Neighbor presents ext. Seagate usb 3 hd. Has critical date to recover. Not much luck. Now and again, a hard click from the drive. Following messages:P Need to format disk E before you can use it; E is not accessible; Parameter is incorrect; Location is not available (not responding); a driver search confirms best driver installed. When plugged into computer, it does not allow the bootup to complete to the desktop or start screen. Unplugged, computer boots, drive E, the usb drive, is seen but can't open. Cannot access via the disc management screen either. Seems everything conspires to prevent access of data, and only get rotating activity circle on the screen.
Seems all attempts to access the drive are fraught with nasty messages. Neighbor not helpful on info. I tend to believe the drive is unrecoverable, due possibly to software corruption of some sort. Latest problem: No hard drive sound coming from the ext. hard drive. Power light is on, but no sound at all coming from the drive. Pick up the drive, and it begins to Whrrrrr, come alive, with clicking sound. Thanks, Jim S.