Failing WD Elements . Clone it?

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adibranch

Oct 2, 2018
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Hi all, i've got a failing USB WD Elements 1TB. Its failing, and is very nearly at the clicking point.

When plugged in It shows half of the folders (around six) then slowly shows the others. When changing between folders its slow, and if i try to copy, i might get lucky with a video file, but often it will just crawl to a halt.

What is my best option here ? Clone? If so, which software shall i use? HDClone? EaseUS?
 
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USAFRet


I would suggest an Image, rather than a clone. An Image will try to take just the data, rather than a sector by sector clone, which try to include bad sectors.
MAcrium Reflect, EaseUS ToDo, Acronis...

An argument could be made though for an actual sector by sector clone, and then...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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If it is already making noises and acting up, you may have waited too long for any 'cloning'.

Is this a secondary drive, or the OS drive?
If just a secondary drive, no cloning needed. Just try to copy the data off to some other drive.

And backups are what you do before the drive starts to die. Not after.
 
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adibranch

Oct 2, 2018
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Its a secondary USB drive, for media. Copying and transferring via windows explorer is sketchy, and proving difficult.

The logic behind cloning was to have a workable image on another reliable drive i could then work with afterwards unlike the one i have now which runs the risk of getting worse every time i use it.

Testdisk is the way to go then?

(PS i was using cloud backup for this drive and relying on that, unfortunately it wasn't backing up a lot of data).



 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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If it is sketchy in Windows, it will be sketchy in anything else.
The drive is physically failing, and preventing a 100% read.
 
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adibranch

Oct 2, 2018
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Well, windows explorer will hit a drive and file many more times than another application would,especially a dos based app, as explorer tries to create thumbnails etc, so i imagine it much more intensive on the drive.

So, what is everyone recommending? Image Clone or something like testdisk? the convern i have with testdisk,is that it tries to fix the drive, which could be a lot more intensive on it than a clone tool, and therefore risk more damage?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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I would suggest an Image, rather than a clone. An Image will try to take just the data, rather than a sector by sector clone, which try to include bad sectors.
MAcrium Reflect, EaseUS ToDo, Acronis...

An argument could be made though for an actual sector by sector clone, and then you figure out the corrupted data later.
Macrium can do a forensic level clone...whatever is there, good or bad...it tries to copy.


I think, though...either way it is going to fail once it gets to the bad part of the drive.
 
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