My External WD 500GB just failed

[bonoz]

Started making clicking sounds when I connected it. No detection by computer. Mechanical failure?

Do not recall what was on it.

What should I do?

Thanks

 

[hang-the-9]

Clicking is bad. Try to take it out of the enclosure (if it's not in warranty) connect it directly to the PC see if it can read it. If not, there are a few tricks to try. Freeze the drive overnight, plug it into a system right away the next day (meaning don't wait for it to warm up), see if it sees the drive. Copy the files out it it immediately, don't mess around with it as this may only fix it for a while.

You can also do a short drop, very flat, onto a desk.

Both of these are very low chance of working, but better than nothing or spending a few hundred + to have the drive fixed in a repair shop.

 

[bonoz]

Thanks. Anything else that might work?

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks. Anything else that might work?

Nothing you can do yourself without a clean room. Need to take apart the drive.

In some cases the controller board goes bad, that is not very hard to replace but with an issue like clicking, the chances of that being the issue is very very small.