external drive

[Baz]

quick question.My daughter has a Maxtor external drive and it stopped working a while back. she brought it back for me to have a look at and it seems like it could be a switch problem. sometimes it will turn on, using the on/off switch on the back, other times it wont. when it does turn on the disc runs ok and I can access all files etc on the drive.

So, if it is just the switch what would be the best fix.Can I just take out the drive and mount it in another system or caddy.

[Glenn]

There is no reason that I can think of, why you can't put the drive into another caddy, make sure you get the correct connection, IDE or SATA

[Rik]

Or bypass the switch and turn it off at the wall...

[Steve]

There is no reason that I can think of, why you can't put the drive into another caddy, make sure you get the correct connection, IDE or SATA

Especially if its SATA the docking stations are pretty cheap

[Baz]

Or bypass the switch and turn it off at the wall...

tried it last night and got it running via the switch so told her to leave it turned on. It also has a switch on the front that can be changed to different functions I think but the software which runs it is on her laptop, which is at her house not mine, so I cant try that.

The connection to the disc itself inside the metal case is a long IDE connection from the board, just pins though no cables.I think with a white power plug. does that sound right

[Rik]

It sounds like a standard IDE housing, Baz.