Need Advice on Failed Recovery by Ontrack

[ziek]

Hi Everyone,

I sent a dropped portable WD HDD to Ontrack with the hopes that they can recover the data since after dropping the portable HDD, it still worked then died after a few days. But unfortunately, Ontrack was not able to repair my HDD. Here are the details they have sent to me.

>Drive has Internal Mechanical Failure and media corruption that is blocking us to access into sector level.
>It required a close matching spare part to bypass the media corruption (which has a slim chance of success).
>We are unable to get a close enough match after searching for weeks. As such, this case is unrecoverable.

My question is
1. Should I send it to other data recovery company? Any suggestions on other reliable Data Recovery Companies?
2. Can it be recovered if in the future if somehow someone developed a software that can access the media corruption without the need of matching spare parts (donor drives)? I am hoping that my platters are still intact since they didn't say anything about scratches or broken platters.

My HDD Details is listed below
Media Model Number: Western Digital My Passport 0748
Media Serial Number: WX51EB264199

[fzabkar]

What is the actual model number on the label of the HDD (not enclosure)?

[ziek]

Unfortunately, I threw away the labelled sticker inside the enclosure.

[Lardman]

You threw away the label secured to the drive itself? you'd really have to work hard to do that, it's not something you can do by accident.

[digisupport]

Then tell us PCB number.

I have a WX51EB.. in my Spyglass collection

[pepe]

I recovered several drives they claimed unrecoverable, but the question is not this simple, there are more factors to it.

answering your 2 questions:
1. i doubt the platters are intact, they usually get damaged in some extent during such an impact.
2. No software will ever cope with hardware failures of such degree,

pepe

[ziek]

Thanks for your replies. Appreciate it.

As for the PCB, i'll have to check and attach the picture later.

[ziek]

Hi Everyone,

Attaching Photos of PCB and external HDD
Sorry for the delay.

Thanks

Attachments

[ziek]

I know that my somehow my HDD is probably unrecoverable since i dont have a donor drive that matches with my HDD but still hoping that in the future that someone will develop a hardware that doesnt need a donor drive to access data.

Is that possible?

Thank you

[pepe]

nope, but why do you want to do it yourself?

It might still be possible by experts right now.

pepe

[pcimage]

We’ve recovered two drives just this week, that Ontrack had deemed unrecoverable.

[labtech]

Looks like a Firebird family, which could be a pain to get it working.
Donors have gotten difficult to find.
+1 pcimage (plus they have a donor stock of drives)
+ pepe
Either are great.

[pepe]

i have loads of these plus can recover rom if needed, plus can use any type of heads...
However, i do not like that naked cover, it actually sucks. Do you still have the label with you?

[data-medics]

If that is the correct plastic shell, that model is usually a ShrekLT model WD20NMVW-11AV3S0 inside. At least that's what I've always documented finding in there on past cases I've handled. Much easier to find a donor for that than it is for a Firebird.

Recovery should still be possible unless there is severe platter damage. But, it's impossible to really know based on a report written by an Ontrack sales guy. It could very easily be just a case of someone being too lazy to investigate what the drive is given the missing label.

Get a second opinion from a reputable lab on here.

[unknown]

It's definitely a Shrek (4 platters / 8 heads)
I have received two cases (both are Shrek) which Ontrack claimed they're unrecoverable.
One has a ring on the upper side.
Both successfully recovered 65% and 95% respectively.
They always refuse such cases for unknown reasons.

[labtech]

Shreks are still popular. Find it hard to believe Ontrack does not have parts. Something weird is going on.

[lcoughey]

They probably looked at the DIY attempt and said, nope.

[ziek]

Thanks for all your replies! I’ll probably send it to another recovery lab for 2nd opinion