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FAQ: Dropped WD drive: not recognised. Is there a chance?

03/10/2026•2 minute read
Blue gloved hands working on an open hard drive, with Payam Data Recovery logo and service icons

Short answer

Yes, there is a good chance. A drop can damage the heads, the platter or the system area, so power the drive off and do not use it. After a free assessment and quote, we attempt a temporary repair by replacing the heads and cleaning the platters, then clone the drive and copy your files to a new USB drive. We have worked on WD drives for at least 25 years.

A common problem we have been addressing on WD drives for at least 25 years, making it the most popular drive we work on. If it has been dropped, there is a possibility of damaged heads, platters, or a combination thereof, along with other issues such as system area damage. Therefore, it is critically important not to use it. Please power it off and refrain from any further use. Handle it with extreme care to prevent additional drops. We offer a complimentary assessment and quote. Upon acceptance of the quote, we will endeavor to perform temporary repairs by replacing the heads and cleaning the platters, then create a cloned copy. Subsequently, all files and photos will be transferred to a new USB drive. While not guaranteed, there is a high probability we can assist you.

Related help

International customers are always welcome. Post your device to us from anywhere.


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