This drive was given to me after another tech screwed it up.
USB port was broken and they tried to replace it, but managed to rip off all but 1 the USB connector pads.
Then they tried to solider on a SATA connector but couldn't figure it out.

I finished the SATA connector and drive gets detected in BIOS, Linux and Windows.
But partition shows as unknown.
Ran an old copy of GetDataBack and it scans and looks to be finding files but after the scan nothing is available to recover.

I've since read that WD sometimes encrypts the data on the HD.
Not sure if that is why I can't mount/recover anything.

The capacitors were removed for the SATA connector by the other tech.
He also manged to knock another component or two off the data lines for the USB portion of the PCB.
If I knew what they were, I could replace them and maybe get the drive working via USB again.

I'm fairly comfortable with component level repair but, this is not really my area of knowledge so any help would be great.

It's most probably encrypted.
Can you post sectors 0 63 and 2048?
You can get them using DMDE.

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

Ok running DMDE, but not sure what to look for.
Opened to a window with an option to run a full scan, so that's what I did.
Also got a crc error which I told it to ignore all
Get data back did this as well before.
It is showing file types of zip, Pdf, and flac so far. Hope that's a good sign.
I'll post what it found once it's done scanning, or let me know if I should do something different

Provide to us pcb photo. May be you could copy data to other drive and then use external wd board to unencrypt data.

Replied to northwind but waiting for approval from a mod.
I'll post so pics when I get home later

Ok so that reply went through immediately?
Last reply stated it needs to approved by a mod before it's public?
Maybe cause I replied from my phone??

Anyway I'll re-post my reply to northwind. Sorry if it double posts.

Ran DMDE, but was unsure how to find those specific sectors northwind asked for.
DMDE opened to a dialog offering to run a full scan, which I started.
Before I left for work it had already found some files type like PDF, FLAC, ZIP and such.
Hopefully that is good news.

BTW just out of curiosity, does the encryption work at the individual file level or the whole drive?

Again I'll post pics of the PCB when I get home.

thanks everybody

You may be able to use "reallymine" (freeware) to decrypt the data:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1488

Here is how to determine if your bridge or your HDD is responsible for encryption (probably the bridge in your case):
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1404

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Ugh every other post needs to be approved.
Oh well I'll keep replying in hopes that all these get posted.

Here's 2 pics. One of the DMDE scan finished the of one side of the PCB.

Recovered Data!! Sorta?!?!

DMDE allowed me to recover a bunch of files, but it looks like it's just the WD crap that comes on the drive when you buy it.
I now have ~100 PDF manuals for various WD external HDs. O boy!

Anyway, guess the HD is encrypted after all.
There is 1 file DMDE classified as a tiff that is I think 200GB.
Maybe the encryption bundles all the user files together?

Northwind, how in DMDE do I find the sectors you were asking for?

fzabkar, I'll read up on reallymine tonight, looks promising.

drHDD, here's a pic other side of the PCB, I'm assuming your looking for that Initio chip.
If another USB board can decrypt the data, can't it just be pulled off this drive rather than imaging it to another HD?

Also, what about swapping the PCB?
I've read enough about the process to know.......I really don't know enough about it.

Finally, the first pic shows the missing component(s) and partial trace on the USB data lines marked as L11.
If anybody knows what this was and the specs of the caps that were removed for the SATA conversion, and they're not too expensive, I could probably repair the USB portion of the PCB.

Thanks everyone for your help

Trying to run reallymine in lubuntu but getting sytax errors.

Why not just get another USB PCB and transfer U12 (and possibly U14 as well)?

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http://www.pcimage.co.uk

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sda1 is mounted ?

Yes this is one of the questions I asked, Is it really that simple?
Buy another PCB, float 1 or 2 components off the original PCB, and transfer to the new PCB?

I've only read enough about the process to be afraid that this may not be that simple.


Tried both ways, mounted and not mounted, same error.

Might it be time to outsource to an affordable data recovery pro, rather than waste time and risk making things worse?

_________________
Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

Would go that route if the owner of the drive could afford it. He is basically given up that the data can be recovered. Told him I'd try what I could.
Plus it's nice to learn no?

Asked a few questions in a previous post but still waiting for it to be approved again.

I'll wait for those answers and see what comes of it.
Also if I could get a clear answer on the effectiveness of a PCB swap that'd be great

Thanks everyone

You can "outsource" it to hdd-parts.com for US$50.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

This drive has ROM in marvel, so you can't use other board so easy.

I would recommend to make sector by sector copy to other wd drive with same size and use external wd board 705059 to decrypt data. Or play with reallymine.

I can provide board with rom moving for $25 or data recovery from this drive for $100 (plus shipping).


How much data you have on this drive?

DrHDD, Ok if I buy the PCB for $25, please confirm what needs to be done. Move the windbond chip to the new PCB?
I'm in California USA. How long is standard shipping?

@ drHDD... I'll take your word for it, I didn't check to be honest.

@OP... In which case it's not so simple as moving a chip, it requires tools and more work to electronically transfer the ROM info or recreate it. But yes you can clone to another drive and decrypt with said board. And as drHDD says, it's imperative the target drive is of the EXACT same capacity (or HPA cut to the same size) or the decryption won't work.

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PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!