WD External HD 2TB Partition recovery

[Kakyuu18]

My 2tb wd hard drive recently stopped responding on my network. Disk was still spinning and everything sounded okay, but the led at the front was off and I couldn't connect to it.

So after some research I took the thing apart and plugged the drive directly into my computer through usb. Unfortunately it asked to reformat. I said no.

After some tests, I found the drive had gone "raw" and I used a data recovery program to pull my files off. I'm actually still doing this, it takes a day to scan, and I've done multiple scans. Of course all my files are renamed and a jumbled mess. I've heard that the partition data for these drives relies on the controller board and replacing it might allow me to access the drive again with all of my file and folder names intact.

My question then is: Is this accurate? Can I buy the same drive off ebay, replace the board, and save myself weeks of digging through garbled files? Or is my partition truly gone and dead? Any help appreciated, and I can update with details as needed.

 

[Hellfire13]

ok...

this is one of the best softwares out there... http://www.m3datarecovery.com/
but you need to get hold of the full version...

this is a step by step instruction... http://www.m3datarecovery.com/data-recovery/online-help...

the method you should be looking for is..."How to recover deleted or lost partition?"....
it is towards the middle of the instruction page...



once u have done that, u need to convert d file format from RAW to NTFS...
here is a link on how to do that... http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/convert-hard...

there are other softwares out there which can help u in doing that as well... like Mini Tool Partition Wizard...there are plenty of softwares...just google it...
but u cant use d disk unless u convert d file format n then format d drive...

also u can check the health of the software through Hard Disk Sentinnell...

 

[USAFRet]

My 2tb wd hard drive recently stopped responding on my network. Disk was still spinning and everything sounded okay, but the led at the front was off and I couldn't connect to it.

So after some research I took the thing apart and plugged the drive directly into my computer through usb. Unfortunately it asked to reformat. I said no.

After some tests, I found the drive had gone "raw" and I used a data recovery program to pull my files off. I'm actually still doing this, it takes a day to scan, and I've done multiple scans. Of course all my files are renamed and a jumbled mess. I've heard that the partition data for these drives relies on the controller board and replacing it might allow me to access the drive again with all of my file and folder names intact.

My question then is: Is this accurate? Can I buy the same drive off ebay, replace the board, and save myself weeks of digging through garbled files? Or is my partition truly gone and dead? Any help appreciated, and I can update with details as needed.

With some of these external drives, there is a hardware encryption layer built into the board. A new board may not work.

 

[Kakyuu18]

Thanks Hellfire, I'll give these a try. I've tried partition recovery before and nothing so far recognized any partition at all, which I heard might be because the data is on the controller board (and mine is likely bad). I have not tried converting to NTFS. Will respond again after giving this a shot. Just waiting on one last scan.

That said, if anyone has had luck with replacing the board please let me know. As USAFRet said above, I'm afraid there might be encryption issues. But if I get the same model will I be good to go?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks Hellfire, I'll give these a try. I've tried partition recovery before and nothing so far recognized any partition at all, which I heard might be because the data is on the controller board (and mine is likely bad). I have not tried converting to NTFS. Will respond again after giving this a shot. Just waiting on one last scan.

That said, if anyone has had luck with replacing the board please let me know. As USAFRet said above, I'm afraid there might be encryption issues. But if I get the same model will I be good to go?

The encryption is not based on the model of the board, but rather a particular chip on the board, with its own hardware ID.

 

[Hellfire13]

the method i told u above is something that i have personally done before from an exactly similar situation as urs...so thats very much a possibility...

 

[Kakyuu18]

Thanks Hellfire, I'll give these a try. I've tried partition recovery before and nothing so far recognized any partition at all, which I heard might be because the data is on the controller board (and mine is likely bad). I have not tried converting to NTFS. Will respond again after giving this a shot. Just waiting on one last scan.

That said, if anyone has had luck with replacing the board please let me know. As USAFRet said above, I'm afraid there might be encryption issues. But if I get the same model will I be good to go?

The encryption is not based on the model of the board, but rather a particular chip on the board, with its own hardware ID.

That's a bummer! Thank you though, I'd hate to have spent the time and money on an unlikely solution.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks Hellfire, I'll give these a try. I've tried partition recovery before and nothing so far recognized any partition at all, which I heard might be because the data is on the controller board (and mine is likely bad). I have not tried converting to NTFS. Will respond again after giving this a shot. Just waiting on one last scan.

That said, if anyone has had luck with replacing the board please let me know. As USAFRet said above, I'm afraid there might be encryption issues. But if I get the same model will I be good to go?

The encryption is not based on the model of the board, but rather a particular chip on the board, with its own hardware ID.

That's a bummer! Thank you though, I'd hate to have spent the time and money on an unlikely solution.

If it is, in fact, encrypted. That is not a given.
But if it is, a different board is unlikely to work.

 

[S Haran]

WD Passports and most My Books are encrypted. WD Elements are not.

Assuming the problem is with the USB to SATA bridge PCB you can either repair the port or find an exact replacement or compatible PCB for the USB to SATA bridge.

Another option may be... https://github.com/andlabs/reallymine

 

[Kakyuu18]

Updates:

I realize I've left out the model of my drive for some reason.

I'm using a Western Digital 2TB My Book Live. Pretty old now. It connected through Ethernet and did its thing for years until last week it decided to just....not let me in anymore. So I broke in and got a USB converter, but the drive shows up RAW/etc.

In response to Hellfire: thanks for your time. Your links are broken, but I was able to piece together what you meant. I tried your program, but it was for data recovery, and I've already recovered the data. I also tried M3's partition recover. It scanned for 24hrs and told me "sorry, bruh, no luck" which was upsetting because EaseUS's Parition Master told me the same thing in 30 seconds. However, it was a good solid effort unlike EaseUS, and I appreciate it.

To USAFRet, I dug into PCB boards a little more and confirmed this may not be my solution. Even if I keep the chip from my original board, it's looking like this isn't a PCB failure, but more of a "logical" failure. All I can think of is my partition crapped itself randomly.

My current quest is still any program that can repair the partition/find the partition, or just get my data with ORIGINAL file names intact. Otherwise I'll just be formatting or scrapping this old gal.

S Haran, thanks for the link! I'm checking it out now.

 

[S Haran]

You may be dealing with bad sectors. Check the SMART status of the drive with CrystalDiskInfo.

If the drive is ok you can try Testdisk to find lost partitions.