I have a "WD" 1 TB portable external hard drive that is kaput
Feb 16, 2019 06:51:01 #
dsmeltz wrote:
Is this an internal drive then? Is it the system drive?
I had a similar problem a while ago. I took the drive and inserted into an external drive docking station (they run around $50.00) I was able to access the drive from my laptop and backup all the data to another drive.
Also, if this is an internal drive, did you back it up to an external or the cloud?
I had a similar problem a while ago. I took the drive and inserted into an external drive docking station (they run around $50.00) I was able to access the drive from my laptop and backup all the data to another drive.
Also, if this is an internal drive, did you back it up to an external or the cloud?
I think the title answers your first two questions:
"WD" 1 TB portable external hard drive.
But you are correct - sometimes these drives are fine and it is just the little interface board or cables that fail.
On the other hand, these drives are their lowest quality consumer internal drives (WD Green drive) mounted in a cheap enclosure. They are never expected to live long beyond the warranty period, which is usually around 1-2 yrs.
I just hope the OP has a backup.
Feb 16, 2019 07:04:19 #
Feb 16, 2019 07:04:45 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
JD750 wrote:
Unfortunately I see this time and time again on this forum. Digital data is volatile. But it is easily copied. It is also easy to store a copy off-site as a hedge against fires, theft etc. Unfortunately the copy has to be made before disaster strikes.
I hope that this unfortunate example will motivate others with valuable pictures to back them up.
Unfortunately I see this time and time again on this forum. Digital data is volatile. But it is easily copied. It is also easy to store a copy off-site as a hedge against fires, theft etc. Unfortunately the copy has to be made before disaster strikes.
I hope that this unfortunate example will motivate others with valuable pictures to back them up.
Yup! Time to get a second back-up drive.
Feb 16, 2019 07:15:15 #
Feiertag If you disconnected the drive before it had finished being written to you very likely corrupted a file or worse the filing system on the drive. Get one of the DATA RECOVERY PROGRAMMES that are available and install that on your computer. Connect the drive and see if the recovery programme can recover the data, your image files.
If you get a response from the drive, it runs and the recovery programme tries to recover the data, you will know the drive complete with the housing it's in is working but the filing system on the drive is corrupted. The programme may be able to recover your images etc.
If you still get no response from the drive it may be the interface in the housing that is damaged. In that case either remove the drive from its' housing and fit it as an internal drive in a computer, get the cables required to connect it as a bare drive outside a computer, or take/send it to someone who can check it out for you. I have had quite a few 'problem' drives to sort out for 'friends'. (Strange how many friends I have when they have a problem drive).
If none of the above work it's all over for your drive. I think it's a data recovery job as normally when a drive is dead you get no response at all from the drive although you can tell it's running as you can feel slight vibration when you gently touch it. (NO! It is not getting excited!!!!! ).
If you get a response from the drive, it runs and the recovery programme tries to recover the data, you will know the drive complete with the housing it's in is working but the filing system on the drive is corrupted. The programme may be able to recover your images etc.
If you still get no response from the drive it may be the interface in the housing that is damaged. In that case either remove the drive from its' housing and fit it as an internal drive in a computer, get the cables required to connect it as a bare drive outside a computer, or take/send it to someone who can check it out for you. I have had quite a few 'problem' drives to sort out for 'friends'. (Strange how many friends I have when they have a problem drive).
If none of the above work it's all over for your drive. I think it's a data recovery job as normally when a drive is dead you get no response at all from the drive although you can tell it's running as you can feel slight vibration when you gently touch it. (NO! It is not getting excited!!!!! ).
Feb 16, 2019 07:26:25 #
Feiertag wrote:
I believe the drive is bad and see dollars flying out the window.
Close the window!
It's very frustrating when the drive is connected and running, but that stupid computer can't see it. I've had that problem many times, and I've always been able to solve it. There's an excellent utility included with Windows that lets you do a lot with hard drives. If only I could remember the name.
https://www.seagate.com/support/kb/the-bios-does-not-detect-or-recognize-the-ata-sata-hard-drive-168595en/
https://windowsreport.com/second-hard-drive-not-detected-windows-10/
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/external-drive-not-recognized-this-is-how-to-fix-it-in-windows/
And -
https://www.google.com/search?q=computer+cannot+see+drive&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&oq=computer+cannot+see+drive&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5047j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Feb 16, 2019 07:45:20 #
dave.m wrote:
And no consolation at all, but if a directory corruption, it was probably caused by disconnecting the drive without Windows 'eject' after a long write. It's not well known that with a 'big' write task the PC 'caches' the files in memory while the relatively slow hard drive writes the files. Worse, it also caches the changing directory structure, so without an 'eject' which flushes the cache to disk it can be left in an indeterminate state - hence Windows asking to format
Somewhere in the device characteristics is a parameter called "Allow delayed write", which will let the computer "finish" writing the information later... I found it one year after having an external go corrupt. (I have to find it again as I'm in the process of having Cipher wipe a 1Tb drive in a dock. Thanks for reminding me, I want to make sure that delayed writes is NOT checked for that unit. Otherwise it MAY take days to get the eject to process.)
