Hard disk problem - Need help!

bkchng

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Hi!

Recently the power supply to my old 1TB external 3.5" WD hard disk enclosure died, so I took out the hard disk (WD Green) and put it into my desktop computer. Unfortunately, when I tried to copy out the files, the copying goes on for like 1 min (at a rate of 20kb/s) before the hard disk gets disconnected and disappears from Windows. I tried to scan the hard disk using HDD regenerator but the hard disk also disappears after abt an hour of scanning, so I can't find out exactly what's wrong.

Not sure what I can do now as I have a ton of holiday photos inside.. and I'm not sure if there are bad sectors. Anyone has any suggestions on how I can find the root cause and if I can do anything at all to copy out the data?
Thanks!
 
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NWT1978

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Hi!

Recently the power supply to my old 1TB external 3.5" WD hard disk enclosure died, so I took out the hard disk (WD Green) and put it into my desktop computer. Unfortunately, when I tried to copy out the files, the copying goes on for like 1 min (at a rate of 20kb/s) before the hard disk gets disconnected and disappears from Windows. I tried to scan the hard disk using HDD regenerator but the hard disk also disappears after abt an hour of scanning, so I can't find out exactly what's wrong.

Not sure what I can do now as I have a ton of holiday photos inside.. and I'm not sure if there are bad sectors. Anyone has any suggestions on how I can find the root cause and if I can do anything at all to copy out the data?
Thanks!

why never backup photos?

Can used google drive to do it...

Got spare cables to try out?

if urgent used those reliable Professional recovery services...Will cost alot:(
 

jas1701

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Ext HD is always a backup of what you have in your desktop or laptop. Never use an ext HD as a live data storage. Once kaput might be all gone. Same as thumb drive. In office alot of staff use it as a live data storage and once it gives problem they can really cry as all important docs are inside.
 

bkchng

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Ext HD is always a backup of what you have in your desktop or laptop. Never use an ext HD as a live data storage. Once kaput might be all gone. Same as thumb drive. In office alot of staff use it as a live data storage and once it gives problem they can really cry as all important docs are inside.

Yeah well, too late to talk about that now :(
 

jas1701

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Yeah well, too late to talk about that now :(

No worry. Now is to get back the data you want is more important. If you have a desktop see below if can help.

1) Look for paragon recovery utility
2) Create a boot disc from the utility
3) Try booting it and if it work fine.
4) Plug your ext HD as a slave drive
5) Bootup the paragon utility
6) Once you see the paragon menu, navigate yourself.

If the utility can detect your ext HD, quickly copy whatever you need to your master HD. I tested it out on my old laptop where the int HD also face problem like not present at times.
 

jtjt00

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This kind of thread never fail to appear from time to time.
 

jq75

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Hi!

Recently the power supply to my old 1TB external 3.5" WD hard disk enclosure died, so I took out the hard disk (WD Green) and put it into my desktop computer. Unfortunately, when I tried to copy out the files, the copying goes on for like 1 min (at a rate of 20kb/s) before the hard disk gets disconnected and disappears from Windows. I tried to scan the hard disk using HDD regenerator but the hard disk also disappears after abt an hour of scanning, so I can't find out exactly what's wrong.

Not sure what I can do now as I have a ton of holiday photos inside.. and I'm not sure if there are bad sectors. Anyone has any suggestions on how I can find the root cause and if I can do anything at all to copy out the data?
Thanks!


ur external 1tb, how is it connected to the current pc?
 

jq75

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Ext HD is always a backup of what you have in your desktop or laptop. Never use an ext HD as a live data storage. Once kaput might be all gone. Same as thumb drive. In office alot of staff use it as a live data storage and once it gives problem they can really cry as all important docs are inside.

i find those tt keep external drive constant plug into their main pc has higher chance of failure, any reason why?
 

Louisloo

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Seems that one or more of the heads are unstable and failing.

Do not run any disk checking software anymore. Software will never recover hardware problems and it will aggravate the fault.

Now is the time to consider if the data worth the money for engaging professional data recovery companies or live with the loss of your data.

At least with the heads are still functioning, data recovery companies have tools to recover whatever that is possible without replacing the heads and clean room charges and at a lower cost.

If the heads breaks or scratches the platter, then all your data will be permanently lost.
 

Louisloo

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i find those tt keep external drive constant plug into their main pc has higher chance of failure, any reason why?

Imagine the disk is in a PC, with well ventilated air cooling.
PC is turn on only when you are using and off when you are not using.

External disks, also with NAS are enlosed in plastic casing with poor heat dissipation. Some NAS are never turn off and used for torrenting 24/7.

Of course external drives will have higher chance of failure.
 

bkchng

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ur external 1tb, how is it connected to the current pc?

Oh, as i've mentioned, the drive enclosure's power adapter died. So I took out the hard disk and put it into my new hp microserver gen8 (have been wanting to do a proper raid 1 backup solution but this came a bit too late I guess.......)

Also to add on, my PC is able to detect my hard drive just fine; it's just that when I start copying files, the hard disk gets "disconnected" and disappears from Windows, and then my microsever gen8 starts flashing red.
 
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jq75

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Imagine the disk is in a PC, with well ventilated air cooling.
PC is turn on only when you are using and off when you are not using.

External disks, also with NAS are enlosed in plastic casing with poor heat dissipation. Some NAS are never turn off and used for torrenting 24/7.

Of course external drives will have higher chance of failure.

i think heat got a part to play for causing failures
 

jq75

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Oh, as i've mentioned, the drive enclosure's power adapter died. So I took out the hard disk and put it into my new hp microserver gen8 (have been wanting to do a proper raid 1 backup solution but this came a bit too late I guess.......)

Also to add on, my PC is able to detect my hard drive just fine; it's just that when I start copying files, the hard disk gets "disconnected" and disappears from Windows, and then my microsever gen8 starts flashing red.

try connecting via usb with external power source to the 1tb hdd and see how it goes
 

bkchng

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try connecting via usb with external power source to the 1tb hdd and see how it goes

I did that with another USB enclosure that I have... no dice. Same issue, the copying stops after a short while. Sigh.
 

jtjt00

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Only the pro data recovery can help you, provided the data worth recovery.
 
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