[RESOLVED] Western Digital Drive Problem
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Thread: [RESOLVED] Western Digital Drive Problem

  1. #1
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    Resolved [RESOLVED] Western Digital Drive Problem

    I have a 750GB external WD hard drive, model WD7500C032-002 that stopped working this morning.

    I kicked off my monthly full backup, and an hour later I came back and saw Ghost returning a CRC error.

    - I navigated to it and saw folders & files.
    - Then tried using Windows to check the drive for errors. It found none.
    - I removed the drive from the USB cable, after ejecting it using Windows.
    - I plugged the USB cable back in and it started a soft click of death: "click click" pause "click click" pause, etc. The light on the front of the drive was flashing once every two seconds.

    System
    Dell XPS 911
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
    Intel Core i7 CPU
    12GB RAM

    It's my backup drive, so I'm not dead in the water, but I did have a ton of expendable music I ripped from CDs, and some video I'd like to recover from it before disposing of it.

    Thanks in advance for your help, as always.

    Cj

  2. #2
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    Take the drive out of the enclosure, and hook it up to the PC directly using a SATA cable. See how the drive is there - it may be perfectly fine. If it's still clicking, but visible in Explorer, then get the data off it as fast as you can.

    Here are some excellent freeware file recovery programs, many of our members have had a good deal of success with them:

    PC Inspector

    Restoration

    TestDisk

    Recuva

    I like Recuva best out of those.
    Nick.

  3. #3
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    Thanks a million. Any recommendations on opening the drive enclosure? I'm inclined to pry it open with a screw driver, but figure I'd ask before giving that a go.

    Cj

  4. #4
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    They all vary in how they open. I don't have any direct knowledge of that particular one, unfortunately
    Nick.

  5. #5
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    Got it open, and attached it to my desktop with a SATA/USB adapter. That rules out a faulty power supply. Same light clicking sound. When an old 2.1GB WD from years ago got the click of death, WD recommended alternate jumper settings, which worked, and I used the disk for years after that. I searched for alternate jumper settings for this drive, but could find none.

    I can't see the drive in Windows Explorer, but when I remove the USB cable, I get a pop up saying, "You need to format the disk in drive I before you can use it." Interesting since I can't see Drive I.

    Anyway...I can see the device in Disk Management as Disk1. Is that sufficient to use Recuva or some other such software?

    Oh....and attempts to initialize ("MBR Style") it in disk management result in "Device is not ready." Should I try initializing using GPT?

    <sigh>

    Cj
    Last edited by SeaJay; April 22nd, 2012 at 04:37 PM. Reason: Added comment before <sigh>

  6. #6
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    If you initialise it, you'll make it even harder to recover data, though having said that, I think your only realistic hope would be a data recovery specialist anyway. I doubt it would be worth it, given that it's likely to be very expensive

    If it is still clicking when connected directly, it is safe to say that the hard drive has gone to the great data store in the sky
    Nick.

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  8. #8
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    SuperSparks: I downloaded WD's Data Lifeguard to run checks on it. The quick check worked fine. I kicked off the full check early this morning. When I left it said it had about 11hrs to go. When I got back it said I had 38hrs to go. So...I interrupted it, disconnected the drive, and decided to give up. I'll just have to replenish my music supply, but that could be a blessing in disguise because now I can better organize it! I think I'll hold onto the drive for a while just in case I think of something I had on there I need.

    SpywareDr: Thanks for the link. I'll hold onto it. Have you used them before?

    Oh...and while we're on the subject of dead external hard drives, does anyone have a recommendation for a fast, compact external drive to use as a backup device?

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by SeaJay View Post

    SpywareDr: Thanks for the link. I'll hold onto it. Have you used them before?
    You're welcome, and yes, I have.

    PCMag.com > Hard Drive Healers > Getting Your Data Back
    By Cade Metz - January 18, 2006
    http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1911133,00.asp

    Quote Originally Posted by SeaJay View Post

    Oh...and while we're on the subject of dead external hard drives, does anyone have a recommendation for a fast, compact external drive to use as a backup device?
    HITACHI Touro Mobile Pro 500GB USB 3.0 Piano Black External Hard Drive 0S03105
    $99.99 - Free Shipping
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145518

  10. #10
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    I built my own external drives. I bought 3 Akasa enclosures, and used bog standard Hitachi 3.5" drives, and they've given me sterling service. I only use them for backing up though, so most of the time they are switched off.
    Last edited by SuperSparks; April 25th, 2012 at 09:34 AM.
    Nick.

  11. #11
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    Thanks, SuperSparks. I'll look into those. That's all I plan on using mine for. My now-dead drive was off most of the time - only on once or twice a month :-(

    Thanks again for your help.

  12. #12
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    You're very welcome
    Nick.

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