Retrieve data from an old WD ext HDD

[chengsun]

I forgot what model it is, 500GB, 3.5", external, the one that is without an On/OFF button. I bought it 4, 5 years ago. Since late 2011 I moved house twice, kept it in store and never I tried start it up again. Last night, I need to get some old documents which I think those should be saved in this HDD, so I tried connecting it.

There was no response at all. Upon connecting power, I did not feel any spinning. I feel that the power portion could have died but am not sure about the HDD itself.

Should I buy a ext casing from SLS and try port the HDD over?

 

[zhizhong07]

You should take out the hard disk out from the enclosure and try using SATA to USB cable to test if the HDD is still working.

 

[chengsun]

You should take out the hard disk out from the enclosure and try using SATA to USB cable to test if the HDD is still working.

It should be a IDE HDD. There is no IDE port on my desktop mb.

 

[zhizhong07]

It should be a IDE HDD. There is no IDE port on my desktop mb.

Oh in the market, there is also a IDE to USB cable. Let me check out for you and pm you where to get the cable.

 

[chengsun]

Oh in the market, there is also a IDE to USB cable. Let me check out for you and pm you where to get the cable.

gamsia gamsia, actually I am also checking out on ebay and dx.com, but gotto wait

 

[zhizhong07]

gamsia gamsia, actually I am also checking out on ebay and dx.com, but gotto wait

do u need it urgently?

 

[chengsun]

do u need it urgently?

not really, just hope to settle fast and let go of this old HDD

 

[Louisloo]

gamsia gamsia, actually I am also checking out on ebay and dx.com, but gotto wait

You can go either to Worldwide computers on the 5th fhe loor SLS or M Tech on the 6th floor. I believe they do have the IDE to USB connectors.

 

[zhizhong07]

not really, just hope to settle fast and let go of this old HDD

Hi,

I have already PMed you, hope it help!

 

[chengsun]

Hi,

I have already PMed you, hope it help!

thank u thank u

 

[chengsun]

You can go either to Worldwide computers on the 5th fhe loor SLS or M Tech on the 6th floor. I believe they do have the IDE to USB connectors.

any idea what kind of price range selling there?

 

[chengsun]

took the hdd out of the case, it is SATA! surprised!

 

[zhizhong07]

took the hdd out of the case, it is SATA! surprised!

Luckily you have not bought

 

[yi_shiang]

Be careful thou, the recent MyBook drives had an hardware encryption onboard, it is on by default and no way to turn it off, so there is no way to access the data other than using the original sata to usb controller board. Head on to this page and read on the last post.