Check Power and Cable Connections
One of the most common reasons an external Seagate hard drive might not be detected is a faulty USB cable or connection. Before troubleshooting the drive itself, first check to make sure the USB cable is not damaged and is securely plugged into both the drive and the computer’s USB port. Try connecting the drive to a different USB port on the computer if possible. According to Seagate’s support site, using a different cable can help determine if the issue is with the original cable (source). The Reddit community also suggests trying a different cable as a starting point when troubleshooting external hard drive issues (source). If the drive is still not detected after switching cables and ports, then the problem likely lies with the drive itself rather than just the USB connection.
Update Drivers
One common cause of external hard drives not being detected in Windows is having outdated drivers, especially for USB and the motherboard chipset. Windows relies on these drivers to communicate properly with connected devices. Over time, bugs can develop or changes to Windows may cause incompatibility issues with older drivers.
To update your USB drivers, open Device Manager in Windows, expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section, right click on each USB device shown (like USB Root Hub, USB Composite Device etc.), and select Update driver. Choose to search automatically for updated drivers or browse your computer if you have downloaded them already.
For motherboard drivers, go to your computer or motherboard manufacturer’s website and search for chipset or system drivers. Download and install the latest versions. After updating both USB and chipset drivers, restart your computer and check if the external drive is detected.
Keeping critical hardware drivers like USB and chipset up-to-date helps resolve many peripherals detection issues like external hard drives not showing up. Windows Update may not always install the latest drivers, so it’s good practice to check manually.
Power Supply Issues
One common reason an external hard drive may not turn on or function properly is if it’s not receiving adequate power. Most external hard drives require a certain amount of power from the USB port to operate. The USB port on computers provides 5V power, but some external hard drives may require up to 12V [1]. If the drive is not getting enough power, it may spin up but not actually mount or be accessible. This is a particular issue if using a low-power device like a Raspberry Pi to run the external drive [2].
To troubleshoot this issue, check the power requirements of your Seagate drive and ensure your computer or USB hub can provide adequate power delivery. Consider connecting the drive to the rear USB ports directly rather than via a hub [3]. If the drive requires more power than your setup can provide, you may need an externally powered USB hub or a Y-cable with additional power connectors. Insufficient power can prevent the drive from fully starting up and being accessible.
Hard Drive Issues
One potential cause for a Seagate external hard drive running but not lighting up is a mechanical or electronic failure of the hard drive itself. Hard drives can fail due to physical damage, aging components, overheating, firmware corruption, or other issues that prevent the drive from powering up and spinning normally.
According to Seagate, some of the common hard drive failure symptoms are the drive not getting detected, not spinning or making clicking noises, slow performance, and inability to access files [1]. If the hard drive has failed, the activity light may not come on and the drive will not mount on your computer.
Hard drive failure can also lead to file system corruption. The file system manages how data is stored on the drive. If it gets corrupted, you may get errors trying to access files or the entire drive may fail to show up. Corruption can occur due to bad sectors, sudden power loss, viruses, or other issues [2].
Recovering data from a failed hard drive requires professional data recovery services. If the failure is caused by file system issues, data recovery software may be able to restore the files and reformat the drive. But if there are physical problems with the drive, repairs may be necessary in a cleanroom environment before data can be retrieved.
Enclosure Damage
One potential reason your Seagate external hard drive may be running but has no light is damage to the external enclosure. The enclosure houses the actual hard drive and contains the light that indicates power and activity. If the enclosure is damaged in some way, it can prevent the light from turning on even if power is going to the drive.
Signs of a damaged enclosure include cracks, dents, broken plastic pieces, loose ports or connectors, or noticeable impacts from being dropped. Any physical issue with the casing can potentially disrupt the connection between the light and power supply inside. If the enclosure is damaged right where the LED light is located, that could directly prevent the light from illuminating.
You can test whether it’s an enclosure issue by removing the hard drive from the casing and connecting it directly to your computer internally or with a different external enclosure. If the drive then powers on and functions normally, the original external casing is likely faulty. Unfortunately enclosure damage usually requires replacing the entire housing.
