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  1. #1
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default External Hard Drive Beeping

    Hi all,

    So I knocked off my WD Elements 1TB USB 3.0 External HD off the sofa before and hit the wooden floor hard. The one cable came out the back (power and data) before it hit the deck.

    Now when, I get the Windows Beep to show it's connected, but now the Drive Beeps a few times over before settling on a solid white light.

    Video uploading shortly


    Any ideas on what I can do here myself here?

  2. #2
    DF VIP Member
    Northernbloke's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Open it up and check nothings become unplugged or broken internally would be my first suggestion.

    Closely followed by checking the elements website support FAQ section and user manuals.

    And if none of that proved fruitful I'd Google for elements boot codes and seeing if anyone has had the same fault

    Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member DJ OD's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Copy everything u can off it. It might be about to die.


    DJ OD

    Thanks to DJ OD

    BigBrand (2nd January 2016)  


  4. #4
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Ok, will have go, unfortunately it doesn't show as a drive in explorer so unable to aces any data from it.

  5. #5
    DF VIP Member moonrat's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Yep as northernbloke said count the beeps and flashes, then google the error code.

    I dropped my old wd passport drive and one of the plastic mounts inside cracked causing the drive to move about.

    Does it have any warranty left ?




  6. #6
    DF VIP Member WRATH OF BOD's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    when you say beeps is it not more of a short buzz?, if so sounds like the mech is jammed & miss aligned from the impact.

  7. #7
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Sadly out of warranty now as it's a few years old that I got as a gift. I've uploaded a video, it's a distinctive beep.I've removed the outer casing, but insure how to open it up further from there, the only screws I see are on the sides, and unfortunately I don't have anything small enough get in there, not even a flat.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ddHx9Pl8Hc

    The drive spins up when connected, but then stops dead when the beeping stops.<br><br><br>

    https://www.dropbox.com/home/HD?prev...102_175059.jpg
    https://www.dropbox.com/home/HD?prev...102_175113.jpg
    https://www.dropbox.com/home/HD?prev...102_175129.jpg

  8. #8
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Edit: As I'm sat here with it plugged it, it beeped again, and is now spinning, but still nothing connected on Windows.

    Device manager shows it as an Unknown Device:

    http://imgur.com/cVcQZxM
    Last edited by BigBrand; 2nd January 2016 at 07:22 PM.

  9. #9
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    OK, so over a year later, I decided to bite the bullet and send this to a specialist, I was told about R3 data recovery.

    They took details of the problem over the phone and initially quoted £495 + VAT if this was a read/write problem where the arm was stuck (which is what I described it as)

    As they began further investigation, not only have they come back saying the damage is worse, but the costs have also increased.

    Does this at all sound legit to you guys?

    The lab has advised me that after the initial assessment your device has suffered significant physical damage.

    Assessment & Diagnosis Results


    · When your device was accidentally dropped it usually causes the read write heads to fail while they were engaged on the drive. Subsequently the heads made contact with the storage platters causing scratches to the platters. This means the heads are now damaged and can no longer read or write to the storage platters where the data is stored.

    · In addition to this issue, the scratches on the platters will cause more problems as whenever a new set of read write heads are fitted to the hard drive they will hit the groove created by the scratches and will be immediately destroyed.

    · The lab engineers have also reported that there is visible platter vibrations. Again more than likely caused by the impact of the drop.

    · Vibration or wobble of the platter is not normal. It means the platters are not spinning parallel to the spindle axes and requires a platter swap to a donor drive and realigned with a working motor and spindle.

    · Due to the above issues, the recovery is going to require a dedicated engineer, engineer time, specialist equipment and extended clean room work, even then there is no guarantee of success. We will be focussing on the priority files in order for this recovery.

    Revised Quotation

    £1,000.00 +VAT – Upfront Charge for Donor Parts & Engineer Rebuild Time (non-refundable)
    £2,000.00 +VAT – Additional Successful Recovery Charge*
    £45.00 +VAT – 1TB External Hard Drive

    *Can be paid in three interest free instalments over three months. Data is not returned until the final payment is met.

