WD My Passport Ultra 1 TB unable to initialize

[iygnim]

Wondering if anyone else has faced this issue and if they were ever able to recover the data stored inside (whether using professional service or freeware)?

I have all my pictures and files backed up on the disc and one fine day try to connect to my com but the drive cannot be accessed. My Passport Ultra shows up in device manager but under disk management the drive is uninitialized and if I try to initialize it, I get prompted with some I/O error.

When the drive is connected to my com, there is the usual Windows "sound", the drive lights up and it vibrates slightly as if it is working.

I searched around on Google and HWZ forums, most of the cases happened in 2013 or 2014 and none of them ever found a resolution. Pretty much losing hope of ever recovering all my pictures from the past 10 years.. still just trying my luck again if anyone here managed to solve this before.

 

[Koenig168]

Have you tried using a different USB cable? If you are lucky, could be a case of bad cable.

 

[iygnim]

Have you tried using a different USB cable? If you are lucky, could be a case of bad cable.

thanks for your reply, didn't have a chance to reply earlier.

the WD passport ultra uses an odd SuperSpeed USB cable but i realize a micro usb cable can fit into "half" of the SSUSB slot. i tried that with a cable that is known to work but it didn't seem to have any effect. that said, the cable i tried is a regular one used for charging my devices so i don't know if it was suitable in the first place.

also, assuming the cable isn't the problem, my data is lost forever? i tried using freeware to recover any data but it couldn't really detect anything, seems the hdd is empty

 

[wolnavi]

thanks for your reply, didn't have a chance to reply earlier.

the WD passport ultra uses an odd SuperSpeed USB cable but i realize a micro usb cable can fit into "half" of the SSUSB slot. i tried that with a cable that is known to work but it didn't seem to have any effect. that said, the cable i tried is a regular one used for charging my devices so i don't know if it was suitable in the first place.

also, assuming the cable isn't the problem, my data is lost forever? i tried using freeware to recover any data but it couldn't really detect anything, seems the hdd is empty

Not sure about your problem but the cable is called micro USB type b, I also have this hdd. So it is possible to fit a micro usb into the half of the connector in the hdd but you won't get the same speed

 

[iygnim]

Not sure about your problem but the cable is called micro USB type b, I also have this hdd. So it is possible to fit a micro usb into the half of the connector in the hdd but you won't get the same speed

yup managed to fit a micro usb into the ssusb. didn't help though, still unable to access the drive in my computer even though it shows up in device manager

 

[kandinsky]

yup managed to fit a micro usb into the ssusb. didn't help though, still unable to access the drive in my computer even though it shows up in device manager

Does the drive show up in CrystalDiskInfo?

 

[Louisloo]

also, assuming the cable isn't the problem, my data is lost forever? i tried using freeware to recover any data but it couldn't really detect anything, seems the hdd is empty

Your disk is simply having a firmware corruption problem. The disk cannot initialize as the firmware is corrupted or your disk heads are damaged. As a result, it is nit detectable by your PC.

Your precious data is still there and easily recoverable by professional data recovery centers with tools and skills to repair the firmware or replace the heads.

 

[Koenig168]

thanks for your reply, didn't have a chance to reply earlier.

the WD passport ultra uses an odd SuperSpeed USB cable but i realize a micro usb cable can fit into "half" of the SSUSB slot. i tried that with a cable that is known to work but it didn't seem to have any effect. that said, the cable i tried is a regular one used for charging my devices so i don't know if it was suitable in the first place.

also, assuming the cable isn't the problem, my data is lost forever? i tried using freeware to recover any data but it couldn't really detect anything, seems the hdd is empty

Some cables can only charge but not carry data. You might want to try a working data cable.

 

[Koenig168]

If the hard drive has failed, I am not sure that much can be done. You can try professional recovery services if the drive is not encrypted. (Some WD external drives have built-in encryption.)

You can also try a data recovery program like Easeus. http://www.easeus.com/download.htm

 

[localITguy]

WD passport ultra QC suck, i have to RMA twice in a year. processed

 

[iygnim]

thanks for all the replies.

@kandinsky: i've never heard of this programme, should i be trying out the "standard" version?

