External HDD File Recovery Options

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FreeerunFlame

FreeerunFlame

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Nov 20, 2015
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I have an old WD ext hard disk that suddenly stopped working out of the blue. It lights up when connected and windows detects the USB connection. But there's nothing in My Computer for this hard disk, I can only see it in Device Manager or Disk Management.
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and Disk manager prompts initialization of the disk but it comes up with data error cyclic redundancy.

I have some stuff in the drive that I hope to recover. I've tried Reccuva which couldn't detect the drive at all.
iCareDataRecovery and PhotoRec were able to detect it but the scans end up not finding any files at all.

The HDD doesn't make any weird sounds when connected, the HDD would spin for a while upon connection and then stop.
Is there a way to find the files on my HDD and recover it without paying a data recovery specialist to do so?
 
Solution
D_Know_WD
Hi there FreeerunFlame,

That is really unpleasant. :(

Unfortunately, CRC error, could indicate some physical flaw. This is why, if the data stored on the drive is really important, you will need to look for some professional help and contact a data recovery company. You can check WD's Data Recovery Partners out: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=9XrISv

It seems that the drive can't really be accessed with software tools. Yet, as mbarnes86 suggested, you can try to test the drive with WD's DLG tool: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=XHeXfN

Keep in mind that in case you decide to go with the data recovery company option, it would be best to disconnect the drive, as accessing it with different software tools could...
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mbarnes86

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Sep 16, 2010
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Hi

Try a test with western digital data life guard for windows
If a few bad sectors it may be able to do a temporary repair
Or tell you it is too badly damaged to try any more

Look at

Testdisk + photorec v 7 from cgsecurity.org.
Testdisk Can repair damaged partition information
Photorec (overy) can find data even if partition not repaired
Use graphical interface version of photorec

Recovered data must be sent to a different hard disk

Sometimes a replacement usb to sata tray will help if usb to sata chips are not on hard disk circuit board and hard disk not encrypted


Regards
Mike Barnes
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Hi there FreeerunFlame,

That is really unpleasant. :(

Unfortunately, CRC error, could indicate some physical flaw. This is why, if the data stored on the drive is really important, you will need to look for some professional help and contact a data recovery company. You can check WD's Data Recovery Partners out: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=9XrISv

It seems that the drive can't really be accessed with software tools. Yet, as mbarnes86 suggested, you can try to test the drive with WD's DLG tool: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=XHeXfN

Keep in mind that in case you decide to go with the data recovery company option, it would be best to disconnect the drive, as accessing it with different software tools could further damage the data.

Apart from all this, the drive may feature hardware encryption(chip in the enclosure that encrypts the data as soon as it enters the drive) and/or proprietary connector. In that case, you will not be able to access the data or even attach the drive internally.

Let me know in case you have some more questions,
D_Know_WD :)
 
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Solution
FreeerunFlame

FreeerunFlame

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I've tested it using the WD software:

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: ABORT

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 08-Too many bad sectors detected.

The quick test doesn't end at all on this HDD i ran it for 6 hours and it was still going so i aborted it.

the smart drive info displays a red cross at the reallocated sector count only, with
ID:5 Value:29 Threshold:140 Worst:29 Warranty:1

does this indicate a hardware issue? will i be able to connect the drive through a sata cable to a PC to recover the data on this drive?

 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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That's bad. The drive has many bad sectors. This means that it has physical bad(damaged) sectors on the platter. I don't think that attaching it internally, would help. Furthermore, depending on the model, the device could feature hardware encryption and/or proprietary connectors.

If you don't want to go with the data recovery company option, then I believe you can just try to use some other data recovery tools. You can try some for DOS mode as well. Sorry but I can't really recommend a specific one.

D_Know_WD
 
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