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Western Digital my book 320gb external hard drive

Jimbo4x4

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western_digital_my_book_essential_edition_400gb_usb2_0_7200rpm.jpe


Anyone own, or know someone who owns one of these? My dad's desperately trying to piece together lost info on a burnt out hard drive from one, but needs another functioning one to use for spare parts. Unfortunately they're no longer made so the only chance he's got of finding one is getting it second hand. Can anyone help? Good money will be paid as the info lost is worth far more than one of these things cost new :?

Jim.
 
Jimbo,

You don't need another one.
Two things could have happened:
- PSU burnt out (simple to repair)
- Disk failure - not so simple.

If you open it up you can take the disk out and put it into a normal computer. If the disk is still ok, it will show up in Windows. Everything should still be there and accessible.

If it is the disk, data recovery companies can recover the data for you at a price. Price varies between them.

If you want help with the removal and put into a computer, shout :geek:
 
Crispin said:
Jimbo,

You don't need another one.
Two things could have happened:
- PSU burnt out (simple to repair)
- Disk failure - not so simple.

If you open it up you can take the disk out and put it into a normal computer. If the disk is still ok, it will show up in Windows. Everything should still be there and accessible.

If it is the disk, data recovery companies can recover the data for you at a price. Price varies between them.

If you want help with the removal and put into a computer, shout :geek:


What he said.....
 
if it is the hard disk then you will never be able to get the data off yourself by swamping the platter into a functioning hard disk at home as this is a specialist precision job. Your best bet is to try the above, also data recovery companies stock old hard drives for this purpose.

If you are trying to connect an old laptop hard disk to any newer pc then you may need an 2.5" IDE adaptor or hard drive enclosure which you can get from maplins or online.

As for the external disk, not much to say other than WD is a decent brand and a bit on the small side if its a desktop external hard disk so not great value when it comes to GB/£.
 
I should have been more specific, my dad has actually got a specialist data recovery company doing the work for him. They've tried to source one of these as they need parts off the hard drive (I don't know what parts and it's all a bit over my head tbh) to retrieve the data. As said, they can't buy one new as they're no longer manufactured, so the next best thing is a secondhand one. Thanks for all the offers of help, I may come to you if this company doesn't pull through.

Jim
 
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try a different company and ask if they stock it, and then either buy it or get them to do it. i would go by the actual hard disk model rather than the complete external disk assembly as they may use different drives throughout the model life
 
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