Trying to revive an External USB Drive with SpinRite

[fatsgt]

I have issues with a 1.5TB Western Digital Passport Drive.
The drive shows up in the Device Manager but will not mount for windows explorer to see it. If I go to disk management the drive shows as Disk 3 but gives me an I/O error if I try to mount it.

None of the windows based data recovery programs i've tried are able to see the drive. I read allot about SpinRite and figured I would give it a try but so far I can't get SpinRite to see ANY of my external USB drives.

From what I've read, this is due to the bios not having the correct drivers. I'm optimistic that spinrite could grab my data if it could see the drive.

These crappy Passport drives only have a USB interface so I don't know of anyway to connect it to an IDE/SATA connection inside my puter.

So I have two questions:

1. Does anyone know of some drivers I could add to the freeDOS that SpinRite comes packaged with that would allow it to see this Passport drive?

If not,

2. Does anyone know of an adaptor I could use to connect this Passport drive to an IDE/SATA port?

Thanks all!

 

[Fardringle]

Take the hard drive out of the USB enclosure and attach the drive directly to a SATA port inside the computer. If Windows/Spinrite still can't access the drive then it's most likely dead. If the drive works properly there, then you probably have a bad/failed USB enclosure.

 

[fatsgt]

I wish it was that easy. These drives have no SATA/IDE connections. They have an intergrated USB interface only. Looks like this:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sour...qtbK3HgRwbdvPOiStt6j2lFA&ust=1381336990343454

 

[Bubbaleone]

There's also another possibility; the disk is currently unmounted. Since the Passport is visible in both Device Manager and Disk Management, but not Explorer, then I believe you'll find that it has no drive letter assigned to it. Open Disk Management, then right-click the Passport and select Change Drive Letter and Path. Note the drive letter assignments given to any other listed drives, then select a different letter for the Passport.

Edit: I just realized you're saying that you've already tried mounting the drive and I'm assuming you mean by assigning a drive letter. Have you tried switching USB cables (the shorter the better)?

.

 

[fatsgt]

There's also another possibility; the disk is currently unmounted. Since the Passport is visible in both Device Manager and Disk Management, but not Explorer, then I believe you'll find that it has no drive letter assigned to it. Open Disk Management, then right-click the Passport and select Change Drive Letter and Path. Note the drive letter assignments given to any other listed drives, then select a different letter for the Passport.

Edit: I just realized you're saying that you've already tried mounting the drive and I'm assuming you mean by assigning a drive letter. Have you tried switching USB cables (the shorter the better)?

.

Yeah, tried that. I have two of these drives, they both use the same, very short cable. I tried swapping the cable.

 

[Bubbaleone]

Depending on how these portable drives are handled, the solder joints on the SATA to USB PCB will sometimes break. The broken solder joints can be reflowed, but it obviously would require disassembling the Passport's case in order to verify that is what has happened.

.

 

[fatsgt]

Drive pops right out of the enclosure. There are no SATA connections.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sourc...81336990343454

 

[Bubbaleone]

Can you repost that link? I'm getting this message when clicked: "The previous page is sending you to an invalid url".

 

[sm625]

Definitely take it apart and see if there are any loose pins on the usb connector. Also try it in a different machine.

 

[corkyg]

Drive pops right out of the enclosure. There are no SATA connections.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sourc...81336990343454

Yes there are. You have to remove the USB to SATA adapter. Under that is a standard 2.5-in SATA drive.

 

[fatsgt]

Definitely take it apart and see if there are any loose pins on the usb connector. Also try it in a different machine.

There are no loose pins. I've tried the drive on numerous computers including a couple macs.

 

[fatsgt]

Yes there are. You have to remove the USB to SATA adapter. Under that is a standard 2.5-in SATA drive.

I don't think so sir. Here is the type of drive interface I have. There is no USB to SATA adaptor on these drives.

http://www.datarecoverytools.co.uk/...-western-digital-drives-with-hd-doctor-suite/

 

[Bubbaleone]

I don't think so sir. Here is the type of drive interface I have. There is no USB to SATA adaptor on these drives.

http://www.datarecoverytools.co.uk/...-western-digital-drives-with-hd-doctor-suite/

I'd hate having to pay someone to do that. It looks like a straight forward procedure, although I don't think the author's suggestion that those caps can be removed with a heat gun is a good idea. IMHO, a soldering pencil, rosin core solder, solder wick, and a pair of tweezers are the better choice. If you decide to attempt this, keep us updated on your progress. Good luck!

.

 

[fatsgt]

If I can't get the dive to show up in DOS with the USB interface I'll probably just cut my losses and rebuild. Lesson learned though. Back up and stay away from these cheap propritory drives.