Used wrong power supply and now can't access external disk

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VeryBerry

Commendable
Apr 24, 2016
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1,510
Hey, everyone.

So, I need some help with my WD external disk. Long story short, my external disk's original power supply stopped working and, clueless as I am, I tried using two power supplies from random devices like routers and modems I had around (both with lower voltage). Now I got a new power supply with the correct V and A, but I can't access the disk through neither my desktop or my laptop.

Both computers detect, the disk, but Windows gets really slow and Windows Explorer ends up crashing when I try accessing the disk. I really don't know what to do.

Does anyone know how I can solve this? Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
D_Know_WD
Hi there VeryBerry,

That is really unpleasant. :(
What is the drive's model?

Unfortunately, there's a chance that the device is damaged from the power supply. Similar system unresponsiveness, in most cases, is caused by failing drives.
So, your safest bet for recovering the data would be to contact a data recovery company.

Apart from that, you can try to access the drive in Ubuntu. Sometimes, Ubuntu seems to handle failing drives better. You can just boot up from a CD or a flash drive.(don't install the OS, just boot from it) Here's a thread on that: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/267999-32-recover-data-mode

In case you have a spare USB cable, it will not hurt to attach the drive with it as well.

WD's Data Recovery Partners...
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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Have you tried running WD's Diagnostic software? (Data Lifeguard - may or may not be viable.... Worth a try.)

You might try looking at the Performance Monitor and/or Event Viewer logs to see if there are any error messages or warnings regarding the external dirive.

Boot up and watch things (Performance Manager) for a bit then attempt to access the disk.

When things slow down or Windows Explorer crashes look into the Event Viewer logs.

Hopefully there will be some error code(s) appear that can be looked up for more information and a possible fix.



 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

Judicious
Jul 30, 2014
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35,960
Hi there VeryBerry,

That is really unpleasant. :(
What is the drive's model?

Unfortunately, there's a chance that the device is damaged from the power supply. Similar system unresponsiveness, in most cases, is caused by failing drives.
So, your safest bet for recovering the data would be to contact a data recovery company.

Apart from that, you can try to access the drive in Ubuntu. Sometimes, Ubuntu seems to handle failing drives better. You can just boot up from a CD or a flash drive.(don't install the OS, just boot from it) Here's a thread on that: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/267999-32-recover-data-mode

In case you have a spare USB cable, it will not hurt to attach the drive with it as well.

WD's Data Recovery Partners: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=lA85WR

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD :)
 
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Solution
V

VeryBerry

Commendable
Apr 24, 2016
3
0
1,510


Thanks you for the reply!

Well, I tried the diagnostic software... and it also crashed as soon as I tried to choose an action on the disk

I checked the Event Viewer and it detected two different errors: a bad block and a paging error (since I'm not english, I don't know if I translated the errors correctly). Does that tell me anything?

Also, it's not TOO serious if I lose everything I have in the disk. I just want to be able to use it again.



Thanks for the reply. The drive's model is WDT-D2C(B).
 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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In agreement with D_Know_WD's postings and suggestions.

One way or another the disk is damaged. Recovery may or may not be possible.

If you are interested in knowing abit more about the overall situation this link (via a Data Recovery Service) will provide more information:

http://www.sertdatarecovery.com/hard-drive-data-recovery/what-are-bad-sectors-on-a-hard-drive

[For the record I am not afilliated with them in any way nor I have used their services...]

There are other such explanations available if you are so inclined.

If the data is important and otherwise not backed up somewhere else then it is probably best that you get professional assistance.

Otherwise, try recovering on your own. Just remember that more damage may occur and lessen the chances for future recovery.

 
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V

VeryBerry

Commendable
Apr 24, 2016
3
0
1,510


I will probably get professional assistance tomorrow. I'm running out of free space in my computer, which I'll need soon.

I just have one more question: would formatting the drive (although I'm not sure how I'd do it) fix the problem for good and make it accessable again? Or is the problem beyond that?
 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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See how much data, if any can be recovered. If most of it ("most" being subjective) can be recovered then it is possible that a reformat could make the drive useful again.

Formatting should mark and set aside bad blocks, etc.. But what actual damage has been incurred is unknown and I doubt I would ever trust the drive again.

If you want a drive to just play with for testing network storage, other OS's, or utilities then put only unimportant stuff on the drive and see what happens. Just remember the drive could permanently fail at any time.

Recycle properly.... :)

 
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