    Insurance Claim Options


    When it comes to high end recoveries for hard drives, we advise customers to contact their insurer and check if they are covered. You may covered by your household, please check your policy for Accidental Damage, Damage to Electrical Items or Hard Drive Repair.

    Please remember though, when it comes to an insurance claim you should apply for the repair of the device, not a data recovery. If the insurance company agrees in principle that they will cover you for this claim, I can provide you with an insurance quote for this service.

    If you would like to proceed would like to discuss any of the above information please call or email me at your convenience. You can reach me on my direct dial 01143 995503.


    Kind Regards,

    Will Adgie
    Sales & Customer Services Manager

    R3 Data Recovery Limited
    Security House | Windsor Street | Sheffield | S4 7WB


    Tel: 0800 999 3282
    Call me direct on: 01143 995503
    Will@r3datarecovery.com

    www.r3datarecovery.com
    http://www.r3datarecovery.com/terms-conditions/


    Data Recovery - Hard Drive Recertification - Cloning & Imaging
    Secure Wiping - Hard Drive Destruction - Hard Drive RecyclingThe lab has advised me that after the initial assessment your device has suffered significant physical damage.

    Assessment & Diagnosis Results


    · When your device was accidentally dropped it usually causes the read write heads to fail while they were engaged on the drive. Subsequently the heads made contact with the storage platters causing scratches to the platters. This means the heads are now damaged and can no longer read or write to the storage platters where the data is stored.

    · In addition to this issue, the scratches on the platters will cause more problems as whenever a new set of read write heads are fitted to the hard drive they will hit the groove created by the scratches and will be immediately destroyed.

    · The lab engineers have also reported that there is visible platter vibrations. Again more than likely caused by the impact of the drop.

    · Vibration or wobble of the platter is not normal. It means the platters are not spinning parallel to the spindle axes and requires a platter swap to a donor drive and realigned with a working motor and spindle.

    · Due to the above issues, the recovery is going to require a dedicated engineer, engineer time, specialist equipment and extended clean room work, even then there is no guarantee of success. We will be focussing on the priority files in order for this recovery.

    Revised Quotation

    £1,000.00 +VAT – Upfront Charge for Donor Parts & Engineer Rebuild Time (non-refundable)
    £2,000.00 +VAT – Additional Successful Recovery Charge*
    £45.00 +VAT – 1TB External Hard Drive

    *Can be paid in three interest free instalments over three months. Data is not returned until the final payment is met.

    Insurance Claim Options


    When it comes to high end recoveries for hard drives, we advise customers to contact their insurer and check if they are covered. You may covered by your household, please check your policy for Accidental Damage, Damage to Electrical Items or Hard Drive Repair.

    Please remember though, when it comes to an insurance claim you should apply for the repair of the device, not a data recovery. If the insurance company agrees in principle that they will cover you for this claim, I can provide you with an insurance quote for this service.

    If you would like to proceed would like to discuss any of the above information please call or email me at your convenience. You can reach me on my direct dial 01143 995503.


    Kind Regards,

    Will Adgie
    Sales & Customer Services Manager

    R3 Data Recovery Limited
    Security House | Windsor Street | Sheffield | S4 7WB

    Click here to see what a REAL Data Recovery Lab looks like


    Tel: 0800 999 3282
    Call me direct on: 01143 995503
    Will@r3datarecovery.com

    www.r3datarecovery.com
    http://www.r3datarecovery.com/terms-conditions/


    Data Recovery - Hard Drive Recertification - Cloning & Imaging
    Secure Wiping - Hard Drive Destruction - Hard Drive Recycling


    Insurance is a no go, as my contents only willing to cover the replacement drive, not the repair of the drive.