As a note, always be careful when opening enclosures and handling exposed hard drives. Make sure to use anti-static protection and avoid touching any circuitry. You may want to consult a repair technician if you’re unsure about safely accessing internal components. Refer to this guide for more tips on troubleshooting hard drive enclosure issues.
Disable Power Saving
Power saving or selective suspend settings in Windows can sometimes cause external hard drives to power down unexpectedly, which can turn off the light on the drive even though it is still technically running. Windows has power saving features that can turn off the power to unused USB ports to conserve energy. This can affect connected devices like external hard drives.
To disable this setting and turn off power saving for your USB ports in Windows:
- Open Power Options in the Control Panel
- Click “Change plan settings” for your current plan
- Click “Change advanced power settings”
- Expand “USB settings” and open “USB selective suspend setting”
- Change the setting to “Disabled”
You can also disable this from the Device Manager by unchecking “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” for each USB Root Hub device. Disabling power saving for USB may resolve the issue if power saving was causing your drive to power down and turn off the light unexpectedly.
Sources:
[1] https://www.eposaudio.com/en/hk/enterprise/support/knowledge-base/faqs/frequently-asked-questions/disable-usb-power-saving-in-windows
[2] https://www.eposaudio.com/en/hk/enterprise/support/knowledge-base/faqs/frequently-asked-questions/enabling-or-disabling-power-save-option-for-usb-ports-in-windows-10
Reset Controller
If your Seagate external hard drive’s light is not turning on, resetting the hard drive controller may help resolve the issue. The controller manages communication between the drive and computer, so resetting it can clear any software glitches.
On Windows, you can reset the USB controller in Device Manager. Open Device Manager, expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section, right click on each USB controller, and select Uninstall. After uninstalling each one, restart your computer to automatically reinstall the USB controllers.
According to technical forums, resetting the controller clears any issues caused by too many USB devices connected or power problems with USB hubs (BBB how to reset USB controller). It essentially gives the drive controller a fresh start, which may get your external Seagate drive detected again.
However, a controller reset does not fix physical damage or failed hardware. If the light is still not turning on after a reset, the drive itself likely has an internal electronics issue.
Update Firmware
One potential reason a Seagate external hard drive may be running but not showing any light is that the firmware is outdated. Seagate regularly releases firmware updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features to their drives. An outdated firmware version can sometimes cause unusual issues like no light displaying despite the drive spinning up and working.
To update your Seagate drive’s firmware, first go to Seagate’s firmware download page and find the latest firmware update for your specific drive model. Make sure your computer and drive are connected and powered on. Then simply run the firmware update executable file downloaded from Seagate and follow the on-screen instructions.
Updating to the latest firmware can often resolve problems like the drive’s light not turning on. It’s a quick and easy fix to try before exploring more complex hardware-related issues. Just make sure you don’t disconnect the drive during the firmware update or you could damage it.
DIY Troubleshooting
Before sending your external hard drive off for professional data recovery, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try yourself to potentially get it working again. One of the most common issues is a loose connection inside the enclosure.
Carefully open the enclosure and check that the SATA and power cables are properly seated in the drive and connector board. Reconnect any loose cables or wires. Inspect the ports and connectors for any damage or bent pins. Refer to the manufacturer’s hardware guide for instructions on disassembling the enclosure.
Be very gentle when handling the internal drive, and never touch the circuitry. It’s best to avoid prying open the drive itself. If the issue was simply a loose connection, reassembling the enclosure may get your drive running again. According to sources like StarTech.com and PCmag.com, opening the enclosure is one DIY troubleshooting method to try before seeking professional data recovery services.
Data Recovery
If you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps and the drive still does not work, it may indicate a mechanical or physical failure of the hard drive. At this point, your best option is to use a professional data recovery service. Companies like Pandora Recovery and FileSavers specialize in recovering data from failed hard drives, even from drives that won’t power on or spin up. They use specialized tools and techiques like extracting the platters in a cleanroom environment to recover the data. The cost for data recovery service can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the failure type and amount of data to be recovered. But for critical or irreplaceable data, it may be worth the expense to attempt professional recovery. Just make sure to research the service’s capabilities, security protocols, and costs before sending your drive. With the right provider, you have a decent chance of getting your valuable files back even from a seemingly “dead” external drive.