Q: It dropped from about 2 feet high. My laptop doesn't detect it anymore and there is a continuous clicking sound after I plugged into the usb port. A little while, the sound will stop but the light on the hdd keeps blinking green & red. Will my laptop be able to detect the hdd if I leave it plugged as it continues to blink or will it make the problem worse? Do you think the damage is serious? I can't go to the repair centre yet.
A: A clicking hard drive is probably the worst thing to hear... it basically means that the drive is dead now. You may be able to put the drive in a sealed bag and leave it in a freezer for a couple hours, then try again. You should then immediately back up as much data as you can before the drive fails again. However, do not just let the drive stay plugged in and clicking away, it will make things worse. Also, since it's a laptop, ensure that you have the AC adapter plugged in and try using the other USB ports... some don't supply the power needed to spin a drive up to full speed.