Cannot Access Western Digital Drive Please Help

Scan it using getdataback, and if your data is seen, register the tool so you can copy it off. Next time make sure you have backups, drives break more often than you think.

http://runtime.org

Do one thing, install UBUNTU in any other system. Usually, accessing devices procedures are different for linux than Windows. Otherwise, try plugging your HDD through another USB data cable or fixing it to yours friend laptop or desktop. But still try accessing the drive through linux OS and UBUNTU is a best choice for a simple installation and great OS.

Download :
http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Hi i tried the getdataback it seem ed to see the device but said something like its not an ntfs drive, i have also tried the fAT version with no joy.

downloading ubunto now but not really sure what to do with it

If it has issues with the file system, remove the drive from the USB case and attach it directly to an internal port on the PC as a 2nd drive, then try getdataback again if you can't access the data directly from windows.

I would suggest the free testdisk software.  It is a little harder to use, but gives a lot more recovery options
http://www.cgsecurity.org
plenty of tutorials also


I hope this helps !

the best way is to take the drive out of the case, and connect it directly to a sata port, so you don't have the usb interface (this voids the warranty)
check then if it is seen normally in the bios, and disk management
post results

here is how i handle disk problems : https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html

I Have looked into adding as another drive on my pc but i have attached a picture of the end connecter and i am not sure how i would connect this

John

It looks as if there is still part of the USB device attached to the disk. You'll have to remove averything that belongs to the USB device so you get to the Disk's actual SATA or PATA connectors. Maybe if you take more photos from different angles and all sides of the disk it might help.

Hi I have attached some more hope it helps


also thought i might add the drive does not even seem to be recognised anymore by the pc when i plug in via usb

It looks a bit as if the motherboard is specially built to incorporate the USB circuits. If that is the case (it is a bit hard to identify from the photos), then the only option is to send the disk to a recovery agency, like Gillware (provided the data is worth that cost):

http://gillware.com/

look here how aa sata connecter looks like :  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

Wow...Ok, first of all there is no option to "remove the USB connectors to get to the SATA connectors" for this drive.  Do not start removing components.
A professional data recovery firm can handle this for you and should not be too expensive.  For a free evaluation, try SalvageData.
If you start removing electronic components, the cost will skyrocket and the chance of a successful recovery will drop.
If GetDataBack can see a drive, but it is not viewed as NTFS or FAT (assuming you are not running HFS or EFS) then likely something has happened to the PCB (printed circuit board) or to the drive itself.  The USB controller on these boards will sometime respond to the system and report as a drive available, but nothing can be done with it from there on.  This is the USB controller processing commands, but nothing else is being sent to/from the drive.  If there is something mechanically wrong with the drive (such as if the drive sustained a drop) then this could also cause the problem.
This is not a DIY as there are a few too many variables.
If the data is not important to you, pls say so and we can start walking through some of the "try it out" scenarios.

Yes i would like to go through some of the Scenarios if possible

John

Was the drive dropped or yanked out of the computer?  If so, you probably have "sticktion" which is where the drive heads have come into contact with the platters and have bonded.
When you plug the drive in, hold the drive in your hand, do you feel the drive spinning up?  What noises, if any do you hear?

The drive was not dropped when i plug the drive in i can here it spinning up and it stays spinning, then very faintly maybe every 3 secounds i sort of here a very slight tick maybe.

John

are you sure you cannot remove anymore parts from that connector, an adaptor?
on laptops, it is quite common

Ok I can feel the drive spinning it does not power down

When I plug it in you here the hard drive increase in speed then If I put my ear to it I'm pretty sure I can here a very faint click every two or three seconds

It might also be worth noting that when I could access the drive it started slowing down when copying from it, and it asked me a couple of times to scan which stupidly I did not do

The sound you describe is the heads being launched onto the platter, but unable to read the service area.  Means that your heads are shot.  There is nothing more you can do at this point.  Warranty return it if you can and get a new one.  Or, send it somewhere for recovery.

I take it I could not replace them or anything?

Unfortunately replacing them without the proper tools, parts, clean room environment, and the knowledge, you probably would not be able to do so.  

Especially without causing further damage to the platters.  A scratch, or a piece of dust, or fingerprint, could make data less salvageable or ruin your chances of salvaging data.
Opening up a drive would also ruin the vacuum seal of the drive causing more issues.

http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/888253-sata-more-than-one-type.html

Some info and gripes about WD's proprietary drive.

Agree with Wakeup that attempting a head exchange, even if you had the right parts and tools, would likely cause irreparable damage.  A DR pro with clean room and experience is going to be what is needed to get the data for you.

Would a usb 2.0 to sata adapter help just a thought

No. The drive is bad, so no way of connecting it is going to help.

Basically as Rindi said, Drive is bad.  Most likely mechanical failure.
Now....if it was a bad enclosure, and not the drive itself...perhaps a different story.

what model is this drive? the only thing i saw that it is labeled as a Sata drive

It's a western digital

Right...but what is the model number of the drive...
That's like saying I have a Honda....
ok...well is it a civic? accord? element? passport?  and if it is...one of those, is it a DX, LX, CRX, CRV, so on so forth....
You took pictures of everything but the model number on the upper part of the drive near the yellow part of the label...that SHOULD be really close to where the model/part number is located on the drive.

Hi Its a Passport drive

the numbers etc on the outer casing are

P/N    WDBAAA5000AWT-00


Hope this helps