External USB HDD enclosure trouble

[enuenu]

My 1 TB WD MyBook external HDD stopped working so I removed the HDD from it and placed it into an external USB HDD enclosure in an attempt to salvage the data. I am using Vista.

I initially contacted WD about the problem and after running through a few tests over the phone they said send it in for a warranty replacement as it is busted. The MyBook I now have the problem with is already a warranty replacement, so another return would make 3 attempts by WD to provide me with an external HDD that lasts 12 months. I want to try and retrieve the data before I send it in for another replacement.

When I placed the WD HDD into my new USB enclosure, plugged everything in and connected it to my computer, it all seemed to install OK automatically. The driver installed fine and the HDD model was recognized correctly when I checked under;
Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management > Disk 3 > Properties.

I selected the MBR partition style option when I first connected it.

However, "Computer" does not list the disk while "Computer Management" lists it as a USB device (Disk 3 - Basic - Online). Under "Computer Management" the total storage capacity is shown as unallocated even though there is a heap of data on it. Is this disk fried? How can I retrieve my data? Thanks.

[labtech]

What's the complete model off of the original external casing?

[enuenu]

WDBAAF0010HBK-AESN

[enuenu]

Note I just edited the model No.

[labtech]

The data on drive is encrypted via a hardware based encryption type.
This explains why the drive shows as unallocated in device management.

Look into MHDD to run some tests to rule out any hardware faults with the HDD. If the hdd is fine, then the problem is with the drive's enclosure.

[enuenu]

Thanks. Couldn't create a working CD with MHDD on it. When I extract zip file it just creates the same zip file again, along with a text file saying "boot from this CD" ????

[enuenu]

I got MHDD to run, occasionally. However a couple of things I don't understand occurred.

1) When the computer is started with the MHDD disk inserted, sometimes the boot sequence (internal optical first in sequence) works correctly and MHDD starts. However most of the time the boot sequence skips the internal optical drive containing the MHDD disk for some reason and Vista starts as per a normal boot. I could find no rhyme or reason to this. It seems totally random whether MHDD runs from boot or is skipped.

2) When I did get MHDD to run from boot, it lists nothing but the internal optical drive. The internal hard drive is not listed, let alone the HDD in the external enclosure connected via USB. I tried this with a HDD in the external enclosure that I know has no problems and MHDD did not list it.

How do I get MHDD to find and list the internal HDD that functions perfectly well? How do I get it to find and list an external HDD in the USB enclosure?

[labtech]

Remove the drive from the external casing as you have done before and just connect the drive itself to SATA port directly.

[enuenu]

Thanks. I guess I have to open up my laptop casing to do this?

[labtech]

No, I do not think you will be able to connect it to the laptop. Need a tower with SATA ports.