External Hard Dive clicking

I had a WD that did that. Try this: If you're trying to access it from a laptop make sure the laptop is plugged in rather than running off the battery. Also try a different USB port. Mine stopped clicking when it was getting enough power from the port, hopefully yours will too.

ETA: If that still doesn't work and nothing you have will recognize the drive, try a bootable Linux environment to see if you can get access.

Just for grins, try a different USB cable - it's rare but I've seen it help.

Too late for your situation now, but external HD's have gotten so cheap I bought 3 of the same kind a few years ago and duplicate the data on each of them. I rotate their locations too: 1 - in use, 1 - in my home safe, and 1 - in an offsite safe deposit box. So far I haven't needed the overlap and FWIW, I've had significantly better luck with WD than Seagate.

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wire works with the other WD i have.

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Doesnt mean a new cable wont work with the drive youre having issues with

Here’s a long shot. If it was heat or an over heating problem, try putting it in your freezer overnight and then try to access it again. Will maybe give you enough time to download the data before it goes out again. Don’t laugh, some experts swear by this method as a temp fix.

I tried it one time and it worked. Put drive in ziploc and put it in the freezer for a couple hours, then I was able to use it for maybe 5-10 minutes.

I wouldn't recommend it for really critical data because you could damage it worse in the process of all that.

If it's really important and you can't fix it then I would reach out to hddparts@gmail.com

His website is LINK /

Clicking is very bad. He may have to use a "donor board." Shoot him an e-mail and see if he can help you out. You may have to just open the external drive up and remove part of the hard drive. It's really simple.. and that is possibly all you have to send in. Then when he ships you the new board back you simply attach it back. This is great because you don't even send in the entire HD, so if you have private stuff, you won't have to worry about anyone viewing it.

He fixed several of my hard drives last year for much cheaper than anyone locally. Like I had clicking and also straight up fried boards. Like one literally caught fire and he was able to fix it. My hard drives are still working a year later. I think it was like $50 each. He also offers just data recovery, but that may cost more and is not necessary if he can fix your HD.

He is trustworthy.

Good-luck.