Case study in progress: Need help with WD Smartware 750Gb

[spatecc]

Hi everyone. I am starting to post the most challenging cases we have, with the intent to get help to resolve the issues and let history record in the board for upcoming generations. I will post the case with all the details, and document all the steps taken until conclusion. Sorry about my english, I am not a native speaker.

Case: One WD7500KMVV-11A27S2 750Gb 2.5" with USB connector embeded. No further information about disk model. The client refers the disk was working fine and then suddenly stops working. After that the disk seems to be detected but then this message appears: "Unknonw error. The application will close".

Actions taken:

- On "My PC" the disk appears as a CD with some WD Smartware utilities. We can install them but they didnt work. We download the most recent version from WD but the disk isnt detected by the Smartware software.
- If we scan the disk with any tool (R-Studio, File Scavenger, etc.) files appear all scrambled with no recognizable structures (because WD SmartWare software encrypt them.
- We only do short intents with software because we dont want to damage the disk. Even if we do a longer try (like 10 minutes or so), the disk starts to get out of line and the software can´t detect it until we reconnect all again.
- We can´t image the disk because we cant´t connect the disk to DataCompass (because the USB connector is attached to the disk, and it doesn´t have SATA connector).

Partial conclusions:

- I think even if we can do an image, maybe we can´t be able to read the data due the Smartware encryption. WD says (as we may expect) "the Smartware disk and software doesnt have a "backdoor" so your data is lost".
- I want to ask you everyone about ideas or procedures to solve this problem before we give it up.

[poehere]

What tools are you using. If you have UDMA clone it as a USB drive in DE and go from there.

[mdarwish]

- We can´t image the disk because we cant´t connect the disk to DataCompass (because the USB connector is attached to the disk, and it doesn´t have SATA connector).

Partial conclusions:

- I think even if we can do an image, maybe we can´t be able to read the data due the Smartware encryption. WD says (as we may expect) "the Smartware disk and software doesnt have a "backdoor" so your data is lost".
- I want to ask you everyone about ideas or procedures to solve this problem before we give it up.

My understanding that SalvationData, based on customers demands, is releasing soon a new USB to SATA/IDE converter to connect to DataCompass and HDD Doctors. Check with SD if it is out now for sale.

[spatecc]

What tools are you using. If you have UDMA clone it as a USB drive in DE and go from there.

Sorry I didnt have UDMA clone. Sorry, I don´t understand what DE means

Thank you for your answer.

[spatecc]

What tools are you using. If you have UDMA clone it as a USB drive in DE and go from there.

Sorry I didnt have UDMA clone. Sorry, I don´t understand what DE means

I have HDDoctor and Data Compass from SalvationData. I have other simplier fixed tools and adapters.

Thank you for your answer.

[poehere]

If you can not attach the drive to the DC then you will need to modify the PCB board on this drive to make it a SATA then you can work with the Data Compass that you have. Check here on the forum I know they have some examples of modify the PCB for your drive. Download the photos and go from there on this one.

[Agent]

If everything is scrambled it sounds like somehow the format option was run using the smartware utilities, the format takes 30 seconds and all data remains on the disk, but it is encrypted and you can't get it back.

[fzabkar]

If you can upload a detailed photo of both sides of the PCB, I can show you how to tap into the SATA Tx/Rx signal pairs.

[spatecc]

If you can upload a detailed photo of both sides of the PCB, I can show you how to tap into the SATA Tx/Rx signal pairs.

Thank you very much.Here is the photos:





I already ask SD about the adapter. It seems to be bundled with DataCopyKing but I have no definitive answer yet. I will post the answer here when I got it.

[poehere]

Search here on forum there is a good photo and details on this one. You can find your answer to this here on the forum by using the search function.

[fzabkar]

Your photos aren't very clear. However, if you wish to tap into the SATA interface, then you will need to identify the two SATA Tx/Rx pairs. These will be the two sets of parallel, capacitively coupled traces running between the Marvell MCU and the USB-SATA bridge chip. You will need to remove 4 chip capactors, probably 10nF. Connect your 4 SATA wires to convenient points on the MCU side of these capacitors. IIRC, in your particular case these connection points are on the reverse side of the PCB, labelled E71-74. The order of the conductors on the PCB will probably match the pinout of a SATA data connector:

http://pinouts.ru/HD/serialATA_pinout.shtml

Alternatively, the pinout may be the reverse of the above. A matching order is to be expected, as this facilitates a neat PCB layout (imagine interposing a SATA connector between the MCU and bridge chip).

[poehere]

Contact SD and get the new USB to IDE adaptor this one will do the same for you. It is available now and you can get it in not time at all to you. I would order this now because it will come in handy for other work you are doing now and later on. Considering you have their tools get the adaptor for your work too.

[spatecc]

Thank you very much to all. I am very happy because the most active members
taking time to answer my questions. Thank you!

Later I will try to upload better photos. This disk has a micro USB connector,
while others has mini USB type.

poehere: I already contact SD. The adapter to connect this kind of disks to
DC has a price of USD$260, I will buy one ASAP. I don´t know if the adapter works
with mini and micro USB. I will ask today and inform to you all.

fzakbar: One friend gives me this web page to help,
http://www.datarecoverytools.co.uk/2010 ... -usb-only-
western-digital-drives-with-hd-doctor-suite/ , I think (in this topic) it will be
useful to all.

Agent: I think the same as you. The problem here maybe will be not to read
the disk, but to decrypt the data.

Thank you again to all.

F