WD head crash case study explains a Western Digital external hard drive that failed after being dropped while connected to a laptop. The drive was sent from Perth, Western Australia to our Sydney lab, and it contained years of photos and videos that the client wanted back.
Case Study Summary
- Client: David (Perth, Western Australia)
- Device: Western Digital external hard drive
- Problem: Dropped while connected, drive no longer worked
- Faults found: Destroyed heads, USB controller encryption, translator issue causing blank sectors
- Outcome: Over 600,000 files recovered, including 50,000+ photos and 3,000+ videos
WD head crash case study diagnosis
The drive was opened in a dust-free environment and the damage was immediately obvious. The read and write heads were completely destroyed from the impact. With mechanical failures like this, powering the drive on repeatedly can increase the chance of platter damage and reduce the chance of recovery.
Head swap and stabilisation
A head swap was performed using a matching donor drive. This is a delicate process because incorrect handling can scratch the platters and cause additional data loss. Once the head assembly was replaced, the drive was able to spin up and become accessible for controlled recovery work.
USB controller encryption complication
This Western Digital external hard drive used controller encryption. Because of this, the recovery specialist could not simply swap the USB circuit board. Instead, a SATA port was soldered directly onto the original board so the drive could be connected safely to professional recovery equipment (PC-3000) while preserving the original encryption characteristics.
External USB hard drives often use on-board encryption as part of their USB bridge design. For background, see Western Digital’s official website.
Fixing blank sectors by rebuilding the translator
After the drive came to life, some sectors initially appeared blank, showing zero values where data should have been. The specialist addressed this by reading the second level translator, recreating it in specialised software, and refreshing the affected areas so the data could be extracted more reliably.
Recovery results
The recovery was successful. The video states that over 600,000 files were saved, including over 50,000 photos and over 3,000 videos. The client received a file listing and report by email.
- 600,000+ files recovered
- 50,000+ photos recovered
- 3,000+ videos recovered
Service process for hard drives
For hard drives and other non-mobile devices, we provide a free assessment and quote. Quotes are typically provided within 1 to 2 business days. Work starts only after approval.
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Payam Data Recovery works with individuals, students, families, small and medium businesses, IT companies, and organisations that need their data recovered safely and professionally. Some customers come to us with a single damaged device containing personal memories, while others rely on us for complex technical recoveries that require specialist tools and experience.
We are based in Australia and have been recovering data since 1998. Our clients also include governments, law enforcement agencies, corporations, and public figures. Every job is handled with 100 percent confidentiality and privacy.
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