Data recover / hardware encrypted? / only USB does not work

WD External and Portable SSD External SSD for Windows
1

Hello,

As intro, I have been looking everywhere about this. As long as I have learned through thouyse links, data is encrypted…and almost assume that if I do not pay 400 to 24000 for recovering companies, I’m lost.

My HD is a My Book Essential of 500 GB, external (will post model number as soon as is need it - I’m not with it right now)

Story: One day stoped working. By Stopped working I mean it turns on, looks like spins, but no SO recognize it - try it on W 7 and Linux (ubuntu) -. So my first diagn was that  mini USB might died… looked for warranty, and yep,…was due. So, checked on internet, and everyone told that the data was encrypted, and there was no use to connected directly via SATA to a PC.

So sent a couple of e-mais,…and every of them got responses that "we can recover your data, but budget will run from US$200 to US$2,500 ".

Obviously wanted to have a look to the USB port (chip…miniusb…wathever,…chip qhere the USB and power connectros goes). Opened it up, and looked fine. So then wanted to test if the every speach on forums where right (and obviously if the Drive was still working), so I connected directly to a PC machin via SATA…surprise, the drive was there (over Drive Management, W 7 ) but couldn’t read any partition,…readyto be format…

Try with other power and USB cables (same model) but no success (same diagn: Lights up,…drive spinning,…but don’t see the drive on W7 and Linux)…

Big question: How can I recover my data?

Sub-question1 : I have a ccess to a similar model of this one (1 TB), openning the enclousure and change the power/usb chip will get my drive recognized?

Sub-question 2: I can insert/post an image of the chip,…but it looks like theres no burn/loose pieces…is this only hardware problem?

Sub-question 3: Can I access my data/back it up and access through optyher methods??

I do only want my data back, do not mind if I will not be able to have this drive working again (not looing for how to format it directly by SATA)… it’s “family valueas” data in some partitions,…had backed up some data,…but of course not all of it,… (always trusted on WD doing programmed backed up on time)…And do not belive that if the “pluggin” hardware stuff will kill all the drive…  :(

Please help… thank you!

2

Check out the Posts here by fzabkar he is the most knowledgable about this. In some of them he explains about maching up numbers on the boards. Sometimes you can find them on Ebay. Hopefully you didn’t have a password set that will complicate things.

Joe

1 Like
3

Thank you Joe. never put a password protection,… in fact, did not installed the app due that made the partitions manually. Was doing my back up manually due these same reasons,… thought that if the HD failed some day (or some parts of the enclosure, I will never have my data backl again),… the password will encrypt my HD,…well,… was encrypted by default  :frowning:

Will check on fzabkar post if there’s some similar situations,…crossing fingers.

By “matching up numbers” do you mean getting on the Master boot records? -will need a similar model to do the operations?-,…sorry,…not hardware expert…

Cheers

4

Try accessing  the drive on a different user account or PC. Thee isn’t much else to try. Maybe make a Linux Live CD and boot from that and see if that works.

Joe

1 Like
5

Hi Joe, thanks again for your replyes (taking the opportunity to excuse my english).

I’v try to access through other PC’s (Linux based distributions), via USB, but no success (do not recognized at all)… leds lights ip, HD starts making sounds like “stariting up”,…but then nothing happends (leds still on,…like on “stand by for instructions” and spinning)…that’s why I’m practically sure that USB is messed up,…but after openning the enclosure, theres no “visual” damage (burned, or any loose pieces).

By Live CD, do you mean if I do started out connecting directly to the SATA port? and see if gets recognized and try recovering tools (is there any with success that “repairs” the firmware/encryption?),…or cross fingers using USB cables again (tryed different cables provided from a friend before, with no success).?

How can I test and confirm that the USB (or chip of connectors:USB /power feed plug) stuff is the broken part,.,.due that does not look broken like pics founded on similar fourum posts (I’ve check these post from  fzabkar

http://community.wdc.com/t5/External-Drives-for-Mac/Broken-USB-port-help-plz/m-p/301478/highlight/true#M4617

and related “Aussie girl” post on  http://forum.hddguru.com/western-digital-mybook-essential-data-recovery-t17398-40.html but again,…seems like my USB is not brocken (as long as I can tell),…I could look for technical to get it replaced,…but do not want to get it worst if that was not the problem.

Thanks!