3 TB WD External Hard Drive NOT Working [ RAW ]

Hello @jumanji,

I am Copying now . . .

Paul Black said:

BRILLIANT @jumanji,

ALL the folders and files appear to be there.

So I now need to quit out of TestDisk, attach the OTHER 3 TB drive, and go through the WHOLE process again [ including the Geometry section ? ]. Then follow the link to Copy the data, is that correct please ?

When Copying, is there any way that you can open the folders and just select certain files within them, or does the WHOLE folder have to be Copied?

Yes and yes of course - not difficult you know. You did it in a jiffy.

There is no way to open the files and check the integrity. But don't worry. All your folders/ files will be in-tact.

Proceed with copying the files to another storage media whenever you want but keep that 3TB WD HDD at rest till you finish copying. Do not leave it plugged in and spinning all the time.

Once you have succeessfully copied the files, you can wipe that HDD clean, initialise it as GPT disk, format and use it.

And do not forget that a backup is not a backup unless the data which you cannot afford to lose is available in two storage media. If one fails, you will not panic, for it is available on the other media.

Paul Black said:

Hello @jumanji,

I am Copying now . . .

I think our posts crossed.

All the best..

Hello @jumanji,

Firstly, I had to Restart the Desktop in order to get ALL the drives showing, NOT a problem.

Secondly, I setup a Folder on the WORKING WD, pointed the Copy to that Folder, BUT, it created a Folder with the Folder Title of the CORRUPTED WD on the WORKING WD, again, NOT a problem.

It did however, Copy the Folder and ALL the Files within the Folder, and they opened perfectly, BRILLIANT.

How can I open a Folder in TestDisk on the CORRUPTED WD and select individual Files please ?

I found out how to do it, you just need to Highlight the Folder and Press P.

Yes, some of these nuances you will know only when you do it yourself..

Hello @jumanji,

This is quite a good short video for TestDisk if you wanted to add it to any future posts after the steps in Post #26, which was brilliant by the way . . .

Such videos generally deal with most common problems such as lost partitions. Moreover it will be difficult for the novice users to remember the steps and execute. If there is a written blog or document it will be easier for them to refer and follow. There are many such writings and even those deal primarily with the most common problems encountered.

OUTSTANDING:

@jumanji provided excellent and easy to follow screenshots, instructions, support, and advice, which enabled me to retrieve my folders and files from an otherwise corrupted disk.

I have marked this Thread as Solved.

I would also like to say THANKS EVERYONE for their contribution and input, it is VERY much appreciated.