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S10Sleeper
S10Sleeper asked in Computers & InternetHardwareOther - Hardware · 2 months ago

How can I recover the files from my WD my book drive?

My old WD my book is old enough that it used an IDE hard drive. The circuit board that connects to the drive, power supply and usb went bad, and someone threw it and the housing out before I could get information written down. If I hook it up with an IDE adapter, all files show as RAW, so I can’t do anything with them. It’s got the backups of all my important documents, books from school, and photos of my family. Does anyone have any information on how to recover them, and any software that doesn’t cost a lot?

Update:

I have used different adapters, one is an IDE/SATA to USB, another one was an IDE to E-SATA adapter. Being a 3.5” drive, I have an external power supply with molex connectors. From what I understand, it has something to do with the original circuit board that connected the drive to the usb. 

Update 2:

I have successfully recovered some raw files once years ago, from a different hard drive, using a trial version of software, but it limited me to recovering only 10 files. All of the files saved on the drive were just direct copies, not any type of backup program. 

5 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    It's too rapid to witness the development of hardware. That old stuff is devalued so quickly, it's not worth it paying attention.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    take it to a PC repair shop. they should be able to recover the files.

  • keerok
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    RAW? I bet it's in the setup. Make sure the old drive is recognized as IDE or PATA.

  • Sasha Whitefur
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    IDE to SATA Adapter board.

  • dewcoons
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    If it is showing RAW files, that means that Windows can see the drive is there, but the table that allows it to see the tracks and sectors of the drive have been destroyed.  It is unlikely you would be able to recover anything off it.

    Now, there are recovery service that can recover information even off a drive that damaged.  But they are going to charge you between $3000 and $5000 to recover the data.

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