WDC wd10ears-00y5b1 only showing 31Mb

[elviento]

Hello all!

I have a WDC "green" wd10ears-00y5b1 that last week "went" from 1Tb to 30Mb. Its not only being recognized with this "new size" on Windows (7 x64 ultimate) but on BIOS too (I tested it on 2 different motherboards and both recognized it as 31Mb).

I searched on this forum and googled a bit, but no help
Ive tried to use some programs like EASEUS Data Recovery, HDD Capacity Restore and several others, no help.

Is this a know issue or there is a way to solve it?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

[labtech]

You have a mechanical issue, firmware, or both.
Running scanning/imaging software will not work.
A solid diagnostic is needed.

[Vulcan]

@elviento,

Ive tried to use some programs like [...] HDD Capacity Restore [...] no help.

IMHO that's insufficient info. There are several possible reasons for that not to "help", depending on exactly what message(s) it shows.

If you accept the risks of human error etc. during a DIY investigation, then you can check whether you can successfully read the first few blocks from the disk (with any of the many possible techniques / applications which you choose to use). If you can successfully read them, then the issue described in this posting from a different thread might apply:

http://forum.hddguru.com/green-1tb-wd10eavs-00d7b1-problem-t22995.html#p154563

[elviento]

Thanks all for the reply! Its solved now.

Just for a future reference:

Gigabyte released a defected BIOS that (when using Xpress Recovery 2 to install) miscalculated HD size, thus hiding all the HD on a HPA :S

I used HDAT2 to remove the HPA and voila! Its back

[Vulcan]

Gigabyte released a defected BIOS

That is exactly what the posting I linked to (from fzabkar) described. Glad you solved your problem.