Given that you've tried all of the obvious, I wouldn't recommend sending it in for repair or anything as you will likely lose your data. Given that you hear it spinning, I think the hard drive works but it's simply a problem with the interface.

If you are technically handy, I would recommend cracking open the external (most of them just have screws) and plugging it into your computer as a second hard drive. Inside an external is the same thing you put into your computer, although it might not be able to mount inside permanently, you will have your data back.

For instructions on installation look here http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=install-troubleshoot-sata-non-mac&vgnextoid=2b089d2c3c90e010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD
Source(s):
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=install-trouble...

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Actually i don't know exactly but i searched it and after going through 5 sites, i found this solution.i hope this will you to fix your problem.

You attach a USB-based device to a computer that is running Windows XP. Then, you try to scan for hardware devices. However, the computer does not detect the attached device, and you do not see the device in the My Computer folder.

You may experience this problem when you are using one or more of the following devices:

* USB flash drive
* Apple iPod
* External hard disk drive

Additionally, you may not see the iPod in the iTunes application.

This problem can occur if there are corrupted or incorrect keys in the registry. This article helps you fix the problem.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows
To fix this problem, delete the UpperFilters registry value and the LowerFilters registry value. These values may cause access problems. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the UpperFilters registry value. This value is located in the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
3. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.

Note If you receive an error when you try to delete the registry subkey, you may not have appropriate permissions to edit the subkey. For more information about how to set or change registry editing permissions, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310426 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310426/ ) How to set or change registry editing permissions in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003
4. Locate and then click the LowerFilters registry value. This value is located in the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
5. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.

Note If you receive an error when you try to delete the registry subkey, you may not have appropriate permissions to edit the subkey. For more information about how to set or change registry editing permissions, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310426 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310426/ ) How to set or change registry editing permissions in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003
6. Exit Registry Editor.
7. Restart the computer.

Note If you remove both registry values, and then you lose functionality in a particular program such as CD recording software, you may have to reinstall that software. If this problem occurs again, contact the software vendor for help.
Source(s):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196

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Seems that File Structure on HDD is corrupted.
Boot in Safe Mode, go to Windows Explorer and try if you can find files.
Also try Disk Checkup, it may correct corrupted file system. Also try by connecting HDD at bootup, during bootup it automatically checks each drive for error, perhaps it will correct it.

If none of above is applicable, use Recover My File Software to recover the files. It is the best and easy to use software to recover files. Also do a virus scan of whole PC including that HDD, perhaps this work is of virus.

Should you require more help ? Contact me anytime.
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Unfortunately, if the hard drive is making clicking noises that can quite possibly mean the hard drive is failing. If it is not detected by Windows on any of the computers you have tested that is not a good sign.

The clicking can be caused by many different drive failures, on of them being a head crash. A head crash means a mechanical problem with the read-write head of the drive. If this is the case you risk losing data on the drive every time you power it up.

A clicking hard drive hardly ever can be fixed at home. I have seen some people recommending lightly tapping the hard drive when it starts up, but I wouldn't recommend that.

If the drive contains valuable data that is not backed up anywhere, your best option is to send it in to a data recovery company. They will be able to diagnose the problem for you and give you a list of what files can be salvaged and the cost to have them recovered.

Professional data recovery can be expensive. Prices can range from around $250 to over $1000.
Source(s):
personal experience

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I had a similar problem when an external hard drive just stopped showing up on my computer. I tried it on a Mac and in Windows, but although it seemed to be working I just couldn't get to it. I happened to have another external hard drive that was working, so what I did was remove the drive from the external case and insert it into the known working external hard drive case and it worked just fine. It turns out that the electronics in my case were bad and the hard drive was perfectly fine. So I purchased another case and put the hard drive in that and everything works now. Although there is no guarantee that this will solve your problem, it might be worth a try since it's fairly easy to do. Although, if you want to open up the case on your computer you could just install it inside your computer as a second drive.

One caveat: some of the small hard drives are not outfitted with either PATA or SATA connectors. Some manufacturers put special connections on their external hard drives that only work in their particular case. I found this out when I tried this same operation with a small 3.5" external hard drive that a friend had. In a case like that you would have to buy another external hard drive that is the same make and model as yours. You won't be able to insert it into your computer.

If the hard drive is still not working then I too would say that SpinRite might be your only reasonable hope.
Source(s):
http://www.grc.com/

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Here's what I do when that happens, and so far it's never not worked:

1) Right-mouse click on the "My Computer" icon...

2) Selected the "Manage" option from the drop-down menu...

3) Click on Storage -> Disk Management

You should see all the disks and pseudo-disk partitions on your computer, each with a drive letter assigned to it, and one of them should be saying "Dynamic Offline", with no drive letter.

Right-click on that one, and it should produce a drop-down menu, with options of "Convert to Basic Disk", "Reactivate", and "Properties"

DO NOT click on "Convert to Basic Disk".

Select the "Reactivate" option.

That should activate the HD and assign a drive letter to the HD, at which point it will be seen by your computer.

Let me know if that does not work.
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Alright I haven't ready everybodies solutions but I'd try SpinRite and editing your registry last.

First its USB... which people probably don't remember but it was incredibly flaky in the old days and still is.. So make sure its the only thing plugged in which you try anything. And don't plug it in to a USB hub.

2nd It can be recognized by Windows and still not show a drive letter. The drive letter denotes that a partition is detected. If it is in fact damaged you should be able to go into Control Panel > Adminstration > Computer Management then locate in the left hand column Storage > Drive Management. (vista). Here you have all drives listed see if your's appears if its plug-and-playing it will show as Drive 1 or 2 or something but with no drive letter. In such a case your file structure is damaged on the drive. If you need to save it then you'll need to listen to the spinrite advocates and/or get it out of the USB and see if chkdsk can help it.

3rd if it doesn't show then I boil it down to a bad USB controller in the external enclosure. And yes I've seen the burn out over time. One day they work the tnext tday they don't. You can get a new enclosure for $20-30. And if you just want to see if that's the problem you can buy a basic ATA to USB cable adapter off ebay for like $5.

PS- a drive need not to make sounds to be busted.
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