Welcome to the EVGA forums & Congrats on your first thread
 
We would need details on your hardware & OS. 
 
What does it say in Windows Disk Management?
 
Have you tried to fix by using  ---> run the CHKDSK command
 
How old is the drive, brand, model number, size ......?
 
 
Is it a Mechanical (spinner) HD or SSD?
 
How is it connected to PC? (cable type/ port)
 
Anything happen to the drive? (It was format by mistake, Virus, other malware, drop, spill, worked fine X days ago & today nada)
 
Have you looked for tools from the drive Mfg?
 
Have you replaced all connecting cables & tried different ports &/or Computers?
 
There are tools, the free ones have, though they have limits.  Linux tools can help.
 
Service companies charge large fees, but broken drives can be read - just depend how bad you need the information.
 
Web search --> found these:
Solved: You Need to Format the Disk Before You Can Use It

Solved: My External Hard Drive Says It Needs to Be Formatted
 
10 Linux rescue tools for recovering Linux, Windows, or Mac machines
 
Get Your Data Back with Linux-Based Data Recovery Tools
 
The 21 Best Free Data Recovery Software Tools of 2024 - Lifewire

Cool GTX
Welcome to the EVGA forums & Congrats on your first thread
 
We would need details on your hardware & OS. 
 
What does it say in Windows Disk Management?
 
Have you tried to fix by using  ---> run the CHKDSK command
 
How old is the drive, brand, model number, size ......?
 
 
Is it a Mechanical (spinner) HD or SSD?
 
How is it connected to PC? (cable type/ port)
 
Anything happen to the drive? (It was format by mistake, Virus, other malware, drop, spill, worked fine X days ago & today nada)
 
Have you looked for tools from the drive Mfg?
 
Have you replaced all connecting cables & tried different ports &/or Computers?
 
There are tools, the free ones have, though they have limits.  Linux tools can help.
 
Service companies charge large fees, but broken drives can be read - just depend how bad you need the information.
 
Web search --> found these:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hello!
I have Windows 10.
It is a Western Digital 320 gb HDD
The disc is about 8 years old.
The disc was connected via usb, but I took it out of the box and connected it directly to the PC via SATA interface.
The disc was working fine, I did not do any procedures with it. It just stopped working...
Service is a very expensive procedure for me.
 
 

Cool GTX
Welcome to the EVGA forums & Congrats on your first thread
 
We would need details on your hardware & OS. 
 
What does it say in Windows Disk Management?
 
Have you tried to fix by using  ---> run the CHKDSK command
 
How old is the drive, brand, model number, size ......?
 
 
Is it a Mechanical (spinner) HD or SSD?
 
How is it connected to PC? (cable type/ port)
 
Anything happen to the drive? (It was format by mistake, Virus, other malware, drop, spill, worked fine X days ago & today nada)
 
Have you looked for tools from the drive Mfg?
 
Have you replaced all connecting cables & tried different ports &/or Computers?
 
There are tools, the free ones have, though they have limits.  Linux tools can help.
 
Service companies charge large fees, but broken drives can be read - just depend how bad you need the information.
 
Web search --> found these:


 

 

 

I can't upload a screenshot to you.

-------[image]-------[/image]   --------

Cool GTX
There are limits on New or low post count members - to Learn your way around the EVGA Forums, Rules & limits on new accounts
 
 
I tried to "fix" -- I can see it in my browser, but it does not link correctly.  Please try using IMGUR, & the photo must be set as public access

 

 
--> What does WD tell you?
 
If my memory is to be trusted, many of those old WD drives used a Utility tool "special format tools" that WD provided at the time the driver were sold - You Need that tool.
 
---> Did any of those links I posted prove above help?
 
If the drive spins & the heads move you should be able to recover the files to a New HD.  Look at the tools in the links above
 
Do Nothing on that drive, do not save files or format the drive, for best recovery outcome
 
OK another quick web search & I foud these:  my search terms -  8 year old WD external drive 320 & driver


    
 
Last idea, if it worked before when you bought the drive, find an old PC with that operating system - like Windows 7 or whatever you used before W10 to save those files.  Just make sure you update the antivirus software on the old PC - First, before you plug in your external drive

I'm sorry, but the program does not see the disc.
But I managed to make a copy of the disc using Clonezilla. Now I can try other programs.

Cool GTX
 
 
Did you get the Old version of the WD utility/ driver for that old HD? - (contact WD support)

please post an update, how this turns out for you
 
-- if it works - what you had to do

-- if it does not work, what you have tried

I got the driver to the hard drive and after installing it, no miracle happened....

Good to hear you were able to get the files saved since I know sending the drive in to be recovered doesn't always work and costs a ton of money. It's worth it if the files are really important but it's always nice when troubleshooting saves that cost.
 
It's also good to make sure that two copies of really important files exist.