tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817890411979349616.post2268467329771512253..comments2022-11-16T05:29:33.434-08:00Comments on Stan's Tech Garage: Data Recovery - The LaCie Big Drive - Big. Fail.Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05744720937410265452noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817890411979349616.post-79294520386067379732012-10-04T02:50:37.323-07:002012-10-04T02:50:37.323-07:00I've been using a 300GB LaCie Quadra Ext HD fo...I've been using a 300GB LaCie Quadra Ext HD for backup since 7 years now and almost had a heart attack when it failed for the first time last year. One day, Windows just wouldn't start up anymore - I was dumbfounded and finally, after several nerve-racking hours, decided to reboot my PC in safe mode. Sure enough: One look at the list of drive letters in Windows Explorer showed me, that my LaCie drive was missing. What on earth...?! So, I unplugged the unit and voila, windows restarted without any problems. Now, of course, a second wave of panic was about to set in when thinking about all the data I had on that Ext HD.<br />As usual, I began extensive online research and found out, that in most cases the unit itself was not the problem, but its power supply adapter! Apparently, the adapter contains a circuit board which will "fry and die" after a while. So, off I go on a cyber-hunt for that same adapter, which, of course, has been discontinued by LaCie. Nevertheless, I got lucky and found a used one on ebay for $15. It arrived, I plugged it in, and to my joy, my LaCie once again worked like a charm - no data loss whatsoever.<br />You'll probably laugh, but I'm on my third LaCie power supply adapter now! With the LaCie costing me $243 back in 2005, a 2 x $15 investment to keep it running isn't really that bad. But, I'm playing it safe now and have purchased two Western Digital Ext HDs in the meantime for dual backup. Since the latest failure just happened again last week, I'm currently in the process of transferring the last part of data from the LaCie to my WDs. So, next time the power supply adapter circuit board fails, it will be the last time for me.<br />It's really a shame that LaCie actually did build a good Ext HD, but failed to produce a reliable power supply adapter. Sadly, anyone will probably get wary of having to constantly replace the adapter and will eventually discard the entire (still perfectly functioning) unit. What a shame and waste.<br />Sorry, Stan - didn't mean to hijack your Blog, but couldn't resist sharing my LaCie experience :Dxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04813156545247680241noreply@blogger.com