I have a 1 and a half year old WD 1 TB hard disk which was giving great service. Recently, it has started showing errors and I really need to recover the data.
The laptop gives the sound notification when I plug it in, and also the "remove device safely" option gets enabled. But the drive does not get displayed on My Computer. I checked the device manager, and the hard disk is shown
The disk management shows the hard disk 1 as unknown and not initialized. I tried initializing it, but it shows I/O device failure.
Please help, as I really need to recover the data available on the hard disk before I format or ask for a replacement. Various data recovery software have been tried unsuccessfully (Ease US Data Recovery, Recuva, PC Inspector, Stellar Phoenix, Yodot Hard Drive Recovery, iCare Data Recovery)
I had the same problem a year ago, and I just kept the WD 1TB My passport around for future data recovery attempts. I had the most luck with the software GetDataBack for NTFS (I'm using version 4.33). It was able to recovery about 50-60 % of the small files I cared about, mostly smaller than 200mb size files. Anything greater than that was not recoverable--which was ok since I had backups for most of them. But I lost some home videos. I was able to recover most of my home pictures and smaller sized videos, small 480p quality cartoon files, etc. But all of my large video files are essentially lost. I hope someone else has any other ideas before I try reformatting it. In the worst case, I am guessing reformatting will not fix it either, and it will become a dead hdd with nothing on it once we choose that option...So I am waiting for any better ways to recover files before trying that as a final resort.
I am sorry for any inconveniency caused by your WD hard drive. Could you tell me a little bit more about the problem?
I would recommend you to test the drive on another PC and with another USB cable. Do you have important data on the drive? Check if the drive is visible in Disk Management. Does it have a correct file format and a drive letter? If the drive has a drive letter, open the Command Prompt and type the command chkdsk L: /r
Replace L with the drive’s drive letter. You may need to wait some time before the process finishes. After that, try to access the data again. If you gain access to your files, backup all important data and download Data Lifeguard Diagnostic from the link below.
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=3sBrKh Do complete drive check. If the drive appears in bad condition and it has warranty, I would recommend you to get a replacement.
Are you facing the same problem as the other users above? If your drive is not recognized by more than one PC and you have tested it with another cable, sadly, it may have failed. Are there any strainge noises coming from the drive, like ticking sounds? These noises indicate serious mechanical issues which are not repairable. If you are using a WD drive, contact the local support and ask for further guidance:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=TXcOSQ
I have same problem with WD external disk, It is not detecting while shown in Disk Management with Unknown and Not initialized.
Please suggest what to do next?
I am sorry for the trouble caused by your WD drive. Is this a new drive or you have been using it without any problems? Do you have important data on the drive? If you do not have, try to format it, by right clicking the drive in Disk Management. If formatting is not an option, connect the drive on another PC and with another USB cable. Can you feel the normal spinning noises coming from the drive and is there a beep signal when you connect the drive to the PC?
If you manage to successfully format the drive, I recommend you to check its condition with Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. I leave you a download link below:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=jNQXrc
Could you give us some more details about the issue? Is this a new drive or you have been using it in the past? Please test it on another PC and with another USB cable. Search for the drive in Disk Management. If it appears with wrong file format or as not initialized, run Command Prompt as an Administrator and type the following commands:
Diskpart
List disk
Check if the drive appears and if it has a correct file format. Do you remember dropping the hard drive or hitting it by accident? Do you have important data stored on the hard drive? If you do, try using some recovery tools in order to save the most important files. I leave you some suggestions below:
http://ccm.net/download/file-management-53 Once all data is saved, try to test the drive with Data Lifeguard Diagnostic:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=jNQXrc
Unfortunately, if the drive keeps giving you the I/O device error, even on another PC, you may need to replace the drive.
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121 > NitsAre you facing the same problem as the other users above? If your drive is not recognized by more than one PC and you have tested it with another cable, sadly, it may have failed. Are there any strainge noises coming from the drive, like ticking sounds? These noises indicate serious mechanical issues which are not repairable. If you are using a WD drive, contact the local support and ask for further guidance:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=TXcOSQ
Hope this helps
I have same problem with WD external disk, It is not detecting while shown in Disk Management with Unknown and Not initialized.
Please suggest what to do next?
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121 > PankajI am sorry for the trouble caused by your WD drive. Is this a new drive or you have been using it without any problems? Do you have important data on the drive? If you do not have, try to format it, by right clicking the drive in Disk Management. If formatting is not an option, connect the drive on another PC and with another USB cable. Can you feel the normal spinning noises coming from the drive and is there a beep signal when you connect the drive to the PC?
If you manage to successfully format the drive, I recommend you to check its condition with Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. I leave you a download link below:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=jNQXrc
Hope this helps
what is the solution
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- February 20, 2017
121 > JanCould you give us some more details about the issue? Is this a new drive or you have been using it in the past? Please test it on another PC and with another USB cable. Search for the drive in Disk Management. If it appears with wrong file format or as not initialized, run Command Prompt as an Administrator and type the following commands:
Diskpart
List disk
Check if the drive appears and if it has a correct file format. Do you remember dropping the hard drive or hitting it by accident? Do you have important data stored on the hard drive? If you do, try using some recovery tools in order to save the most important files. I leave you some suggestions below:
http://ccm.net/download/file-management-53
Once all data is saved, try to test the drive with Data Lifeguard Diagnostic:
http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=jNQXrc
Unfortunately, if the drive keeps giving you the I/O device error, even on another PC, you may need to replace the drive.
Hope this helps