External HDD not working

[simplyTechy100]

I am running Windows 8.1 Pro.
I tryed to plug the external HDD in, suddenly after plugging it in and then out Windows said "the last device I plugged in malfunctioned" and then installed drivers for "Unknown USB device" or whatever.
Anything after that it just won't work. This has backups of more then 1GB of music (which is already on a 16GB USB drive) and more then 100 videos!

[Allan]

Have you tried it on a different computer?

[simplyTechy100]

It has been tried on a laptop, with same OS.
I don't remember when it was bought xD I was able to get it to work before xD
I can't even get this to work!  Come on!

[Allan]

The unfortunate fact is, hard drives die.

[simplyTechy100]

The laptop actually recognized the external HDD fine...
A USB works fine in it, but an external HDD doesn't!
I have lots of files on it that my USB doesnt!

[patio]

The laptop actually recognized the external HDD fine..

I don't quite get what this means...

[simplyTechy100]

Patio, refer to this:

It has been tried on a laptop, with same OS.
I don't remember when it was bought xD I was able to get it to work before xD
I can't even get this to work!  Come on!

[Geek-9pm]

simplyTechy100,

Pleas explain.
What type is the HDD?
What USB adapter us used?

The most common failure with external Hard drives is the power supply. After that, the  data  cable and electronics. Often the Hart drive itself is alright. Unless you threw it across the room.   

[venkee]

open command prompt under administrator privilege and type "chkdsk /f X:" (without quotes)..  X=drive letter of the mounted hard disk...

[Allan]

You can obviously ignore the above post if your system can't see or access the drive