OK, I'm helping a friend out who didn't know why you don't buy proprietary external hard drives. It just stopped working one day, and he took it to a local computer chain (microcenter) and they said he was out of luck. That's where I come in.

MDL: WD10EADS-11M2B2
WWN: 50014EE2595BC33F
Date: 30 Jan 2010
DCM: HHRNNT2MHB
DCX: 4023M7R23

Images of drive
Top: http://imgur.com/5NztG
Bottom: http://imgur.com/GzFKq

I removed drive from the enclosure and tried to hook it up to a couple of different computers. In each case the drive spun up smoothly with no unusual noise whatsoever (has normal spin up sounds), but the computer cannot detect it. It will hang the POST process, and if it is connected to a already turned on computer (which has been used many times in this fashion), it will cause the computer to freeze.

So, I'm guessing that it is the PCB.

But I have seen contrary information on here and I was having trouble parcing it all. So, here we are.

The owner does want to recover the data on the drive, but probably not enough to send it in for standard data recovery. I've had PCB boards replaced before (seagate), so I know if that is what is wrong that it would be much cheaper. But the person I previously used only works with seagates.

So, does this sound like a PCB issue? There is no visible burn damage on the outside of the PCB (I have not removed it yet, so I cannot speak about the other side) and there is none of the characteristic burning electronics smell.

Also, I understand (thanks to this forum) that even if repaired, the drive is likely encrypted, so I know I will need to put it back into the enclosure to get the data off.

What I need to know is: Is the PCB the likely issue?
and
Who I can send it to for reliable and reasonable repair / replacement?

I do have an electronics repair background, but my lack of manual dexterity removes the possibility of my doing any soldering (but I am exceptionally good at burning nearby components and dripping huge globs of solder on circuit boards, just in case that might be useful). I would be easily able to check voltages and such, but I would rather direct him to someone who does this professionally - if it is a clear PCB problem.

Thanks for any help!

The drive spins up = NOT A PCB issue (99.99% for these drives).

Does the drive spin down eventually?

In any case, if the drive is not detected at all in BIOS etc, then there is really nothing you can do and you need to have pro assistance on this.

I suggest, if your friend values their data, to not power up the drive anymore and consult a pro.

I recommend member thatdellguy who is in CA and jono-ats who is in Atlanta. There is a chance this will be cheaper than you thought.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Also concider that it's from a MyBook, and could be encrypted.
So +1 for member thatdellguy who is in CA and jono-ats who is in Atlanta

_________________
Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

I have contacted one of the suggested individuals, so lets see how this goes. I'd have to say that I'm a little surprised that the drive spinning up is a indication that the PCB is not at fault, since I have seen the opposite many times in the past. Now this was with previous generations of hard drives, so I understand that my experience is not current.

Is this the case with all current generation hard drives? Or is it peculiar to WD drives?

WDs are on a class by itself...