Anyone know anything about data recovery from a 500GB WD My Book? Died whilst transferring files onto it and now Mac won't recognise it. Tried removing the HDD and using a SATA docking station but same result. No other backups so need to save this!!

 

Before dismantling it and trying the docking station, I did cool it, use different cables, restart bioth it and my mac and no joy.

 

The lights come on, it makes noise, etc and I see it in Disk Utility but it won't 'mount'.

 

I read that the USB port on the case is a common fail on these so tried the docking station but am getting the same results.

 

It's still being recognised by the Mac but just not 'mounting' so not sure if the disk is kaput or not.

 

I only used it to back up all my data so it hasn't been used that much but also has EVERYTHING on it!

 

Can anyone help??

Hey, bit of bad luck there.... looks like you already tried what I would have done .

I know there are a number of data retrieval companies on the net... I'd give one of them a go... from memory I don't think they are cheap... but things may have changed.

If the drive is spinning up and it's not making clunking noises then there us a chance that it's the disk controller board that has failed. You could consider getting another identical disk and swapping the board over. This is one of the early steps that a data recovery company would take, they are likely to be quite expensive though.

right click My Computer, select Manage, once its opens(it take a while depending on machine) select storage and then select disk management, it will show what hdd you have connect internally or externally. if theres an issue it will show or say un allocated or have a black bar cant remember but have a check, if not try updating the port its connected to if that doesnt try new cables docking station are bit a an ache bt if u cant get another hdd housing give it a shot. if all else fails google for some data recovery software.

download utorrent, go to torrentz.eu, search and download the software. needs to be a torrent file. ;)

 

 

hope its helps, and u get ur data back

Its a Mac hes trying it on.

 

It could be the usb controller on the my book in which case attach it directly to another mac using another usb controller.

 

We use a unit from startech that you just slot the drive into like a cartridge, very easy to use and helps greatly with data recovery.

right click My Computer, select Manage, once its opens(it take a while depending on machine) select storage and then select disk management, it will show what hdd you have connect internally or externally. if theres an issue it will show or say un allocated or have a black bar cant remember but have a check, if not try updating the port its connected to if that doesnt try new cables docking station are bit a an ache bt if u cant get another hdd housing give it a shot. if all else fails google for some data recovery software.

download utorrent, go to torrentz.eu, search and download the software. needs to be a torrent file. ;)

 

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hope its helps, and u get ur data back

Just read that you've already connected it directly.

 

The fact that you mac can still see it yet cannot mount suggests that it maybe a corrupt partition.

 

Can mac's see SMART disk features as if the drive is on its way out the SMART would be reporting it to the system.

 

Follow this guide I've found to find the smart status, if it comes back ok then its a corrupt partition and you'll need recovery software to repair it.

 

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20031122041138373

Cheers for all the replies guys, much appreciated!

 

I had already connected it 'directly' using a SATA docking station and got the same results. This included using new USB and power cables so the original housing and cables have been eliminated from the puzzle.

 

I did however try connecting the docking station to my mates Mac (running an older Osx) and alhtouh it had the same results, on his machine I had the option to 'verify' or 'repair' the disk. I chose to verify first which directed me to repair. on doing this, it seemed to repair one issue byt then prompted me to back up my data as the Disk Utility could not repair the disk.

 

Unfortunately I don't have a PC anymore and I don't want to fork out a small fortune for a data recovery service. A mate has a PC and has some personal experience in recovering data from knackered HDDs so I'm going to let him have a go at it...

 

Fingers crossed!!

Have you used disk utility in applications > Utilities and verified the disk permissions and repaired disk permissions?

I have had similar problems and also have a WD world book I use for backup....

I have a macbook pro and an old powerbook G4..... love my mac's......lol

 

Also what model is the WD my book?

This is the problem solving page for WD.....

http://support.wdc.com/product/kb.asp?groupid=0&level1=1&modelno=&lang=en

 

If I remember mine did this and I had to restore the software on the drive and reset the drive....... racking my brain to remember as it was a couple of years ago...

Edited July 19, 201312 yr by veilside01702

Have you used disk utility in applications > Utilities and verified the disk permissions and repaired disk permissions?

