COMPUTER GEEK QUESTION OF THE WEEK

HELP! MY EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE ISN'T RESPONDING!

Yes, this was the heading to a real question posed in some online computer troubleshooting thingy I started magically receiving once I bought this new computer -- something I usually never read.

Except for when doozy headlines like this are used.

And here's that question of the week:

Hi everyone. I bought a Western Digital 200GB external hard drive 90-plus days ago, and the buttons quit. I can't back up. I sent WD several e-mails, and no response from them.

If I get another external hard drive, could I open this one, and transfer data to the new external one from the old? How would I do this?

Also: If this can be done, could the one I have then be reformatted, put in a new casing? Does anyone know how to repair these on/off/auto buttons? Will I lose everything I backed up to the WD external drive?

Please keep the explanation simple, as I'm a 63-year-old 'Nanny', IRS Reg. Tax Preparer.

Thank you!

I will not include here the suggested remedy for this "nanny's" problem.

Suffice to say now I know what to do when my own external hard drive isn't responding.