My imation USB Hard Drive once i connect to USB port power LED is working but its not working

IMATION stopped making the "LS-120" (Laser Servo) drive many years ago, when USB-interface memory-sticks became cheaper & faster. Imation did have parallel-port device-driver software for Windows 95/98/ME, but never updated them for Windows NT/2000/XP.

Instead, disassemble the case, and you will find an IDE-interface Imation LS-120 drive inside. Connect the same "smaller" 4-pin power-connector that used to connect to a 1.44 Mbyte 3.5-inch diskette, set the "master/slave" jumper, and connect an 80-pin IDE ribbon-cable, and connect the other end of the ribbon-cable to an IDE socket on the motherboard.

External hard drives are plug-and-play devices used to store music, video and data files. Once the drive is connected, the computer checks its systems for the appropriate drivers, loads them, and the external drive is ready to use. If the computer does not recognize the external drive, plug it into another computer to ensure the drive is not corrupted. If the drive is good, a few simple steps should help re-enable the drive for use.
Switch the power button to "off." Disconnect the power cord from any extension cords or power strip, then re-seat the power cord into the hard drive. Connect the cord directly into an outlet and power up the drive. If the drive is powered and still not working, check the data cable. Power down the hard drive and disconnect the data cable from the computer. Wait 30 seconds to one minute. Reconnect the data cable and power up the drive. If the drive is not detected, power down the hard drive and connect the cable to a different port. Power up the drive. If the drive is detected but not working, check for a missing driver. Click on the "Start" button, right-click "Computer" and select "Manage." Enter your administrator password if requested. Select "Device Manager" and double-click "Disk Drives." Right-click the yellow exclamation point and install the missing driver. Close the Device Manager. If the drive is detected but not working check to ensure it has an assigned drive letter. Disconnect all devices connected by USB cables from the computer. Reconnect the drive's data and USB power cables directly into the computer. Click on the "Start" button, right-click "Computer" and select "Manage." Enter your administrator password if requested. Click on "Disk Management," right-click the external hard drive, click "change drive letter and path," and click "Add." Assign a drive letter. Avoid using A, B or C (C is usually assigned to the computer's internal hard drive). Click "OK" close the window. If the drive is detected but not working, check whether the drive is in sleep mode. Disconnect all devices connected by USB cables from the computer. Reconnect the drive's data and USB power cables directly into the computer. Click the "Start" button, right-click "Computer" and select "Manage." Enter your administrator password if requested. Select "Device Manager" and double-click "Universal Serial Bus Controllers." Double-click the first instance of "USB Root Hub" or "Root Hub." Check for the hard drive. If the drive is not visible, move to the next instance of "USB Root Hub." Continue checking each instance until the hard drive is located. Once located, click the "Power Management" tab and uncheck the "Allow computer to turn off this device to save power" box, click "OK," then close the Device Manager. Power the computer down, wait 30 seconds to one minute, and power the computer back up to ensure the drive is detected. Hope this helps.

The continuous "tick tick" normally means low power on the device.
Means: Case board broken or hdd logic board fault.

Possible solutions:
- Try to change usb port and usb cable.
- If you have an usb power adapter try to connect it JUST for some seconds to see if the disk spins.
Warning: you can burn your disk because the classic usb omputer port use a 500mA max power while an USB A/C normally can offer up to 2000mA.
- Buy a cheap 2.5" hdd case and put on it your 160gb hdd because the board of the Apollo could be broken. In this case check before buying if you need a SATA or a PATA interface.

If nothing changes, sorry, your hdd is probably dead.

See the Imation Support web site where you can find information related to your Imation Apollo hard drive.

If the drive is no longer being found in My Computer, have you tried it on a different computer and / or using a different USB cable - if it still isn't shown after trying these tests, then there is the possibility that the drive has failed or the internal logic board (which translates the drive connection (from IDE or SATA) to USB) has failed.

If the drive internal logic board has failed, then provided you can remove the disk drive from the Imation casing, you should be able to re-house it in a new portable drive casing. If the drive has failed, then it would probably be easiest to purchase a new external drive given current drive prices.

I will advice to buy another one

Try in another machine. Does not work?
Remove the drive from the case (only if there is no more warantee) and connect the drive directly to your system to determine if the problem is the drive or the enclousure.

External Hard Drives generally do not need drivers. If the hard drive came with 2 usbs, then plug them both in. Your drive maay require more power to work properly. Again you may need two USB port to power it as 1 single USB does not carry that much power with it.

Either the USB ports on your computer are not working
(try some other USB device in those ports to disprove this)
or the USB ports are supplying insufficient voltage/amperage to your Imation device,
such that it does not operate.

One or more of the hints below will probably sort out most USB problems with most USB portable / external hard drives and OTHER devices (though not always)

A few things to check but assumes USB and Windows for other interfaces / operating systems (mac/ Linux) similar steps may be adapted to suit.

1. Ensure it is connected directly to the computer to a USB 2.0 port not a USB 1.0 port as this can have effects on performance and reliability

2. Use only the cables that came with it NOT one that fits that may have been lying around or is longer. Not all USB cables are equal even though they should be)

3. Do not connect through an external USB HUB unless that hub is USB 2.0 AND has its own power supply.

4. Use ONLY the power supply that came with it if it has an external power supply Don’t use any other unless you know it has both the same voltage and current rating e.g. 12V 500mA anything rated below that would not work properly.

5. Always use the same port for connecting your devices. Some devices do not like being switched about. If switched they may want to install software / drivers again. This can be especially true if you move a HUB to another port
6. For FLASH DRIVES you should ensure that the device is set for "quick removal" using the drive control panel properties or use the USB "Safely Remove Hardware" option. If you dont do this there is a very strong chance that any files you transfer may not be there when you plug into another computer.

If you checked and fixed anything there and still have issues then check your hardware from CONTROL PANEL / SYSTEM / HARDWARE.
Any exclamation marks by hardware need fixing before you investigate any further

USB flash drives can fail for no apparent reason.
Sandisk Cruzers are especially bad for this.

USB hard drives should be treated with extreme care.
This is a real hard drive ! and knocks and bumps can quite literally kill them.

It is possible to remove drives from the enclosures in most cases and connect directly inside a PC to fully check it.
You should also do this to cheack the drives connections are not bad inside the enclosure

Note that if you hear a drive clicking or pinging this could be the worst thing you would hear.
Known as "The Click Of Death"

If none of the above steps help look at updating the drivers from the manufacturers web site in the support section.

check the input power switch on the rear of the unit...
It should be on 240V. Turn off the computer, then move the switch back and forth a couple of times... set to 240V. this assures the coorect input power to the external drive.

Secondly, move the USB port to another USB port on your computer. If it works fine, then it is a bad USB port.

Third, check the device driver in device manager on your software. try updating the driver... This solves a potential driver issue.


Good Luck,

Jeff