At Bracknell Data Recovery, we are experts in recovering data from failed Western Digital external drives, including the popular WD Elements range. If your WD Elements drive is making a whirring sound but not being detected, it likely means the motor is spinning but the read/write heads are damaged. This is a critical mechanical fault and requires professional intervention in a cleanroom environment.
Common Issue: Drive Whirs But Isn’t Recognised
Symptoms:
- LED light activates, drive begins to spin
- You hear a whirring or humming sound, but no clicking
- Drive not detected by File Explorer, Disk Utility, or BIOS
- May appear in Device Manager as an “Unknown USB Device” or not at all
These signs point to damaged or misaligned read/write heads, meaning the drive cannot initialise or access the platters. If the heads are dragging or hovering incorrectly, continued use can result in irreversible platter damage — so switch off the device and seek expert help immediately.
Our WD Elements Recovery Process – Step-by-Step
1. Initial Cleanroom Evaluation
- The hard drive is carefully opened in our certified ISO 5 (Class 100) cleanroom.
- Engineers inspect the read/write head assembly under a microscope for:
- Physical damage or breakage
- Contamination
- Misalignment due to minor shocks or wear
- We also examine the platters for scoring, scratches, or magnetic degradation.
2. Matching Donor Drive & Head Replacement
- If the heads are found to be faulty, we locate a compatible donor drive from our in-house inventory.
- Using precise head-comb tools, we perform a head stack replacement:
- Heads are carefully removed and replaced with matching ones
- Alignment is performed at a microscopic level to ensure safe contact with platters
- The drive is resealed and connected to our imaging systems
3. Drive Imaging and Sector-Level Recovery
- The drive is powered on in read-only mode to prevent any write actions
- A full sector-by-sector image is captured using hardware imagers capable of:
- Handling bad sectors
- Reattempting reads with different head positions and timing
- Skipping unrecoverable sectors without damaging the drive
4. File System Analysis & Extraction
- Once imaging is complete, we analyse the file system (NTFS, HFS+, exFAT, etc.)
- Files are extracted from the image and checked for:
- Structural integrity
- Recoverability
- Corruption or truncation
- Deleted or partially corrupted files are also analysed and recovered where possible
5. Verification and Secure Return
- A list of recovered files is sent to you for review
- Once confirmed, the data is returned on a secure, password-protected medium
Supported Systems & Interfaces
We support all versions and configurations of WD Elements drives, including:
- Drive Types: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB, and larger
- Interfaces: USB 3.0, USB-C, SATA (internal), and IDE (older models)
- Operating Systems: Windows 11/10/8/7, macOS (HFS+/APFS), Linux (ext4), and cross-platform drives
- File Systems: NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, HFS+, APFS, ext3/ext4
Why Choose Bracknell Data Recovery?
- 25+ Years’ Experience with WD Drives
- Certified Cleanroom Facilities for Mechanical Repairs
- Specialist Tools for Read/Write Head Replacements
- Secure Imaging Technology with Read-Only Access
- Free Diagnostics & Critical 48-Hour Service Options
- Trusted by Individuals, Businesses, and Government Bodies
From accidental drops to sudden failures, our expertise in wd elements data recovery ensures the highest success rates with minimal risk.
Contact Us for a Free Diagnostic
If your WD Elements drive is spinning but not being detected, contact Bracknell Data Recovery today for a no-obligation diagnostic. The sooner we begin the process, the greater the chance of a full, successful recovery.