Computer Help and Support

lapfog_1

(30,168 posts)

10. no it's not "gone", What they will do is

Sat Oct 28, 2017, 03:06 PM

Oct 2017

a number of steps...

First, they will try to attach the drive to a system that can issue special commands to cause the heads to function anyway. If the drive is still sealed that is.

If that works they can read all of the drive except the sectors where the head crash actually happened.

This handles like 90% of drive failures.

The rest is only done if like the FBI or someone really pushes them to do it.

If not, there are more extreme measures that can be taken.

They can disassemble the drive and see if they can manually get the heads to actuate.

Last they could actually (but I don't know that they do this) take the platters out and put them in a new drive. This last part (without a clean room) is going to be very difficult for them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

13 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

WD My Passport issue [View all] SHRED Oct 2017 OP

well, essentially there are only two makers of hard drives lapfog_1 Oct 2017 #1

thanks SHRED Oct 2017 #3

no... right now the drive is dead lapfog_1 Oct 2017 #4

It's the pictures SHRED Oct 2017 #5

Pictures from where? lapfog_1 Oct 2017 #6

good ideas SHRED Oct 2017 #7

I think it's a goner SHRED Oct 2017 #8

no it's not "gone", What they will do is lapfog_1 Oct 2017 #10

Time for Cloud backup Abnredleg Oct 2017 #2

Try this first canetoad Oct 2017 #9

If Device Manager sees the hardware Sailor65x1 Oct 2017 #11

Before giving up on it, try a different cable and USB port. Thor_MN Oct 2017 #12

what light is blinking? you mean the green 'power' light blinks? Sunlei Oct 2017 #13