[SOLVED] Screwdriver size to open a WD 3TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.0

[FrenchyfromPA]

Hi,

I'd like to repair on my own my external hard drive "WD 3TB Elements , USB 3.0" but I'm not sure of the size of the Torx screwdriver I need to open it.... :

Amazon.com: WD 3TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox - WDBU6Y0030BBK-WESN: Computers & Accessories

Thanks for your help,

Serge

 

[geofelt]

Buy a kit like this with multiple sizes. They are not expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Sc...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

It will be handy for other uses.

 

[Ralston18]

@FrenchyfromPA

Are you trying to just open the external case or is your intent to open the hard drive itself?

If the latter, bear in mind that it is very unlikely that you will be able to repair the external hard drive.

Opening the actual physical drive will void any warranties and likely make any further data retrieval impossible and/or make the entire drive no longer functional.

What problem(s) necessitate opening the hard drive if that is indeed your intent?

 

[FrenchyfromPA]

@FrenchyfromPA

Are you trying to just open the external case or is your intent to open the hard drive itself?

If the latter, bear in mind that it is very unlikely that you will be able to repair the external hard drive.

Opening the actual physical drive will void any warranties and likely make any further data retrieval impossible and/or make the entire drive no longer functional.

What problem(s) necessitate opening the hard drive if that is indeed your intent?

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I want to open the hard drive itself. I don't want to repair it, I just want to be able to recover most of the files "movies" and transfer them to a new external drive. That drive is not under warranty anymore.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I want to open the hard drive itself. I don't want to repair it, I just want to be able to recover most of the files "movies" and transfer them to a new external drive. That drive is not under warranty anymore.

Opening the actual hard drive to expose the platters will ensure that neither you, nor anyone else, can get your "movies" off it.

 

[FrenchyfromPA]

Opening the actual hard drive to expose the platters will ensure that neither you, nor anyone else, can get your "movies" off it.

Well, it seems some people are able to recover their files.... :

How to recover data from a hard drive (stuck heads: buzzing, clicking, etc) - YouTube

 

[USAFRet]

Well, it seems some people are able to recover their files.... :

How to recover data from a hard drive (stuck heads: buzzing, clicking, etc) - YouTube

OK, go for it. It's your stuff, not mine.

Please let us know how it works out.
Please video the whole process.


Additionally, he didn't show you the 30 previous attempts, when it failed.

 

[fzabkar]

Opening the actual physical drive will void any warranties ...

In the USA, disassembling the device does not void your warranty, as long as you don't break anything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act

https://www.ifixit.com/News/10016/warranty-void-if-removed-stickers

 

[USAFRet]

In the USA, disassembling the device does not void your warranty, as long as you don't break anything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act

https://www.ifixit.com/News/10016/warranty-void-if-removed-stickers

If it is broken and still within warranty, send it back.
If it is past the warranty, a sticker or warranty does not matter.

I'm not so sure about retaining the (otherwise valid) warranty of a spinning hard drive that was opened to expose the platters.
How do you show that your poking around inside did not screw up the device?

Most other things, user inflicted damage would be quite evident. But at the nanometer tolerances of a hard drive...not so sure on that one.

 

[fzabkar]

Oops, I didn't notice that the OP was asking about removing the cover off the HDD. Obviously that would void the warranty.