(Just to clarify: This has nothing to do with the 11.4 mount problem with external NTFS drives that is stickied in this forum.)
I have this 2 year old WD Elements drive (500GB) that is NTFS formatted and that I’ve used for backup all this time, until a few months ago it failed to be recognized by any computer. The power supply is working, so I first requested a new cable, which didn’t help, and now I received a replacement. But still I would like to save some of the data on the hard disc. I need to have this figured out within this week as I have to return the old drive, or they will charge me for the new.
So far, the only software to still recognize the drive was a WD analytical tool for Windows. It didn’t find any problems or show any error messages as far as I could tell.
They recommended using testdisk to recover the data, but testdisk doesn’t recognize the hard drive in the first place. I also tried KParted, but no success.
Would anybody happen to have an idea how I can save that data?
(Just to clarify: This has nothing to do with the 11.4 mount problem with external NTFS drives that is stickied in this forum.)
I have this 2 year old WD Elements drive (500GB) that is NTFS formatted and that I’ve used for backup all this time, until a few months ago it failed to be recognized by any computer. The power supply is working, so I first requested a new cable, which didn’t help, and now I received a replacement. But still I would like to save some of the data on the hard disc. I need to have this figured out within this week as I have to return the old drive, or they will charge me for the new.
So far, the only software to still recognize the drive was a WD analytical tool for Windows. It didn’t find any problems or show any error messages as far as I could tell.
They recommended using testdisk to recover the data, but testdisk doesn’t recognize the hard drive in the first place. I also tried KParted, but no success.
Would anybody happen to have an idea how I can save that data?
Thanks a lot!
(I use 11.4 with KDE 4.6.3.)
So I had one of these drives as well. It did work at first, but later the hard drive failed. I sent it back and got a new one that did work at first, but later also could not be “seen” my openSUSE. After much frustration, I took the enclosure apart to find a standard SATA 500 GB hard drive inside which I was able to plug in and use in my computer. Basically, if you can run YaST / System / Partitioner and it does not “find” the external hard drive and you have added in the NTFS fix as described previously, I suggest that it simply is no longer working properly and should be ditched.
Now one must ask why you are trying to back up Linux data to a NTFS drive? Don’t get me wrong, I also use NTFS partitions for media and other files I share between Windows and Linux, but in general it is not a good place to backup Linux only files and their permissions and such. So, to answer your question, if the drive is out of warranty and you have data on it your want to get in Linux and it does not work in Linux, I suggest you can remove the internal hard drive and if the drive is not defective, fetch any data on it my connecting it internally to your computer, just as I did.
Thank you for your help! I think you’re preaching to the choir about the quality of Western Digital… The reason why I was still having hope is that said WD analytical software for Windows recognized it and didn’t find anything wrong with it.
The reason that it is/was formatted in NTFS is so I can use it with Windows systems as well, and I unfortunately need a Windows partition.
I don’t want to open the drive, which means breaking the warranty seal, because that might mean they will charge me for the replacement (that was part of the warranty) after all when they see the seal was broken.
> Maybe any software solutions you can think of?
>
Since you were able to check the drive with windows software, why not simply
save the data on the drive using windows or do I miss something now?
–
PC: oS 11.3 64 bit | Intel Core2 Quad Q8300@2.50GHz | KDE 4.6.3 | GeForce
9600 GT | 4GB Ram
Eee PC 1201n: oS 11.4 64 bit | Intel Atom 330@1.60GHz | KDE 4.6.0 | nVidia
ION | 3GB Ram
While I feel I had bad luck with the first WD hard drive, I am not sure they are any worse than any one else. What I learned from the ordeal was to NOT buy a name brand External Hard Drive ever again. If you find a good deal on a bare WD hard drive then go for it. If you want an external hard drive, then buy a separate external hard drive enclosure. They are more likely to work with everything like Linux and have a separate warranty from the hard drive.
Good advice about the enclosure, that is exactly what I have done and it works well. My only complaint is that it uses a Y cable I.E. 2 USB plugs, presumably to ensure ample power, and I have had problems trying to use a single cable. Any ideas as to which drives can be put in enclosure but only need a single plug.
Good advice about the enclosure, that is exactly what I have done and it works well. My only complaint is that it uses a Y cable I.E. 2 USB plugs, presumably to ensure ample power, and I have had problems trying to use a single cable. Any ideas as to which drives can be put in enclosure but only need a single plug.
Well you did not specify if this is a Laptop or Desktop hard drive. Laptop drives can generally work off of a single 5V 0.5 amp rated USB connected directly out of any computer or powered USB hub. Desktop hard drives hard drives normally use a power brick and running them from a PC USB port is not all that normal, requiring a 5V to 12V converter and likely more than one USB connection, directly to a computer or powered USB Hub.
Sorry, but as we were talking about a WD elements external hard drive I presumed, wrongly, that it be taken as read that it was a 2.5 laptop drive to which I was referring, and especially, while it may be technically possible to do so, running a 3.5 desktop drive from a usb port would be a little bit stupid. And just to clarify my original question, most (2.5 Laptop) enclosures (ie the ones you buy and stick a hard drive into yourself, as opposed to the originally mentioned WD elements external hard drive type) come with a Y cable
Sorry, but as we were talking about a WD elements external hard drive I presumed, wrongly, that it be taken as read that it was a 2.5 laptop drive to which I was referring, and especially, while it may be technically possible to do so, running a 3.5 desktop drive from a usb port would be a little bit stupid. And just to clarify my original question, most (2.5 Laptop) enclosures (ie the ones you buy and stick a hard drive into yourself, as opposed to the originally mentioned WD elements external hard drive type) come with a Y cable
I own a couple of these small external hard drives, one 250 GB and another 500 GB I use for work. The larger capacity has a single USB connector while the smaller has a Y cable. However, both require only a single connection to the laptop to work. Generally speaking, powered USB connections should be able to provide 0.5 amps at 5 volts DC and be sufficient to power most modern external 2.5" laptop hard drives without the need for a second connection. The very first external laptop hard drive I purchased, perhaps five years ago was a WD and did require two USB connections to work, but none since then has required this.
The reason why I was still having hope is that said WD analytical software for Windows recognized it and didn’t find anything wrong with it.