Hot external harddrive just gave out, think it will work again?

Let it cool off all the way and try it again. I think it’s likely it overheated and will survive. I would back up your stuff somewhere else immediately when you get it working again.

Feels pretty cool, think it’s been long enough?

If it feels like it’s cooled down, I’d be ready to back stuff up (say, to the hard drive of the computer) and try it.

Got it up again! Thanks for the advice, backing up the most important stuff now.
I’ll probably put a grill under it and see if it gives me any more problems.

Might want to get a small fan that you can point at it to help cool it off.

The thing is I’ve had it for more than a year now, so I don’t get why this is becoming a problem now.

Is Windows even detecting the HDD? (I am assuming it is USB)

One thing that can happen is dust buildup inside, which can insulate and so have heat build up more.

Dust also blocks air flow, which would lead to overheating for sure.

Stick it in the fridge for an hour, if you can turn it on and copy things while it’s still in the fridge, that’s gonna be best. Get a new drive, transfer everything. It could quit for keeps any second.

I’ve copied tons of hard drives with the cords hanging out of the door of my fridge. It keeps it very cool, helps a dying drive give one last push – it’s freaking great. The guys above are probably right about dust buildup.

Then, once that’s done you can crack open the old one and see if there’s dust buildup or whatever. If it’s just plain dead, you got yourself some big fancy magnets. :)

I wish I had fancy magnets, but alas, fbi owns my ass.
Sounds like sounds advice though, I’ll get a new one asap.