Big Problem!!

[hennessy1]

My parents world book edition western digital external drive wouldnt start up. I took it out of its casing and I pluged it into the computer but disk management in vista says unknown disc. What can I do to get the information off? The drive is not making any clicking noises. I started the western digital diagnostics program and it can see the drive is there but cant detect the amount of free space or serial number. Please help important beyond comprehension files on there.

 

[g8wayrebel]

In all seriousness , try putting it in the freezer for a while for one last run to get info.
Wrap it in cloth to prevent moisture , put in the fridge to cool down first to prevent condensation.
Put it in the freezer for an an hour or so and then try to get it to run.
NO, I'm not kidding!!! this actually works to get one last run out of a drive to salvage info.

 

[hennessy1]

Is there anyway that I can access the information though without using the mybookworld hardware? Like can I use my own external enclosure to retrieve the data or does the mybookworld software make it unreadable unless used in the mybookworld enclosure?

 

[MadAmos]

For what its worth if the data is truly valuable do not try the freezer trick and go straight to professional recovery it will be EXPENSIVE but you have to decide what the data is worth to you. The more you try the more data you can screw up, if there is head to disc contact every try is potentially data gone forever. and the freezer trick is best left to last ditch when the data doesn't mater the condensation from the temperature changes can also make thing worse.

Best of Luck

Amos

 

[Old Hippie]

Like can I use my own external enclosure to retrieve the data

You're first post said you already took the drive out of the enclosure, and plugged it directly into the computer. If that's what ya did, it doesn't get any better. Installing the drive into another enclosure would be a step backwards.
Plug the drive's power and data cable directly into your MB, and try your drive's flavor of GetDataBack.
The freezer trick is a last ditch effort for drives with a mechanical problem.
Like Amous says, the more you screw with it, the harder it may become for a pro to recover the data.

Good Luck!

 

[hennessy1]

The circuit board that is inside the mybook not the wone attached to the harddrive itself the other one that has the power and ethernet ports attached it doesnt light up like it used to inside the case so could it be the cuirtboard that is gone and just wont respond ?

 

[Old Hippie]

ethernet ports attached it doesnt light up like it used to inside the case so could it be the cuirtboard that is gone and just wont respond ?

Could be. I'm not familiar with WDs MyBook line, and it looks like there are quite a few different configurations.
I'm hoping you realize that any tampering with the unit will void the warranty, but, if you send it back for repair, all your data will be gone anyway.
If I were you, I'd be removing the drive from the case, and hook it directly to your MB. This would eliminate the possibility of a faulty USB/Firewire/eSATA interface. If the drive still isn't working, try GetDataBack.

Good Luck!

Edit.... I just wanted to clarify, ALL these troubleshooting ideas only apply to a drive that is working mechanically. If the platters arent spinning, the head is sticking, or it's making horrendous noises (the drive, not YOU), none of this stuff will work. If that's the case, sometimes the freezer trick will work, but if you're planning professional recovery, I wouldn't try it. You have a big chance of making it worse!

 

[hennessy1]

Well see the thing is when the lights on the cuirtboard were lighting up i was able to access the drive and its online interface. Since they havent been lighting up I was not able to do that. The drive spins up because I can hear it and there are no abnormal noises. I wanted to run a diagnostic on it but Its not worth it because if that kills the drive ill be pissed. I am going to go buy another one of the same model and replace the cuirtboard with it. The only indication that its not broken which if you think about it isnt much is when I hook it up to the computer and it says its working properly under the drive management.

 

[Old Hippie]

I am going to go buy another one of the same model and replace the cuirtboard with it.

Sounds like a good plan! :thumbsup:

Let us know how it goes.

Good Luck!