I have a Western Digital 500 GB SATA HDD (WD5000AAKS). It's been formatted for use (externally, using a HDD enclosure) as an add-on for my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR. It has been working for a few years without problems until recently.

Details of the drive are:

MDL: WD5000AAKS - 75TMA0
Date: 05 May 2007
DCN: HARCHV2CAB
FIRMWARE A0
DP/N 0MN924

Symptoms were: Drive was intermittently not being recognized by the DVR. I'd disconnect, let it cool down, then reconnect, and it would work again. This went on for several weeks. Eventually, it was no longer recognized by the DVR.

There were no noises that I could detect coming from the drive, only the sound of the cooling fan in the case enclosure.

When I gently shake the drive, there are no tinkling or rattling sounds.

I can't see or smell any obvious external burnt circuits.

I could try to connect it to one of my desktop PC's as a second drive, but since it is formatted for the DVR, I would not know how to make an image (assuming one could even be made) and transfer the data to another drive.

Any helpful comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

The best suggestion:

Use Hitachi 3.5" drive for USB enclosure next time....

You can image the drive with many software, but if i have right, your drive have pcb problem, just like many of these in the last year.
If the FS is damaged, than it is a good question how to restore it.
Did you ask the manufacturer of the DVR?

ps: if you will get answer, don't try to fix the FS on this drive, do an sector backup first and try to fix this.

Janos

Thank you for the tips.

I have the latest version of Acronis image software. Do you think that if my desktop PC recognizes the drive, an image could be made (if there are no bad sectors) and restored to a new 500 GB drive that the DVR would then be able to read and accept?

If it were just common data files that any PC could read, I might have a chance with some data recovery software that I used once before successfully on a HDD that crashed. But because the DVR formats the drive with a proprietary system that is not readable by a PC, my only chance at recovery would be if an exact image could be made.

First of all, try to make an image.
The other options we will see....

If you drive is failing to do an image you need professional help before the drive render itself to unrecoverable state.
Don't leave the drive alone when imaging!

Janos