I have an older WD external drive that just stopped working. I turned the computer on but the WD did not come on. I have no idea what to do. How can I retrieve the data from there?
Thanks
Hi @dmikush
We regret to inform you that the Western Digital does neither cover Data Recovery under its warranty policy nor has any in-house data recovery service.
Please refer to the link of alternate 3rd Party Data Recovery Options.
Title: Alternate 3rd Party Data Recovery Options link:
Link: Third-Party Data Recovery Software for Windows and macOS
Have you opened a Support Case? If not opened, for more information, please contact the WD Technical Support team for the best assistance and troubleshooting:
Check the power cable and USB connection and ensure they are secure, you can even try using a different USB port or cable. If the drive is still not open Disk Management on Windows (press Win + X and select Disk Management) or Disk Utility on Mac (found in Applications > Utilities) to check if the drive appears. If it shows up but is unallocated, try using Stellar Data Recovery software to scan for recoverable data. If these steps don’t work or the drive makes unusual noises, it might be a hardware issue, and you should consider seeking professional data recovery services.
It’s unfortunate that your older WD external drive has stopped working, leaving you unsure of how to retrieve the data. However, there are several steps you can take to try and recover the files.
First, check the power and connections to ensure the drive is properly plugged in and receiving power. If that doesn’t work, try connecting the drive to a different computer to see if it’s recognized elsewhere.
You can also utilize disk utility software like Western Digital’s own diagnostic tool or third-party options such as Disk Drill,EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Stellar Data Recovery. These programs may be able to scan the drive and identify any issues preventing it from being recognized. As a last resort, you could try manually resetting the drive by unplugging it, waiting 30 seconds, and then reconnecting it.
If none of those troubleshooting methods are successful, your best bet may be to seek out professional data recovery services. These experts have specialized equipment and techniques to try and retrieve data from failed or inaccessible drives. While this option may come with a cost, it may be the only way to salvage your important files. Just be sure to avoid any complex repair attempts on your own, as that could further damage the drive and compromise the data recovery process. With the right steps, hopefully you’ll be able to recover the contents of your WD external drive.
