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Head Replacement Comb for WD 2TB WDBAAU0020HBK-01 / I Was Hacked
Hello again. Some weeks back, I apparently was hacked. And I guess I deserved it for not using a security app after Windows ended support for Defender on my Windows 8 PC. I got a text in my cell that had a photo that was only on my external HD. After that, the external would not open to access files. Add to that, I dropped it. Now, the click of death. I bought another of the same external to use its actuator arm / head.
Two things…
Please recommend an inexpensive head replacement comb kit for this model.
Am I wasting my time? I mean, as I say, after the hack, the drive would not open. Did they kill it? Wipe it? It has 21 years of data on it.
Yes
You can send it to a data recovery - There are some good and cheap(kind of)
You have a surface mounted chip that needs to be taken of the old board and replaced on the replacement.
Thank you. Can you elaborate? The actuator arm is clicking and going on and off the disk. If I replace the actuator arm / heads of my external drive, it won’t read my data?
The more the arm moves the more damage you do.
You can try and change it - nothing lost nothing gained.
You will most likely have more than 1 arm - multi disc = multi arms.
So, if I use a data recovery service, they will recovery my data from the data storage chip?
No
What they would do is take the disc and chip from the current drive and put into a new drive.
Originally posted by Manny Maniago
After that, the external would not open to access files
If they have encrypted the disc then no data recovery firm can access the drive.
When you tried to access the disc before you dropped it what error did you get.
Have they asked for payment?
You also have to weigh up the cost of data recovery to the cost of what the data is worth to you.
They may be able to recover the data but if it is encrypted then it is of no use.
@Manny Maniago if you’d like, you can create a separate thread for the machine in question. So we can clean the malware from the computer. But like @PeterOz is saying, if the data is encrypted there is little to be done for your files, But the malware can be cleared.
If you want, follow instructions here to get Frst logs, and post a new thread.
No
What they would do is take the disc and chip from the current drive and put into a new drive.
If they have encrypted the disc then no data recovery firm can access the drive.
When you tried to access the disc before you dropped it what error did you get.
Have they asked for payment?
You also have to weigh up the cost of data recovery to the cost of what the data is worth to you.
They may be able to recover the data but if it is encrypted then it is of no use.
ok, i see now. the $1000 would be a gamble. no error message. clicked the shortcut, drive would not open. so i think they screwed it up or wiped it. and the photo they got from my external was texted to me from fort drum. i am near the end of the journey. i suppose i can live without my 24 years of work. so i’ll hope i can save up a thousand before my time comes. no ransom payment.
@Manny Maniago if you’d like, you can create a separate thread for the machine in question. So we can clean the malware from the computer. But like @PeterOz is saying, if the data is encrypted there is little to be done for your files, But the malware can be cleared.
If you want, follow instructions here to get Frst logs, and post a new thread.
Yes, that would be nice to move the post. I don’t think there’s any malware. My 8 pc was unprotected at the time. I have an app working real time now. It just so happens, the operations manager at Ft Drum hates my guts (long story). I bet he got in, wiped the drive then sent that photo to hint it was him.
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