External Hard Drive Show Up as Local Disk with No Capacity

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EPHiCS

Reputable
Mar 8, 2014
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Hi Everyone,

For some reason my computer won't recognize my External Hard Drive anymore. It appears when connected to windows as a Local Disk. Trying to click it in Windows causes the my computer folder to freeze. Disk Manager will will open while the Drive is connected but no drive will load until I unplug the Hard Drive. I also removed the Drive from the WD Case and plugged it into my PC with a HDD Docking Station with USB 3 and I have the same issue. I don't care about the drive, I would just like the save all the data that's on it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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If it's feasible to install the external HDD internally in your PC as a secondary drive, do it.

Then utilize the WD Data Lifeguard diagnostic program to test the HDD. It's conceivable you may have a defective disk on your hands.

If the only other recourse is to connect the HDD as a USB external HDD (as you previously did with the docking station), then do that. But test the disk.
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

Judicious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hi there EPHiCS,

Sorry that you are facing some issues with your WD drive. :(

Depending on the model, there's a chance that the device features hardware encryption. This means that you will not be able to access the data stored on the drive unless the it is in the enclosure. (there's a chip that encrypts the data).
You can place the drive back in the enclosure and try running some data recovery tools on it. If this does not work, then you can see if you will manage to access it under Ubuntu: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/267999-32-recover-data-mode
You will need a CD or a flash drive, so you can boot Ubuntu and try to access the data.

Keep i mind that if the data stored on the drive is really important, your safest bet would be to contact a data recovery company. You can check WD's Data Recovery Partners out: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=RyHULM

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD :)
 
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EPHiCS

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Mar 8, 2014
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The Dive doesn't appear with my other drives on WD Data Lifeguard.





I will try out Ubuntu. Thanks for the info. I don't believe the data is encrypted because it's just a regular WD Blue Drive in the enclose. There wasn't any addon feature or software like some WD Drives.
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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You've mentioned that you took the drive out of a WD case. What was the model of the devices? (Passport, Book, Elements, etc.) I see that the drive inside is just an ordinary SATA one, yet, some enclosures have a chip that encrypts the data (no software needed) as it enters the drive. Which means, that you will not manage to access it, if the drive is not in the enclosure.

D_Know_WD
 
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