SATA data SATA power cables. 

Yep, precisely.

[Vectraat]

35 minutes ago, Spakes said:

Yep, precisely.

Well, if it does show that it is working like that, I still need it to be able to connect via USB or it is useless to me. Is there no way to get another controller to connect via USB?  

[TechyBen]

What size drive? Some smaller external drives are connected via USB 3.0 connectors soldered to the mainboard, and do not have SATA connectors. If it though has a sata connector, you should be able to swap the caddy/case over for a standard one.

[edit]

Seems yours might be normal SATA under the caddy:

https://www.servethehome.com/seagate-4tb-2-5-sata-hdd-124-get-ready-density/

 

I have a couple of (other branded) USB 3.0 2.5 drives, and they are pure usb 3.0 connectors, so if that snaps off/breaks, they need a lot of work to fix.

[Vectraat]

2 minutes ago, TechyBen said:

What size drive? Some smaller external drives are connected via USB 3.0 connectors soldered to the mainboard, and do not have SATA connectors. If it though has a sata connector, you should be able to swap the caddy/case over for a standard one.

4 TB 2.5" What do you mean swap the cady / case for a standard one? 

https://www.seagate.com/ca/en/consumer/backup/backup-plus/

[Spakes]

45 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

4 TB 2.5" What do you mean swap the cady / case for a standard one? 

https://www.seagate.com/ca/en/consumer/backup/backup-plus/

He means that you will need to install your HDD into 3rd party custom enclosure like this one.

https://www.newegg.com/p/0VN-00D1-00005

 

[Vectraat]

1 hour ago, Spakes said:

He means that you will need to install your HDD into 3rd party custom enclosure like this one.

https://www.newegg.com/p/0VN-00D1-00005

 

Right, because it has the controller, correct? 

[Vectraat]

2 hours ago, TechyBen said:

What size drive? Some smaller external drives are connected via USB 3.0 connectors soldered to the mainboard, and do not have SATA connectors. If it though has a sata connector, you should be able to swap the caddy/case over for a standard one.

[edit]

Seems yours might be normal SATA under the caddy:

https://www.servethehome.com/seagate-4tb-2-5-sata-hdd-124-get-ready-density/

 

I have a couple of (other branded) USB 3.0 2.5 drives, and they are pure usb 3.0 connectors, so if that snaps off/breaks, they need a lot of work to fix.

Ok, based on the article you posted, it would seem that the SATA to USB 3.0 converter is probably what failed? So, just remove that SATA to USB 3.0 converter and put it into an enclosure like Spakes suggested? https://www.newegg.com/p/0VN-00D1-00005

[TechyBen]

1 hour ago, Vectraat said:

Ok, based on the article you posted, it would seem that the SATA to USB 3.0 converter is probably what failed? So, just remove that SATA to USB 3.0 converter and put it into an enclosure like Spakes suggested? https://www.newegg.com/p/0VN-00D1-00005

Well, you can always test it in the desktop PC if you have a spare SATA cable etc...

[Spakes]

1 hour ago, TechyBen said:

Well, you can always test it in the desktop PC if you have a spare SATA cable etc...

Or laptop with spare place for 2.5" HDD.

[Vectraat]

Ok, I can confirm that the controller failed and the HDD seems fine. I threw it into an enclosure that has a power brick and connected it via USB and the contents of the HDD show up and I was able to play a movie from the HDD. So my next question -- when I buy a new enclosure should I just get one that only has a USB connector or one that also has a power brick?