Data recovery help!

boynogg

boynogg

Active member
Help required! I have an external hard drive with pictures and work files and it has just stopped working, it flashes whirls then stops and is unrecognisable?
 
Is it possible to take the drive from the enclosure and connect inside your PC via a SATA port?

It's unlikely but could possibly be the connectors inside the external drive causing the issue than the hard drive itself.
 
Don't panic too much as you'll be able to get stuff back. Have you tried attaching to another computer?

Like Gord says it could be a problem with the enclosure and you can purchase replacement enclosures. There are standard sizes but you'll need to know what you have inside
 
boynogg said:
I have no idea, I can try that though, do they all have a standard kind of fitting?
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If you bought the drive it will be factory sealed and getting the drive out of it will be nigh on impossible without smashing the enclosure which might damage the drive further.

Do other external drives work ok on your pc connected to the same usb port?

Can you try it with a different connecting cable to see if thats faulty

Presumably the drive is not visible at all in windows on your pc?
 
If all else fails google ‘data recovery services’. Some offer ‘no data no fee’ wouldn’t risk that, but there are numerous reputable companies.
 
Thanks, I think I'm going to do that, the stuff on it is too valuable to have me hacking away at it with a kitchen knife.
 
boynogg said:
Thanks, I think I'm going to do that, the stuff on it is too valuable to have me hacking away at it with a kitchen knife.
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I'm looking one of my external drives and they're not easy to get into - what make/model is it - might be worth googling to see if there's any known issues.
 
boynogg said:
WD elements? It looks pretty solid
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Yep, I have one, I think you'll do more harm than good trying to get inside it. If it's not visible in Windows I think the suggestion of a data recovery firm is your best bet if the stuff on the drive is important.

I used one down by the Riverside Park Road but it was a good few years ago now, they were good, rescued stuff from an internal hard drive and only charged a few quid. I'll see if I can find them but they may have gone bust/moved/changed name but I'll have a look.
 
Thanks for that, I've ordered a new cable too, the internet says it could be that, comes tomorrow£6 Amazon is very useful sometimes, I will keep you posted on results. 😅
 
boynogg said:
Thanks for that, I've ordered a new cable too, the internet says it could be that, comes tomorrow£6 Amazon is very useful sometimes, I will keep you posted on results. 😅
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I can't see anything on Google/Maps for the place I used, thinking about it I think it was some kind of Computer Data centre rather than just a shop specialising in that. If the cable doesn't work might be worth trying a local PC shop see if they can do it or know someone who can.
 
Too late for this episode Boynogg but back your stuff up to google drive, assuming it's not state secrets, of course.
 
Whats the part# of the drive. I've sorted a couple of their Essential drives before - bog standard drives under all the plastic. One had a board failure and I temp swapped the board out using a donor. The other was a motor write off. Took the platter out completely and fitted it back into a donor bought off ebay for a tenner.
I have a technet docking station. Easy to copy off data and store elsewhere - e.g. a fire proof safe. Use various on line back ups also Dropbox, Google etc. My critical stuff is stored on a couple of encrypted usb sticks. Only my son and my actuary know where to find them and how to access them. Belt and braces perhaps but not expensive.
 
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