The Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo dual-drive system, equipped with the revolutionary Thunderbolt interface, sets a new standard for speed in data transfer and organizational flexibility among high-capacity drives. This device offers multiple dual-drive configuration options that allow users to create a RAID array or operate each disk individually:
- RAID 0 for maximum capacity and increased performance speed.
- RAID 1 for enhanced protection through automatic duplication of all data.
- JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), where disks operate independently and are not combined into a RAID array.
Initially, the My Book Thunderbolt Duo drives are combined in RAID 0 and formatted in the HFS+J file system. However, the absence of redundancy in RAID level 0 means that a drive failure can lead to complete data loss.
The Thunderbolt interface provides unprecedented data transfer rates, allowing users to complete more work in less time. It is the fastest way to exchange files between external drives.
WD My Book Thunderbolt Duo Failure
Recently, a Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo was submitted for data recovery. The customer reported that a sudden power outage interrupted his work while transferring video materials to the hard drive for editing. After the incident, the device was not recognized when connected to his MacBook Pro.
The customer entrusted his data storage to our professionals, as retrieving 100% of his data was vital due to the presence of other essential documents. After a consultation with our customer service representative, he decided to proceed with an emergency data recovery solution.
Our emergency data recovery service is designed for those who need immediate access to their valuable files, typically completing within 8-48 hours to minimize downtime.
Initial Evaluation Process
Our data recovery team started the evaluation of the Western Digital external drive as soon as it was received. Our laboratory is equipped with professional hardware systems for diagnosing drives. Before testing, we conduct an external visual inspection of the drive to check for mechanical damage without opening the HDA (Hard Disk Assembly).
Next, WD external hard drive was connected to our hardware via the standard interface, and all its components were tested. The entire assessment process is carried out in Read-Only mode, ensuring that the diagnostics will not overwrite or damage the data stored on the hard drive.
WD Thunderbolt HDD Actuator Arm Recovery
An ISO Certified Class 10 Cleanroom assessment revealed that both drives’ magnetic heads had rushed to the parking space when the power went down, resulting in damage to the read/write head units.
The magnetic heads are responsible for reading and writing data on the magnetic disks. Each magnetic disk has two read/write heads—one for each side of the disk. The block of magnetic heads is attached to an actuator arm that positions it over the magnetic disk for data access.
In this case, the actuator moved the magnetic head units to the parking space so quickly that they were damaged. Our engineers addressed this type of malfunction by replacing the entire Block of Magnetic Heads (BMH) and the parking ramp, if necessary, with a functional one in the cleanroom. The specialist calibrated the heads, which allowed access to the service firmware of the disk.
Using specialized data extraction tools, our team read the contents of the user zone, selecting the optimal model for reading. A disk with non-native heads requires a unique approach and special methods for data retrieval. After accessing all the data, our specialists began reinitializing the RAID 0 and restoring its controller.
WD RAID 0 Restoration
RAID 0 is a system where two or more disks are combined into a single disk system, with data written block by block. However, RAID 0 lacks redundancy; there are no mirroring or checksums to safeguard data.
To gain access to the customer’s data, we simulated the operation of the box controller. We calculated the dimensions of the inner disk data distribution block and the starting point of the partition containing user data. These parameters were configured in the corresponding settings, allowing the HFS+ file system to become visible.
All of the customer’s lost data was carefully restored, step by step. After completing the recovery process, we scheduled a file verification session.
The client approved all the recovered data, and we transferred it back to a brand-new Western Digital hard drive. Following this, our data recovery engineers securely destroyed all copies of the client’s data stored on our servers and successfully closed the case.
Conclusion
This case illustrates the importance of professional data recovery services, especially when dealing with high-capacity drives and critical data. Power outages and other unforeseen events can lead to significant data loss, but with the right expertise and tools, recovery is often possible. If you ever encounter a similar situation, seeking the help of trained professionals can make all the difference in restoring your important files and minimizing downtime.
