If the drive is failing, switch it off now. Every restart of a damaged drive can destroy more data. Don't run recovery software on it or keep trying it.
Common WD Elements Portable problems
- Not recognised when plugged in
- Clicking or beeping
- Dropped or knocked over while connected
- Broken or loose USB connector
- Asks to be formatted
- Very slow or keeps disconnecting
How we recover your data
Inside every WD Elements Portable is a standard hard drive connected to a small USB board. We find out whether the fault is in the drive itself, the USB board or the data, during a free consultation.
If only the connector or USB board has failed, recovery is often straightforward. If the drive inside has a physical fault, it is handled in our clean room, and we image it before recovering your files.
Keep the original case
Many WD external drives, including My Passport and My Book models, encrypt data using the small USB board inside the case. If that board is lost or swapped, the data can't be read. Bring your WD Elements Portable complete, even if the connector is broken.
Prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Initial consultationFind out whether the fault is logical or physical | Free |
| Deleted files on a standard hard driveIncludes up to two hours of work | £99 + VAT |
| 24 to 48 hours of recovery workDepends on drive size: £150 + VAT for 1TB up to £250 + VAT for 4TB | £150 to £250 + VAT |
| Clean room diagnosticFor drives with physical faults | £79 + VAT |
| Physical recovery on a single driveLabour, plus a donor drive if needed | £450 + VAT |
| Donor driveWe send you a link to buy the right donor drive. If you'd like us to buy it for you, we add 30% plus any import charges and VAT | You buy and provide it |
Prices exclude VAT. We confirm your price before any recovery work starts. See the full data recovery price list.
Questions
I dropped my WD Elements Portable. Can you recover it?
Often, yes, especially if it hasn't been used much since. Don't keep plugging it in to test it. Bring it in and we'll assess it.
Should I take the drive out of its case?
No. Bring the WD Elements Portable as it is, with its cable. On some external drives the USB board is needed to read the data.