HardDrive Help

I have an external 1TB 2.0 Western Digital Essential bought in Dec 2009.
Amazon.com: Western Digital My Book Essential 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDBAAF0010HBK-NESN: Electronics: Reviews, Prices & more

Today, from daily wear and tear, the usb port in the hdd is broken surprisely.
I got lot of stuff in this hard drive and no idea how to retrieve it.
Also, my hdd has warranty for 2 years but I am afraid to loose the data and stuff if I send them.

So anyway I can fix this?
like getting a new enclosure or something?

Thanks

 

If you can pull the case apart, you will probably find a standard drive in it. You could then buy an empty external case and install the drive in it. Or install it directly in a desktop computer.

Otherwise, you need to talk to WD about it. I don't know if they will cover that under warranty. But, they should be able to move the drive to a new case or replace the socket.

 

If you can pull the case apart, you will probably find a standard drive in it. You could then buy an empty external case and install the drive in it. Or install it directly in a desktop computer.

Otherwise, you need to talk to WD about it. I don't know if they will cover that under warranty. But, they should be able to move the drive to a new case or replace the socket.

 

New enclosure. Don't think you can super glue the port back on. Could try a torch, but I think the drive wouldn't survive.

You basically answered your own question. Time for another enclosure.

 

New enclosure. Don't think you can super glue the port back on. Could try a torch, but I think the drive wouldn't survive.

You basically answered your own question. Time for another enclosure.

 

Guys, any way to use an external enclosure and get my data?
I need my data urgent so what can be done?

 

If you can pull the case apart, you will probably find a standard drive in it. You could then buy an empty external case and install the drive in it. Or install it directly in a desktop computer.

Otherwise, you need to talk to WD about it. I don't know if they will cover that under warranty. But, they should be able to move the drive to a new case or replace the socket.

 

New enclosure. Don't think you can super glue the port back on. Could try a torch, but I think the drive wouldn't survive.

You basically answered your own question. Time for another enclosure.

 

Guys, any way to use an external enclosure and get my data?
I need my data urgent so what can be done?

 

If you can pull the case apart, you will probably find a standard drive in it. You could then buy an empty external case and install the drive in it. Or install it directly in a desktop computer.

Otherwise, you need to talk to WD about it. I don't know if they will cover that under warranty. But, they should be able to move the drive to a new case or replace the socket.

 

Guys, any way to use an external enclosure and get my data?
I need my data urgent so what can be done?

 

Guys, any way to use an external enclosure and get my data?
I need my data urgent so what can be done?

 

Woah! Triple post. I guess it actually posted even though my browser never loaded the page.

 

Damn! Looks like some flaw in NBR.
I was having trouble since yesterday while loading NBR.

 

Can anyone find a nice tutorial to take the hdd apart?
I am really bad at fixing my own stuff.

 

This any help: Shmoo's Razor: Dismantling WD Essential Edition 500GB External HD

Usually removing all the screws and gently but firmly prising everything apart will work.

 

So any enclosure will work or I need some specific ones?

 

I can recommend the Vantec enclosures to you. Just pick the connection(s) you want.

See:
Welcome to Vantec ? Leading Brand of Storage, Thermal, and Mobile Accessories! - PRODUCTS


Good luck.

 

Is it the only compatiable or I can get any Enclosure?
Also do you think that WD will provide me with Support as I am still under warranty for next 1 year?

 

In theory, everything is compatible - but the Vantec products I've actually used and can therefore recommend.

As soon as you open your WD product you forfeit your warranty.

Do you value your Data or your $$$?


As an aside: I have never returned a 'dead' HD with any data on it - mine or my clients.

The few $$$ for a new HD is worth not risking basically handing my data to an unknown entity/person.

 

Hmm
I love my data more than the $$$$
Also I am jsut worried if they just refund and keep the hdd.

 

Well, buying this drive in Dec 2009, you won't have to worry about them refunding your money.

But they will still 'keep' your HD and give you another refurbished one.

Buy an enclosure and hope that the DATA is still on there.

Good luck.

 

Its just the usb port is broken.
Nothing wrong with the HDD inside.
From some websites, I saw that inside was 3.5' HDD which people used with sata cable and backed it up.
Lets see how it goes!

 

Ok a little update..
I had a talk with the rep and all he offered me was a data recovery service from one of their authorized company which would cost me like 200+ and I think I am not that stupid. So, anyone who had opened or know the procedure to get the drive inside WD My Passport Essential?
What sort of hdd is exactly inside?

 

Is this the one:

YouTube - Dismantling Western Digital Passport HDD

YouTube - How to: Opening a WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive

If so that's a SATA connexion. The drive is probably 9.5mm thick, but check your new enclosure is wide enough. 12.5mm is the other size.

The plastic casing looks very cheap and plasticky; replacing it for another one doesn't seem as good a deal as changing it for a nice strong aluminium one which might last better.

 

Okay first off: when manufacturers hear the word "broken" they will automatically assume the end user caused that and will almost always deny warranty coverage. AND externals with any damage to the USB ports are 99.9% user inflicted so it would be a waste RMA'ing it to WD.

Buy a new enclosure for like 20-30 bucks and that's it.