@Louisloo: any recommendation where i can go? i'm assuming they are able to look into the drive to make sure there is data to recover before they start work?

@Koenig168: easeus wasn't able to run properly, can't recall why. but when that failed i sort of assumed my data was gone.. most of my micro usb cables are for charging so i guess i have to buy a proper one to try

@localITguy: really wish i knew that before i decided to use it as my backup. my life's memories are wiped out

 

[Koenig168]

From Device Manager, right-click on the drive, under "Properties" > "General", what message is in Device Status?

 

[localITguy]

thanks for all the replies.

@kandinsky: i've never heard of this programme, should i be trying out the "standard" version?

@Louisloo: any recommendation where i can go? i'm assuming they are able to look into the drive to make sure there is data to recover before they start work?

@Koenig168: easeus wasn't able to run properly, can't recall why. but when that failed i sort of assumed my data was gone.. most of my micro usb cables are for charging so i guess i have to buy a proper one to try

@localITguy: really wish i knew that before i decided to use it as my backup. my life's memories are wiped out

i just RMA-ed mine, got a replacement drive, very fast . within a week can get replacement

if you have to get a data recovery, do it lor. but its not cheap

 

[localITguy]

Your disk is simply having a firmware corruption problem. The disk cannot initialize as the firmware is corrupted or your disk heads are damaged. As a result, it is nit detectable by your PC.

Your precious data is still there and easily recoverable by professional data recovery centers with tools and skills to repair the firmware or replace the heads.

its not a FW issue, its a HW issue. i also kena this,

even reflashing the FW also same

 

[wolnavi]

thanks for all the replies.

@kandinsky: i've never heard of this programme, should i be trying out the "standard" version?

@Louisloo: any recommendation where i can go? i'm assuming they are able to look into the drive to make sure there is data to recover before they start work?

@Koenig168: easeus wasn't able to run properly, can't recall why. but when that failed i sort of assumed my data was gone.. most of my micro usb cables are for charging so i guess i have to buy a proper one to try

@localITguy: really wish i knew that before i decided to use it as my backup. my life's memories are wiped out

Ya try crystal disk info, can check if your hdd is spoilt, standard version is fine

 

[Louisloo]

its not a FW issue, its a HW issue. i also kena this,even reflashing the FW also same

As stated by TS below, the symptoms described are of disk having firmware corruption. The disk have to be examined to confirm the problem. It may possibly having HW problem also.

My Passport Ultra shows up in device manager but under disk management the drive is uninitialized and if I try to initialize it, I get prompted with some I/O error.

When the drive is connected to my com, there is the usual Windows "sound", the drive lights up and it vibrates slightly as if it is working.

I searched around on Google and HWZ forums, most of the cases happened in 2013 or 2014 and none of them ever found a resolution.

Your disk problem is a very common problem and successful recovery rate is very high. The reason for failure will be users try too hard until the heads are damaged and scratch the platters. Once the platters are scratched, then data recovery will not be possible.

Most people do not post their feedback when their problems are settled.

@Louisloo: any recommendation where i can go? i'm assuming they are able to look into the drive to make sure there is data to recover before they start work?

I'll suggest you try Accplus Technologies Data Recovery Centre . They are a professional data recovery centre with reasonable prices, free evaluation and no data no charge policy. Read reviews by customers on their facebook.

 

[iygnim]

From Device Manager, right-click on the drive, under "Properties" > "General", what message is in Device Status?

it actually states that the device is working properly

I'll use crystal disc to see what's going on

Also thanks for recommending Accplus, i'll check it out

 

[iygnim]

alright i downloaded the standard crystaldiscinfo and tried it out. it was able to detect my SSD and internal HDD but not the WD passport ultra. i'm guessing this means i don't have any option left except to try a data recovery center?

 

[localITguy]

alright i downloaded the standard crystaldiscinfo and tried it out. it was able to detect my SSD and internal HDD but not the WD passport ultra. i'm guessing this means i don't have any option left except to try a data recovery center?

option 1 : RMA the drive

option 2 : send for data recovery, it will cost you

 

[iygnim]

hmm AccPlus isn't responding. anyone can recommend recovery centers to try? preferably reasonable priced ones..