Help. I can't access my WD elements HD!!

[Mark_174]

Hi
I can't access my WD elements 1tb USB3 hard drive. I accidently unplugged without safe removal.

It's recognised with its full name 'WD Elements 1048' in device manager and in 'safety remove hardware'. It occasionally shows up in My computer but if I try and access it, the computer freezes. It shows as DriveY but has no storage capacity details underneath. I have tried pretty much EVERYTHING. I have tried on another pc and nothing. When It sometimes shows up in disk managment I can't even initialise/format it. It comes up with a error message. I don't want to do this as I have vital stuff on the drive.

I've tried disk recovery software but none of them even see the drive but they not really needed as I have not erased the drive or formatted it etc.. It doesn't show in diskpart.

It's spinning fine, the light just flashes.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

 

[Mark_174]

Screenshots

Disk management:



Device Manager:

 

[Neur0nauT]

Download HD Tune install it and see if it can detect your external drive. It might be able to test it and tell you if it is faulty or not.

It sounds like its faulty though. Listen to the drive when you plug it in, is it making any clicking or weird noises? If so, then its fubar'ed.

 

[Mark_174]

I doesn't show in HD Tune under the info tab. Showing in device manager though.

It's spinning fine and making no sounds at all. I've added some screenshots.

 

[Neur0nauT]

I doesn't show in HD Tune under the info tab. Showing in device manager though.

It's spinning fine and making no sounds at all. I've added some screenshots.

I see that Disk Manager is not able to assign a drive letter to it. If you can hear the drive spinning up, this would suggest that the SATA to USB adapter might be faulty on the WD Elements enclosure. You could alway rip the drive out of the enclosure and buy a cheap alternative and pop the drive into it, then it might see it. Or just take the drive out of the enclosure and connect it into your PC?

 

[Mark_174]

I doesn't show in HD Tune under the info tab. Showing in device manager though.

It's spinning fine and making no sounds at all. I've added some screenshots.

I see that Disk Manager is not able to assign a drive letter to it. If you can hear the drive spinning up, this would suggest that the SATA to USB adapter might be faulty on the WD Elements enclosure. You could alway rip the drive out of the enclosure and buy a cheap alternative and pop the drive into it, then it might see it. Or just take the drive out of the enclosure and connect it into your PC?

Its USB3 so socket is hard wired to circuit board.

 

[Neur0nauT]

I doesn't show in HD Tune under the info tab. Showing in device manager though.

It's spinning fine and making no sounds at all. I've added some screenshots.

I see that Disk Manager is not able to assign a drive letter to it. If you can hear the drive spinning up, this would suggest that the SATA to USB adapter might be faulty on the WD Elements enclosure. You could alway rip the drive out of the enclosure and buy a cheap alternative and pop the drive into it, then it might see it. Or just take the drive out of the enclosure and connect it into your PC?

Its USB3 so socket is hard wired to circuit board.

That circuit board is just connecting into the SATA port of the hard drive, there is nothing special. If you just remove the whole drive away from that frame and disconnect the SATA connector on the PCB, then you can do as you please with the drive thereafter. I think this would be your only option at this stage to see if the drive is readable without that enclosure and it's integrated SATA to USB adapter.

 

[Mark_174]

I doesn't show in HD Tune under the info tab. Showing in device manager though.

It's spinning fine and making no sounds at all. I've added some screenshots.

I see that Disk Manager is not able to assign a drive letter to it. If you can hear the drive spinning up, this would suggest that the SATA to USB adapter might be faulty on the WD Elements enclosure. You could alway rip the drive out of the enclosure and buy a cheap alternative and pop the drive into it, then it might see it. Or just take the drive out of the enclosure and connect it into your PC?

Its USB3 so socket is hard wired to circuit board.

That circuit board is just connecting into the SATA port of the hard drive, there is nothing special. If you just remove the whole drive away from that frame and disconnect the SATA connector on the PCB, then you can do as you please with the drive thereafter. I think this would be your only option at this stage to see if the drive is readable without that enclosure and it's integrated SATA to USB adapter.

OK. WIll give that a go!

Thanks very much for your help.

Will let you know my progress. I've had hard drives pull loads of crap on me in the past but have always been able to sort eventually. This is a new level of f**kery!

 

[Mark_174]

Nope, there is definately no sata connector on the drive. Many do, but this model (WD10JMVW) is USB3 hardwired. Apparently a lot of drive manufacturers are starting to do this.

Here is a video of the drive disassembly (7 minutes in he explains): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GGTQF6oE3E