I have had similar problems and also have a WD world book I use for backup....

I have a macbook pro and an old powerbook G4..... love my mac's......lol

 

Also what model is the WD my book?

This is the problem solving page for WD.....

http://support.wdc.com/product/kb.asp?groupid=0&level1=1&modelno=&lang=en

 

If I remember mine did this and I had to restore the software on the drive and reset the drive....... racking my brain to remember as it was a couple of years ago...

 

It's a 'WD5000D032-000'...

 

My Mac wouldn't let me but my mate's Mac Mini did so tried to repair using that but it failed (log below).

 

**********

2013-07-18 21:34:08 +0100: Disk Utility started.

 

2013-07-18 21:34:32 +0100: Verifying volume “My Book”

2013-07-18 21:34:32 +0100: Starting verification tool:

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: ** /dev/disk1s1

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: ** Phase 1 - Preparing FAT

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: ** Phase 2 - Checking Directories

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: Unable to read directory (Input/output error)

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100:

2013-07-18 21:35:03 +0100: Disk Utility stopped verifying “My Book”: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.

2013-07-18 21:35:27 +0100:

 

2013-07-18 21:35:32 +0100: Verify and Repair volume “My Book”

2013-07-18 21:35:32 +0100: Starting repair tool:

2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: ** /dev/disk1s1

2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: ** Phase 1 - Preparing FAT

2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: ** Phase 2 - Checking Directories

2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: Unable to read directory (Input/output error)

2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: Volume repair complete.2013-07-18 21:36:03 +0100: Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.2013-07-18 21:36:27 +0100: Error: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.2013-07-18 21:36:27 +0100:

2013-07-18 21:36:27 +0100: Disk Utility stopped repairing “My Book”: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.

2013-07-18 21:36:50 +0100:

First port of call would be talk to manufacturers tech help...... http://support.wdc.com/country/country.asp?c=unitedkingdom

I also found this article on their site.... http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/search/1/a_id/505/c/130/p/228,260,319

They have their own recommended data recovery companies if you need one....

Usually they will be able to advise and sort out most problems, they talked me through mine last time and it got sorted....

Just found I can't unlock mine as password has been changed.....

do you use WD smart ware?

First port of call would be talk to manufacturers tech help...... http://support.wdc.com/country/country.asp?c=unitedkingdom

I also found this article on their site.... http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/search/1/a_id/505/c/130/p/228,260,319

They have their own recommended data recovery companies if you need one....

Usually they will be able to advise and sort out most problems, they talked me through mine last time and it got sorted....

Just found I can't unlock mine as password has been changed.....

do you use WD smart ware?

 

I'd dont use any of WD's software. Just plug and play usually.

 

Have had a look through a few step guides to get it working again but nothing has worked so far. Think best bet now is to try on my mate's PC with data recovery software....

I've just gone through data recovery for two 1TB raid arrays that failed when my old PC died. If it was a PC, I may be able to help but as it's a mac and I know bugger all about them, I can't i'm afraid.

 

One thing though; if the file system is FAT then any windows/linux system should be able to read the drive.

I've just gone through data recovery for two 1TB raid arrays that failed when my old PC died. If it was a PC, I may be able to help but as it's a mac and I know bugger all about them, I can't i'm afraid.

 

One thing though; if the file system is FAT then any windows/linux system should be able to read the drive.

 

Was it successful for you bud?

 

It is FAT formatted so fingers crossed! As I mentioned, my mate is in a similar position to you in that he has experience with failed HDDs so is going to try and help out. MY first post was a bit of a panic post! lol

Was it successful for you bud?

 

It is FAT formatted so fingers crossed! As I mentioned, my mate is in a similar position to you in that he has experience with failed HDDs so is going to try and help out. MY first post was a bit of a panic post! lol

 

Partially succesful mate, in that I got most of my data recovered. Lost all my bookmarks, contact lists and Documents though :(

 

Best of luck with it, hopefully it should be readable or at least recoverable if piggy backed onto a PC. FAT doesn't have the fault tolarnce of more modern file systems though, so be prepared for bad news...