[SOLVED] Help! Samsung TV wiped out my WD HDD :-(

[sallecc]

Guys I need help... I connected WD MyPassport Ultra (older version) via USB to friend's Samsung LCD TV (fairly older model) to see a movie, but it didn't read anything... Before that HDD worked just fine on my laptop, so I connected it back there, and it's ALL GONE, not only files, but partitions too, it appears like new, not formatted :-((( How this happened? I tried both Windows and MacOS, nothing just "please format the drive", can't even do the disk check because "there's no partitions"... Is there anything I can do to get it back? I have tons and tons of important pictures and files on it :-((( Really need help, thanks in advance!

(MBA 2015 Windows7 & MacOS + HDD MyPassport Ultra 3TB)

 

[punkncat]

Try data recovery services and consider multiple backups for next time. HDD make terrible portable storage. They are quite susceptible to shock and vibration.

 

[fzabkar]

Can you retrieve a SMART report with CrystalDiskInfo or GSMartControl?

 

[sallecc]

Try data recovery services and consider multiple backups for next time. HDD make terrible portable storage. They are quite susceptible to shock and vibration.

Thanks... HDD worked perfectly well until I plugged it into TV USB, just after that it appears as not formatted... What would be the best partition recovery software or tool to try? I have MBA 2015 with Windows 7 and old MacOS... Thanks in advance!

 

[sallecc]

Can you retrieve a SMART report with CrystalDiskInfo or GSMartControl?

Thanks, I will download those and give it a try, will report back here.

 

[sallecc]

Can you retrieve a SMART report with CrystalDiskInfo or GSMartControl?

I made screenshots of GSmartControl and CrystalDiskInfo (seems I can't upload the pictures here?), analysis seems nothing out of the ordinary (just basic info list, specs, power on times etc..., "Health Status = Good"... and GSmartControl reported "SMART support: No" for all of my drives including new WD models, not sure if this is relevant)... I'm not familiar with the functions of these 2 apps... how do I retrieve SMART report with these two (as you previously suggested)? Thanks in advance!

(P.S. Windows 7 disk management tool is reporting this drive as "F: 2794.49 GB RAW (Healthy) (Primary Partition)"

 

[fzabkar]

You can upload your images to a file sharing service. CrystalDiskInfo can save your reports as text files which you can then paste into your posts.

That said, it appears that your drives are physical OK, but have probably been formatted by your TV. Note that some WD external drives support TRIM, which is bad news for your data. Your safest DIY approach would be to clone your drive and then run data recovery software against your clone. Be aware that the drive may be TRIM-ing your data while this is going on.

You can use DMDE to display the Partitions window. Don't perform a full scan.

Something like this ...

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/DMDE/DMDE_Elements-8TB_Partitions.jpg

 

[sallecc]

You can upload your images to a file sharing service. CrystalDiskInfo can save your reports as text files which you can then paste into your posts.

That said, it appears that your drives are physical OK, but have probably been formatted by your TV. Note that some WD external drives support TRIM, which is bad news for your data. Your safest DIY approach would be to clone your drive and then run data recovery software against your clone. Be aware that the drive may be TRIM-ing your data while this is going on.

You can use DMDE to display the Partitions window. Don't perform a full scan.

Something like this ...

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/DMDE/DMDE_Elements-8TB_Partitions.jpg

Thanks @fzabkar , I uploaded these 3 images to Imgur:

Win7 partition info:

https://imgur.com/ZOY3ziG

View: https://i.imgur.com/ZOY3ziG.png

GSmartControl:

https://imgur.com/mNotC6P

View: https://i.imgur.com/mNotC6P.png

CrystalDiskInfo:

https://imgur.com/H6bcGJc

View: https://i.imgur.com/H6bcGJc.png


I will download DMDE and upload it's info too (I will not do full scan, thanks)... How do I check if my ext.HDD supports TRIM? (sorry if it's a dumb question, I'm not very familiar with drives... this one is WD MyPassport Ultra HDD 3TB few years old)

 

[sallecc]

...and here are the DMDE screenshots (it seems DMDE has found lost NTFS partition?)

DMDE step 1:

https://imgur.com/enJR9e4

View: https://i.imgur.com/enJR9e4.png

DMDE step2:

https://imgur.com/4KpR0y6

View: https://i.imgur.com/4KpR0y6.png

DMDE step3:

https://imgur.com/GiQ0Eit

View: https://i.imgur.com/GiQ0Eit.png

 

[fzabkar]

The following page states that ...

WD external SSD drives and WD external HDD drives that have SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) drive inside, offer TRIM command support which is enabled by default in Windows 7 and above

https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25185/kw/smr/related/1

FWIW, your model isn't listed here, so you could be lucky:

https://hddscan.com/blog/2020/hdd-wd-smr.html

 

[sallecc]

After I click on "Open Volume" (1st picture below, what does that red "x" means?), then it opened new window (2nd picture below) which seems to show all folders and files from that "lost" partition! )) After instant happiness, I didn't dare to do anything, fearing I'll overwrite something and lost it forever (sorry I'm really not familiar with disks and recovery)... If I select folder and choose "Recover", it will only copy it to drive/folder of my choice (it will not write anything on affected drive), right? Or should I just go for complete partition recovery? (maybe need to purchase full version)... No idea what to do next... If you know I'd appreciate it very much, thanks!

DMDE partition info:

https://imgur.com/GiQ0Eit

View: https://i.imgur.com/GiQ0Eit.png

DMDE volume view:

https://imgur.com/MaOYWnv

View: https://i.imgur.com/MaOYWnv.png

 

[sallecc]

(P.S.: I couldn't resist so I clicked "Recover" on 1 selected photo file and copied it to another drive... This DMDE works like a charm, I'll probably just select all important folders, recover them to another drive, and after that I can re-format this old drive)

 

[fzabkar]

The TV has overwritten the boot sector of the NTFS volume (sector 256).

R-click the NTFS partition and select "Restore boot sector from copy". Then Apply Changes, safely eject the drive, and then reinsert it. Hopefully the file system will be repaired. If not, then you can still recover your data as you have been doing.

 

[sallecc]

The TV has overwritten the boot sector of the NTFS volume (sector 256).

R-click the NTFS partition and select "Restore boot sector from copy". Then Apply Changes, safely eject the drive, and then reinsert it. Hopefully the file system will be repaired. If not, then you can still recover your data as you have been doing.

Thank you so much!!! Solved with 1 click I purchased DMDE anyway, it's awesome tool... Hopefully this thread will be useful for all others who stick their HDD in old LCD TV and lose data... Thanks again @fzabkar !