My WD HDD was working and now only reads as a Local Disk

[rhythmic_insanity]

The other day I was working away at my computer and using my Western Digital HDD 500gb external hard drive to save my data. I left my computer for a minute came back and my computer had disconnected from my external hard drive. When I reconnected the hard drive it read as a Local Disk with 0 Bytes Used, 0 Bytes Free Space and 0 Bytes Capacity, instead of MyBook with 300+ gb Used, 200- gb Free Space and 500 gb Capacity. I had about 300+ gbs saved on my drive and it's capacity is 500gb.

The drive is not making any strange sounds, infact is spins up just find and sounds like is usually does and hasn't over heated or anything like that. The only difference that I am noticing is that the light on the front of the external hard drive is lighting up differently than it usually does, and of course it is reading as a Local Disk and not MyBook any more.

My friend thought it might be something to do with the external hard drives Master Boot Record, and that I might need to rewrite the MBR. From what I have read this seems like a possibility, but I have no idea what to do about it. I have read that when your computer is having Master Boot Record problems you can enter fdisk/ mbr in Run... and that can fix the problem. But again, I am not sure if this is the correct thing to do.

I honestly really need to retrieve the sensitive information on this external hard drive and I would extremely appreciate any help that can be offered. Please let me know.

Thank you!

Aaron

[wiseleo]

Probably fixable with testdisk, but there are risks involved. The main risk is permanently corrupting the file system. The preferred solution is to make an image of the drive first (an exact replica of the drive in its current state).

In the future, don't disconnect the drive without using the operating system's "Safely Remove Hardware" icon.

Fdisk /mbr is not the correct solution.

I can assist you with this remotely. Cash is extremely appreciated and Paypal is equally accepted.

You now have two choices - accept the risk and do it yourself or accept professional help and enjoy the show on your screen.

[BlackST]

If the disk itself - not the box - is shown with Zero capacity, or not seen anymore, it's MORE complicated.

[rhythmic_insanity]

If the disk itself - not the box - is shown with Zero capacity, or not seen anymore, it's MORE complicated.

How do you mean?

[rhythmic_insanity]

I have a mobile office so I am very use to the correct shut down and disconnect process, but honestly I have had seen many external hard drives disconnected without using the "Safely Remove Hardware" option and I haven't seen a problem.

How do you make a image of the disk?

I am definitely willing to be gratuitous in this situation as long as a solution is found.

I really appreciate that help!

[mukesh_raval]

if it is external hdd , do one thing remove the external case and connect as internal hdd in desktop system
it may work do ur backup.

[shahij]

what do u c after connecting to desktop?

[sempre]

If it has files valuable always to use services of professionals….

this and my opinion

[BlackST]

5 minutes before he died, he was alive

Jokes apart (just to exorcise the situation) : the box has a USB to SATA or PATA converter and a common HDD inside. If the box is under warranty, well... you'll lose the warranty if you open it (but I think this is the latest problem, just because the cost of a new HDD / MyBook is under $100 - what's important is the data inside the disk). HANDLE THE DISK LIKE EGGS. then you're ready for a quick diagnose : connect the disk directly to a desktop PC without the box.
If you see the disk, GET YOUR DATA QUICKLY, make a backup and 10.000 copies for safe and get another solution for the future.
If you still don't see the disk, maybe you have a LOGICAL problem. If BIOS recognises CORRECTLY the disk with full capacity, you're half way.
If not, time for a pro. Period.

If you see in BIOS the correct capacity and model, but NOT on windows, the problem is LOGICAL and not PHYSICAL and this is gonna cost you much less in terms of DR, but please don't ask for a step by step guide , it will require time and a crystal ball and we're technicians not sorcerers, but this is anyway GOOD for you and your pockets. The filesystem and the data has to be recovered.

Just 2 things:
1) HANDLE THE BARE DRIVE LIKE EGGS : a little bump either when powered off or on and you're screwed. Don't play with good luck, play it safe.
2) IF WINDOWS WHEN STARTING ASKS YOU TO RUN SCANDISK / CHKDSK, DON'T DO IT (quit).

Please any other opinion from the gurus here ?

[wiseleo]

So, three possibilities.

1. You have the 0MB problem, which as BlackST astutely noticed, won't be solved easily and requires special equipment.
2. Your Mybook enclosure failed (they have their own firmware problems). Enjoy opening that puzzle box! I am tempted to start using my Dremel tool on these things to save time (joke...or not).
3. There is some other failure on the HDD that requires further diagnostics.

Personally, I hope you may yet be lucky and have the second problem. However, you may also have a catastrophic failure.

I have seen drives that were improperly disconnected when enabled in "performance" mode, which is what Windows calls the write-back cache option when enabled. MFT gets corrupted and the drive then needs service. Symptom - the entire drive is unallocated.

[rhythmic_insanity]

You guys are great!

I am actually going to be able to connect it to my pc a little later today and find out where I am at.

I am pretty positive now that it is a problem with the WD enclosure. From what I have read and talked with others about it sounds like WD and Maxtor drives can have these problems, and they are not unheard of.

Once I connect it to my pc and test it I'll let you know what the out come is.

THANK YOU!!!