WD My Book Essential- replaced PCB and it worked

[tnsbond]

Just wanted to share my recent issue with my WD My Book Essential External 2TB HDD and what fixed it for me. Hopefully you find it to be a good read...

First, some background on my HDD problem. The power light remained on (steady, never blinked) and would not shut off using the power button on the back of the enclosure or go off when I shut down my desktop. The HDD was not recognized in Disk Management, Device Manager, or Windows Explorer and it would not spin up. I took the drive out out of the enclosure, removed the USB-SATA pcb, and plugged the drive directly into my desktop. The drive would now spin up and was recognized in Disk Management (as unallocated data---DO NOT INITIALIZE IT!!) and in Device Manager, but not in Windows Explorer. As I'm sure you're aware this is due to the encryption(which is fairly weak from what I've read but enough to be a PITA nonetheless) WD so graciously added and used the PCB to do so. Take the PCB out of the picture and your data is unreadable.

So let's move forward after about 12 hours of research and troubleshooting I decided to try replacing the PCB with one with matching numbers (model and Revision 4061-*** Rev AA as well as the same IC chip, which was JMS538S). Ordered it off eBay for about $35. Some people said this worked for them and others it did not.

It arrived, I installed it, and Shazam!! My HDD showed up in Windows Explorer and my files were now accessible again.

My advice, if you are going to try this, would be make sure you get the same #'s. I read where some of the revisions are compatible but why chance if it you don't have too. You must make sure the IC chip is the same as it is what controls the encryption. Some people said this did them no good but I lucked out I guess. I suspect they either did not get the correct PCB or their issue lay elsewhere.

As for me, I'm getting all my files off this thing and will use it for target practice the next time I go shooting. Come to think of it, I did just get some new sights for my AR15....

Please realize I am no expert on these things. I am simply sharing what worked for me and I described it as well as I could given it's 7am and I just got home from work. If I didn't use the correct terminology or something please don't "roast" me or whatever. It may trigger me and then I would have to go find a safe space.

 

[RealBeast]

You were fortunate that it worked, as it occasionally does.

My real beef with the storage companies is that they don't warn users of the many ways that storage and particularly USB storage can fail. Rather they make it sound like a safe single backup solution, which is clearly is not.

Congratulations, and make sure to put a spot on it prior to your intended use -- I mean it is a pretty large target for a scoped shot, although I prefer fruit so there is no clean up. :lol:

 

[ArtPog]

It was good that the OP, tnsbond, was indeed fortunate to resurrect the data from his/her defunct commercial USB external HDD. The OP was one of the few - very few - users who have managed this feat. We stopped counting the number of users who haven't been so fortunate over the years.

The moral of this story is simply this. The overwhelming majority of PC users would be much better served by purchasing a USB external enclosure + a HDD/SSD for their backup/storage strategies rather than a commercial "one-piece" unit.

The advantages of doing so are significant. First of all, virtually any USBEHD enclosure purchased will accommodate both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2" drives. A real advantage. Then the user can purchase the HDD (or SSD) he/she wants, not the HDD that's usually installed in the commercial product. Rest assured the user-purchased drive will invariably prove superior to the commercial product. And the user can select whatever disk capacity he/she desires.

Another significant advantage is that your HDD (or SSD) that you install in a USB external enclosure can always be easily removed and installed in a PC should that need arise. Keep in mind that many of the commercial "one-piece" USB external drives are equipped with a non-standard SATA data connector on the enclosed SATA drive and as a consequence cannot be connected to a standard SATA data connector of a HDD or SSD should that need arise.

Still another significant advantage is the fact that by using a separate USBEHD enclosure + HDD (or SSD) the user has at hand an UNLIMITED capability to utilize any number of different HDDs/SSDs for whatever purpose(s) the user deems necessary or desirable. So one achieves an enormous degree of flexibility by purchasing the separate components referred to.

All in all there are really no downsides to purchasing a USBEHD + HDD (or SSD) in comparison to purchasing a commercial one-piece product. And you will have an enormous choice as to the USB enclosure that appeals to you.

There are all kinds of USB enclosures on the market. Peruse the offerings of Newegg, Amazon, and other online vendors for a virtual unending catalog of various types of USB enclosures/docking stations generally obtainable at quite modest prices.

And it's simplicity itself to install and/or reinstall a HDD or SSD in & out of a USB external enclosure - whatever the type.

Another consideration is the SATA-to-USB cable adapter devices for connecting a SATA HDD or SSD to a USB external port. We've found the following device consistently reliable in operation - https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Portable-Adapter-Cable-Power/dp/B005B3VO24

Then there are the so-called "docking stations". They're fine if one likes that style - (we have three of them hanging around that are rarely used). My chief problem with them is their bulk although I have noticed the newer models are getting more compact in size. It's really a matter of user preference. By & large they all do the job. And virtually all of them accommodate both 2.5" & 3.5" drives. Many users are partial to this type of device.
See for example http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=blacx&N=-1&isNodeId=1 for a sampling of these devices. And there are literally scores of other models you can peruse.

 

[dudeman509]

My external Seagate died in a similar way.

I ended up just cracking open the case and plopping the drive into my desktop.

 

[ArtPog]

My external Seagate died in a similar way.

I ended up just cracking open the case and plopping the drive into my desktop.

Another failure of a "one-piece" commercial USB external enclosure that came equipped with its enclosed HDD. We come across this situation time & time again with many users while we RARELY run into any problems with USB external enclosures (of one type or another) that one purchases on the market. While we occasionally encounter a USB external enclosure that's DOA, it's rare (again, in our experience) that once the enclosure has proven non-defective, it stays that way. The same cannot be said for the "commercial" products in our experience. They are far more likely to become defective as in your case. And you were lucky to be able to remove the drive and install it internally in your PC. Many users are unable to do so.