    I would be willing to take a risk on £1000, if they could guarantee recovery or offer partial refund if not. But, an additional £2000 + VAT totalling £3600 if recoverable, or £1200 none refundable if not (with no guarantee) is just to steep for me to do for some images.

    Do you guys agree? Are they baffling me with bullshit, or is this type of recovery simply that complex?

  10. #10
    DF VIP Member
    Ashley's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Is the stuff on the drive really worth that much dough to you. If it is go for it if not tell them to fuck off.

  11. #11
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Have sent a few drives off for customers and this seems too frequent to be legit.
    Seems like an easy scam for them. I could be wrong.

    I had one decent company over Cambridge way that was the only one to stick to original estimate even remotely. Good luck.

  12. #12
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Quote Originally Posted by Ashley View Post
    Is the stuff on the drive really worth that much dough to you. If it is go for it if not tell them to fuck off.
    I don't know really, it has majority of our honeymoon pictures on, and then pictures I'd saved from last 25 years, holidays, and old cars etc. How do you price that? Right now I think it's way too much, but throw the disc away and in 20 years, when I become sentimental and old, I might class £4k as nothing, and wish I had a crack for the sake of £1200.

    Mrs isn't fussed, it's more me, and more about pictures of my family and me growing up etc.


    Quote Originally Posted by piggzy View Post
    Have sent a few drives off for customers and this seems too frequent to be legit.
    Seems like an easy scam for them. I could be wrong.

    I had one decent company over Cambridge way that was the only one to stick to original estimate even remotely. Good luck.
    I thought that, I've no way of knowing if this is a £500 job or not, other than I did take it to another place who said it was too complex for them and needed a specialist.

  13. #13
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Sadly we have all been here and had some cunt spout that you should have backed em up if they meant that much to you but we've all lost data and will continue to do so.

    As we move to SSD I see data loss being more black and white. If it fucks up I imagine you lose everything.

    Couldn't you ask them to return it and you still have the option in 10 years time?? would the data degrade. I wouldn't have thought so.

    At the end of the day, you should have backed it up if it meant that much to you ;-)

    ( I was asking the same on here about 6 months ago lol )

    Thanks to piggzy

    BigBrand (6th April 2017)  


  14. #14
    DF Super Moderator
    DejaVu's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    I know the stable door has already come off, but this is exactly why Google Photos is a godsend. It's an expensive business this data recovery lark!

    Thanks to DejaVu

    piggzy (6th April 2017)  


  15. #15
    DF VIP Member josweet's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    The hardest part would be locating the same drive with the same MFT date/firmware ect.. , but im sure this is possible. Personally @ the £1000 quote, i would have a go myself fixing it.



  16. #16
    DF VIP Member BigBrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Thank for that chaps, I don't feel like having a go myself, no way near skilled enough I think and I'm a bit of a brute.

    The ultimate irony was I took them off my laptop onto an HD to take to my mates house to upload to dropbox on his fibre - how's that for luck?

  17. #17
    DF VIP Member josweet's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Im sure someone on here will swap the arm across for you if u ask. What you will need to do is find a drive the same.

  18. #18
    DF VIP Member fanni's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrand View Post
    Thank for that chaps, I don't feel like having a go myself, no way near skilled enough I think and I'm a bit of a brute.

    The ultimate irony was I took them off my laptop onto an HD to take to my mates house to upload to dropbox on his fibre - how's that for luck?
    So have you not tried to recover them from the laptop a majority of it will still be there

  19. #19
    DF VIP Member josweet's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Quote Originally Posted by fanni View Post
    So have you not tried to recover them from the laptop a majority of it will still be there
    Not after almost a year and half they wont. (Original post was Jan 2016 )

  20. #20
    DF VIP Member fanni's Avatar
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    Default Re: External Hard Drive Beeping

    Quote Originally Posted by josweet View Post
    Not after almost a year and half they wont. (Original post was Jan 2016 )

    Haha bollocks missed that

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