Unable to access external HDD

[koreanlover]

I am unable to access my external WD HDD.
It is password encrypted by WD Security.

When I connect the drive now, a WD virtual CD drive is shown.
I assume this is the WD Unlocker tool. I cannot access this drive. The main drive (with all my files) also does not appear.

Disk Management asks me to initialize the drive.

I tried creating a Windows 8.1 recovery drive and booted from it.
Went to command prompt but got an I/O device error when I tried to access the drive.

I tried to use Boot Repair but I found out that the drive does not even appear in the Boot-Info Summary.

Anybody pls help me!
Thanks.

 

[jtjt00]

Your data recovery is complicated by WD password encryption. See if you can clone over to a good drive using Acronis Disk Director?

 

[koreanlover]

Your data recovery is complicated by WD password encryption. See if you can clone over to a good drive using Acronis Disk Director?

Thanks will try soon.
I tried Testdisk/PhotoRec which you posted in the other thread, it searched quite a while for the disks/partitions, but the external HDD did not show up.

 

[jtjt00]

What is an I/O Device Error and How To Fix It? | Tune Your PC

 

[koreanlover]

What is an I/O Device Error and How To Fix It? | Tune Your PC

Thanks but Device Manager says it is working properly.

And I am able to use the USB 3.0 cable with another drive.

I used Acronis Disk Director but it does not detect the drive at all, just like the other tools I have used so far. I have sent a support ticket to WD, hope they reply soon.

Think the problem happened cos of the encryption.

 

[jtjt00]

Not sure if yours is a hardware or software issue. You may need pro. Data recovery service.

 

[koreanlover]

Not sure if yours is a hardware or software issue. You may need pro. Data recovery service.

Thanks. Nothing very important inside. I'll just wait for WD's reply and initialize it if the data cannot be recovered.

 

[Louisloo]

Thanks but Device Manager says it is working properly.

And I am able to use the USB 3.0 cable with another drive.

I used Acronis Disk Director but it does not detect the drive at all, just like the other tools I have used so far. I have sent a support ticket to WD, hope they reply soon.

Think the problem happened cos of the encryption.

I/O errors is normally associated with hardware errors.
The most common I handle as a data recovery engineer is the USB connector of your drive is enlarged resulting in loose connection.

If your cable is working, It might be your USB connector that is loose. Try clamping lightly on your USB connection to make it a better fit.

Hope you can recover your data.