External HDD CRC Error on Initialization Attempt

Flava0ne · Mar 31, 2023

I accidentally dropped my external HDD that was on my table while it was in the process of copying files to my PC. When I reconnected it, as soon as the motor started spinning up it made 2 beep sounds and now Windows Disk Management isn't able to re-initialize the disk due to a CRC error. Other than the 2 initial beeps when turning on the external HDD it doesn't sound like there's any issues with the drive itself.

I tried initializing the drive in DISKPART but the same CRC error is preventing it. Also tried MiniTool Partition Wizard both in Partition Recovery and Data Recovery without any success either. Any help or suggestions in trying to recover the data or partition would be greatly appreciated!

The drive is a WD Black 6TB 256MB Cache SATA 6Gbps desktop 3.5" HDD inside a USB 3.0 external enclosure which I purchased separately.

Ahhzz · Mar 31, 2023

That's called a "head crash"; it's when the read/write heads come into contact with the drive surface. Chances are, it's gone. At this point, your options are warranty replacement, or if the data is super-critical, paying a few thousand for a recovery service to dismantle the drive in a clean environment, and reassemble to recover the data that wasn't in the path of the impact.

Flava0ne · Mar 31, 2023

So there's absolutely no chance of recovering the data with software? Is that what the 2 beeps indicate when turning it on?

SPDIF · Apr 1, 2023

No as bad as it sounds, your hard drive is dead... The only one that could save data is a professional company that works in an clean room. But for that service you pay some thousand dollars. The two beeps are a warning that your HDD does not respond to commands any more.

Dropping your HDD does not fall under warranty... They will know anyway and are not stupid. You can't say it is new and not used, as a HDD keeps track of how many hours you use it and how many times you switched it on. This information is stored in Non-volatile memory, or the smart table. Nowadays you can be sure they will read this memory out.

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External HDD CRC Error on Initialization Attempt

Flava0ne

Ahhzz

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Flava0ne

SPDIF