I've lost it (seriously). Hard drive failure...HELP please?

[email]

Long story short...

I have a portable WD hard drive (500gb) that is failing to initialize on any computer.

When you plug it in, you can hear it start to spin up, then a little buzzing sound (very faint).

The light works...

Who knows where I can get his looked at, or have the data transferred?

[Dezert_Tacoma]

There might be a chance that the USB portion of the drive took a dump. See if you can take apart the enclosure and plug the drive in to your PC. If it doesn't recognize it at all then you will need to look into a data recovery place.

[ExtremeX]

There might be a chance that the USB portion of the drive took a dump. See if you can take apart the enclosure and plug the drive in to your PC. If it doesn't recognize it at all then you will need to look into a data recovery place.

This is best case scenario and if its just the external enclosure that took a dump, then you are one lucky guy. Its happened to me before, so I agree with this poster, remove the drive from the external enclosure, and use a bare drive caddy or install it inside a desktop PC and take a second look.


If not, data recovery can be costly and may not always yield results. Not all data recovery companies are equals either, I know companies shell out tons of cash for people with good reputation. Depending on how important or valuable this data is, choose wisely. Sometimes you only get 1 chance at this process.


If the drive is dead and the above options don't work or is not something you want to do or can afford, then you are pretty much SOL... Buy a new drive and start fresh... lesson learned, drives die, make backups. Any computer junkie worth their salt will tell you the same.

For data recovery, you might want to start here:

http://support.wdc.com/recovery/?wdc_lang=en

I tell my own customers this too, backup, backup, backup... Make a backup of your backup if it makes you sleep better at night. There are many ways to approach safeguarding your data. Software, Hardware, and a combination of the 2. I even keep a copy off-site for important data I cant afford to loose.

[the86d]

For data recovery don't expect to pay less than 1k for a good recovery place, from what I was last told.

Any data that you don't have in at least "2 different places", is data that you don't care about...

[slo5oh]

Put it in gge freezer for an hour or two, then plug it in. if it works assume it will die again any second so transfer off your most important files first. Once you have those try for the rest.

[slo5oh]

The not gge... Stupid phone, :/

[Nobama4us]

Put it in gge freezer for an hour or two, then plug it in. if it works assume it will die again any second so transfer off your most important files first. Once you have those try for the rest.

In addition to this, put it in a zip lock bag with rice, yes rice to absorb the moisture.

[JDay]

This is why you should make regular backups of important data.

[email]

This is why you should make regular backups of important data.

Thank you, Captain Obvious. This was my backup and, along with my laptop, was stolen with my other (backup) portable hard drive. (long story...I may get it back eventually)

I appreciate all the info everyone.

I will update when I have some answers or resolution (positive or negative)

Life goes on.

[ldivinag]

actually these days, if your most important data isnt on 3 diff sources, you are not safe...

[Barbarossa]

actually these days, if your most important data isnt on 4 diff sources, you are not safe...

[dadoody]

[paul0660]

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

HEHE.

[db42]

Long story short...

I have a portable WD hard drive (500gb) that is failing to initialize on any computer.

When you plug it in, you can hear it start to spin up, then a little buzzing sound (very faint).

The light works...

Who knows where I can get his looked at, or have the data transferred?

1: Are you plugging it into the computer or to a USB hub?
My portables don't respond if they're plugged into a hub or a monitor mounted port.

2: If you can't make it work, take it to Frys in Concord. Turn right when you come in the door and look for guys in blue lab coats. There will be fees, but they can definitely transfer the data.

[the86d]

I would really try a new cable 1st, then make sure to plug it into a tower (in the back) this should eliminate a lack of power due to general choke-points (small USB cables used, crap USB board on a laptop, and cables that has been pinched/pulled/stretched).