Feb 16, 2019 08:07:02 #
dave.m wrote:
And no consolation at all, but if a directory corruption, it was probably caused by disconnecting the drive without Windows 'eject' after a long write. It's not well known that with a 'big' write task the PC 'caches' the files in memory while the relatively slow hard drive writes the files. Worse, it also caches the changing directory structure, so without an 'eject' which flushes the cache to disk it can be left in an indeterminate state - hence Windows asking to format
No doubt, this what I did wrong.
Feb 16, 2019 08:17:48 #
I took my external drive apart and plugged the harddrive into a Ubuntu pc, read everything off the hd, showed it was ok (problem with the WD controller) and now have a spare hd around.
Feb 16, 2019 08:18:28 #
OlinBost
Loc: Marietta, Ga.
Open your Explorer folder, select the drive letter corresponding to the drive in question, right click on the drive letter, select "Properties", select "tools", select "Check Now", and run. This error checking utility should correct any bad files.
Feb 16, 2019 08:21:08 #
I am very grateful for all the wonderful comments and suggestions.
The drive (H) is visible on my PC. When I clicked on the drive to open it, it froze my computer. I would have to undock to free my PC.
I am trying one of the recovery programs as I type. If this one fails I will try one of the other programs, that you suggested.
Cheers,
Harold
The drive (H) is visible on my PC. When I clicked on the drive to open it, it froze my computer. I would have to undock to free my PC.
I am trying one of the recovery programs as I type. If this one fails I will try one of the other programs, that you suggested.
Cheers,
Harold
Feb 16, 2019 08:24:42 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Feiertag wrote:
No doubt, this what I did wrong.
It sounds like the data that is supposed to be on the drive is important to you. It also sounds like you are somewhat, but not completely confident in doing things like file system repair.
Even though you have received some valid suggestions here, I would suggest that you not attempt a self repair of this situation. It is possible that a wrong step, or even a correct step at the wrong time, could permanently destroy any chance of recovering any of your data. And know that if you did disconnect the drive before writing was completed, only what was transferred before unplugging is going to be available for recovery. Hopefully those files still exist in their original location.
One additional confession...I used to be a big fan of "Move"ing files, because doing that eliminated the need to go clean out the Recycle Bin after deleting the files from their original location. I no longer use Move for more than individual files, and I don't delete anything until I've verified that all transferred files are where they are supposed to be in their new location.
Feb 16, 2019 08:47:34 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
dsmeltz wrote:
I took the drive and inserted into an external drive docking station (they run around $50.00).
I've had a successful 'fix' using this method, but, you have to disassemble the external drive to access the 'real' HDD... likely a 2-1/2". It's not for the faint of heart. Save the electrical component that plugs into the SATA connectors. It can be re-used for other drives.
I've had grief with several WD drives and quit using them a few years back.
Do this as a last resort.
Dik
Feb 16, 2019 08:52:46 #
mtino312 wrote:
I took my external drive apart and plugged the harddrive into a Ubuntu pc, read everything off the hd, showed it was ok (problem with the WD controller) and now have a spare hd around.
Yup, until you experiment, you don't know the root cause.
Anything else is speculation.
Feb 16, 2019 09:07:07 #
RavineCat
Loc: Worthington, Ohio
I have had the cable go bad one a WD 1TB Passport; PC would not read the drive, new cable fixed the issue.
Feb 16, 2019 09:10:19 #
When you solve your current problem, address your long term problem.
Your long term problem is that your files are located in one place. You need to back them up on a regular basis. Personally, I think three locations for your important files is a minimum. And at least one of those locations should be away from your computer far enough that it would not be affected by a local disaster (such as your computer getting fried by a lightning strike or your house burning down).
Your long term problem is that your files are located in one place. You need to back them up on a regular basis. Personally, I think three locations for your important files is a minimum. And at least one of those locations should be away from your computer far enough that it would not be affected by a local disaster (such as your computer getting fried by a lightning strike or your house burning down).
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