This is a data disaster. Drive and backup both down with similar symptoms. Both drives spin without clicking but will not talk (much). Both died suddenly after reporting good SMART status.

First is a WD5000AAKS-00C8A0. After a power glitch it refused to do anything but report its name. MHDD does not seem to help. It just errors out if I ask for parameters.

Drive number 2: WD1001FALS-00E8B0 is similar but began as an intermittent error that I thought was connector-related. Now it's mostly just gone. It will sometimes show up on the MHDD list of drives but disappears if I try to actually do anything with it.

So, I understand that the module data that is not showing up is actually located on the negative tracks of the platter, but does this mean the drive is physically bad? Or is this likely an electronic problem on the pcb? The first drive I can experiment with, but the second is under warranty and I really, really need some data that is only on the second drive, so I already contacted a DR service.

I'm going to buy a Torx-6 bit and take a look at the WD5000AAKS. I have only seen PCB's for the WD5000AAKS-00TMA0 though, not my -00C8A0. Is this a show-stopper?

I haven't seen PCB problems with the newer families of WD drives yet.

Chances are, you've got a heads or firmware issue.

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

Thanks for that reply. Is it odd that SMART didn't catch it? I always watch it carefully at bootup and last summer I managed to salvage a---ha! It was a WD5000AAKS-00TMA0--before it died completely. I have five other WD drives working fine.

So, is there any way to distinguish between firmware and heads?

If it is firmware is there anything I can do? If if is the heads I assume I'm sending it to a clean room. Which means Christmas is canceled again and I go back to riding the bus.

No. SMART gives warnings for a relatively small proportion of disk drive failure mechanisms (especially since you've suggested that for "drive 1" there was some kind of power-related sudden event).

Sometimes a human review of the full raw SMART values can highlight a concern, even before the disk drive has decided to report a SMART failure, but you'd need to provide historical full raw SMART data for someone to look at it.

Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do yourself if it is firmware or heads. Both require expensive gear and some measure of expertise. But I've made an "armchair diagnosis" which isn't very reliable.

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

I'm pretty sure the second drive was showing symptoms before it finally went. I was just too optimistic about the cause.

But at least it seems that there was no data loss. Recent disc scans were clean, it's just not loading up those modules for some reason. I can at least be optimistic about that, right? Now how much is this going to cost me? *shudder*

C8 is a Tornado i think. Chances are switching out the board will help you. Find a nice DR shop and take advantage of free diagnostics =)

So, send them to Alexii, if you are only looking for the diagnosis without actually getting the project done.

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Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

ouch , that hurt Luke =) I can do more than just diagnostics =) I make a mean lemon meringue and salami pie. =)

Ewwwwww! That has to be the most disgusting combination I have ever heard. I'd hate to see what you take for lunch.

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Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

Babies Luke. Third World babies. =) Speaking of babies - congrats on becoming a father. Cheers =)

Thanks for the congrats...this is my third child.

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Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

Well , from a certain point of view - you became a father 3rd time =)