 

The one I have is ( Amazon.com: Western Digital My Book Essential 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDBAAF0010HBK-NESN: Electronics: Reviews, Prices & more)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9puwEKzfS4

The tutorial doesnot match actually.
Found some videos on that..
Lets see how it goes!

 

Ok need little help!
I opened and got the sata 1tb WD hard drive.
I ordered a Coolmax 3.5-Inch Aluminum SATA Hard Drive Enclosure HD-389-U2
from amazon and fitted the WD hard drive.
When I connect it to my notebook, it doesnot show up in windows explorer although I can hear the sound of it being detected.
Going to disk management shows 930 gb unallocated.
Any idea how to fix this and retrieve my data?
Thakns

 

Really need my data in that hdd guys..
what can be done?

 

Are you sure you had data on it? Unallocated means nothing is there. You could have a logical failure of your drive.

 

I don't know if changing enclosure made some differences.
Almost I had like 850gbs of data in it when the usb port broke in the WD enclosure.
Today, I changed it and its not showing anything.
So, should I format it and use some undelete software or I am missing something here?

 

All up to you mate. Just remember those software comes with on guarantees. Do you remember what file system it was beforehand?

 

I wouldn't format it, as I would think that would be more likely to make the data unrecoverable. Maybe try the undelete/recovery software and see what they recommend as the procedure first?

 

To use undelete software, I should see the drive first isn't it?
It just shows unallocated space of 935 gb in disk management.
What do you should I do?
Since i got my game backups and keys in there too.
I would loose data over 1k excluding my personal datas and multimedia.

 

Well, you can see the drive, as unallocated space really just means space that isn't assigned to a partition, and thus isn't available for use because there's no file system set for it. I've never had to run data recovery myself, but this link may be helpful.

 

I believe it happened because of the new enclosure.
I believe there is data in there but because of enclosure its not being detected.
Can't also send it back to WD since they charge a load of money.

 

It seems likely that the partition table is corrupt. I've never had this problem, but there is partition recovery software available and that's where I'd start.

Something like this: Free Partition Recovery Software - Recover Deleted FAT/NTFS/Ext2/Ext3 Partition.

 

Ok I will give it a shot

 

After 14 hrs....it still didn't found anything.
I contacted WD and this is what they said
"Thank you for your reply.

The data is encrypted. You will need to use an authorized data recovery service company.

I hope that we have met your expectations today and that you are satisfied with our service. If you have any further questions, please reply to this email and we will be happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,
Ralph B
Western Digital Service and Support
WD - Service & Support Home "

So what next?

 

Well, if WD encrypts their hard drives, then you'll need someone who knows how to decrypt them... which probably means you need to send it in to one of those "authorized data recovery service companies".

 

I really don't know if WD is faking that information because I didn't saw anything like that "Encrypt" in any of the problems other users are getting.
WD really knows how to loot customers...

 

They don't loot their customers. As a consumer is it your responsibility to back up your data. Having your data only on one hard drive is not backing it up. Backing up is 2 or more instances of your data. If hard drives included data in the warranty hard drives would be 2000 dollars a pop (that's how much physically damaged, clean room data recovery costs)

 

Thats what I used that for. I used that HDD for backup.
If I had screwed up the HDD then I would have not blamed anyone..
Its just the enclosure that broke.
Infact the hdd inside is 100% working which also consists of data.
Also they are not sending me other enclosure even if I am ready to buy it.

 

A backup in a single location is not a backup. Sorry.

If the HDD is 100% working, you should be able to get the data off, but you can't of course so your statement is not true.

This is why I do not ever recommend a pre-built external HD solution from any manufacturer - you are simply stuck with the proprietary solution they offer with no simple and cost effective recourse.

If your data is this important (as I'm sure it is), then can you buy the same enclosure on eBay or even as new? The cost will be much less than data recovery will cost - assuming that the enclosure is the only component at fault here.

I really wish you luck - and hope you realize the need for more than a single backup device/solution (these days, backups to backups to backups to backups is the new 'norm' for important data).

 

+1

People think moving the data off their laptop onto an external and then deleting it is backing up data. That is only migrating it not backing it up. Backing it up is having another drive or system with the data.

 

I was using my 500 GB seagate for past 3 year before I shifted to WD.
Never had a problem with seagate so didn't thought for second time that I will have to face this situation. I think I have to buy another exact HDD and replace the parts.

 

Back up online =p slower speeds but at least it's secure, right?

 

Not if your ISP goes down and you need your data ASP. Aka if you have Comcast and their DNS crashes 50 times a day.

 

Depends on your definition of "secure." If you mean secure from physical harm? Maybe. Depends on how they handle things at their end. If they themselves don't have multiple locations, they can be subject to losses as well. I think there was one company that had to do a number of refunds or pay compensation because a set of their servers went down, and as the "backups" on that server hadn't been propogated to any other servers, all of that data was lost. There's also the question of security on their end as well, as (in theory) the people you're backing up with could access your data unless you go to some routes to protect yourself. Davepermen and I had many... discussions about this some time back (he didn't trust online backups at all, I viewed them as acceptable if you knew what risks you were taking).

 

lol...

Never, ever, ever give up your data to an 'online' anything, ever!

(Secure until they go belly up and you have 8 hrs at throttled speeds to download your 2TB of 'secure' data).

Never.