OWC TB External HD Failing w/ a TM Backup - Can the data be salvaged?

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Wife called me into her iMac room because a TM backup failed - I have two external HDs attached by TB connections for TM backups (also do duplicate CCC backups on this machine) - the HD in question is an OWC 1 TB Thunderbolt device purchased in November 2014 - I ran Disk Utility which failed to complete and repair the HD; then ran DriveDx which showed a failing drive, as seen below. Now I know the HD needs to be replaced but my main first question is whether the TM backup on the damaged HD can be retrieved accurately or should I just start over w/ a new drive? Note that her files are backed up on another TB HD, 2 CCC HDs, and also online w/ Carbonite, so might be easiest just to start w/ the new HD? Thanks for any comments. Dave :)

P.S. after many years using these HD spinners, this is only the second one that has failed on me, but has been 4 years and not unexpected.
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IWT


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Dave

You have a solid BU strategy so the loss of a single EHD/ Time Machine BU is not a crushing blow.

If it were me, I'd ditch that EHD because you can't trust it again even if a reformat appeared to render it okay - for how long?

Get a new EHD if you feel it necessary. Acknowledge the loss and move on.

My penny's worth.

Ian
 
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Dave

You have a solid BU strategy so the loss of a single EHD/ Time Machine BU is not a crushing blow.

If it were me, I'd ditch that EHD because you can't trust it again even if a reformat appeared to render it okay - for how long?

Get a new EHD if you feel it necessary. Acknowledge the loss and move on.

My penny's worth.

Hi Ian - thanks for responding - you took the words 'out of my mouth' as I was talking to Susan at dinner tonight - I'll not reformat the 4 y/o HD and don't really need to recover the data w/ all of my redundant BUs - about to send OWC an email w/ the same pic - just curious what their thoughts might be - can't remember if their warranty is 2-3 years, so I'm beyond that. Dave :)
 
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UPDATE - Questions on erasing an old damaged hard drive?

Hi All - I've purchased a new 1 TB USB Toshiba spinning drive to replace the defective OWC TB HD - a 'new' TM backup has been made. I sent OWC an email asking the best way to eliminate my data from this HD before recycling the device - no response after 3 days.

Disk Utility will NOT do an erase function - DriveDX does not have an erase option, unless I'm missing a feature? SO, I cannot erase and/or reformat this HD (do not need to copy any data) - my files on this TM backup can still be copied off the HD - thus, how to get rid of this device - a sledge hammer might be the quickest and easier option, but any other suggestions? Thanks - Dave
 
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- thus, how to get rid of this device - a sledge hammer might be the quickest and easier option, but any other suggestions? Thanks - Dave


Just take the drive apart and salvage the magnets from it. No-one is going to try salvaging any data from some average Joe's hard drive, especially if it's in bits and pieces. It's just not worth the effort for them.

It's a good thing you had made the other backups. Not a very good thing for such a short life with the OWC drive.






- Patrick
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Disk Utility will NOT do an erase function - DriveDX does not have an erase option, unless I'm missing a feature? SO, I cannot erase and/or reformat this HD (do not need to copy any data) - my files on this TM backup can still be copied off the HD - thus, how to get rid of this device - a sledge hammer might be the quickest and easier option, but any other suggestions? Thanks - Dave

Not many ways to destroy data if you can not access the drive at all. Your hammer suggestion might be the best way if all else fails. Safety glasses and a big heavy hammer! And take photos. :)
 
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Just take the drive apart and salvage the magnets from it. No-one is going to try salvaging any data from some average Joe's hard drive, especially if it's in bits and pieces. It's just not worth the effort for them.

It's a good thing you had made the other backups. Not a very good thing for such a short life with the OWC drive.

Not many ways to destroy data if you can not access the drive at all. Your hammer suggestion might be the best way if all else fails. Safety glasses and a big heavy hammer! And take photos. :)

Thanks Patrick & Charlie for your comments - I can see the backup folders w/ the drive mounted, but have not tried to delete any - still want to hear from OWC before I decide to 'destroy' the device - :D Dave
 
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Deleting TM backups takes forever. Each link in the backup is treated as a separate file that needs to be tracked all the way back to the origin, apparently. In any event, try reformatting it to something other than HFS+, then back to HFS+. Disk Utility should allow that, even if it doesn't allow erasing it. And if that fails, try repartitioning it into two, then back to one. That works at the device level, so it should ignore the format or any TM settings.
 
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Deleting TM backups takes forever. Each link in the backup is treated as a separate file that needs to be tracked all the way back to the origin, apparently. In any event, try reformatting it to something other than HFS+, then back to HFS+. Disk Utility should allow that, even if it doesn't allow erasing it. And if that fails, try repartitioning it into two, then back to one. That works at the device level, so it should ignore the format or any TM settings.

Thanks Jake - your suggestions did help and I agree w/ deleting TM backups, so not tried. I was able to reformat using Ex-Fat, then returned to HFS+ w/o a problem; next I wanted to do a 'secure erase' and picked the 3rd level in Disk Utility - well, after 3 hrs the bar graft was not even a third done on the first pass and the HD was very hot - had to force quit Disk Utility - the drive no longer mounted and DriveDx showed the same results as in my OP - first question, can I safely recycle the HD (e.g. drop off at Best Buy)? Second question, OWC still has not responded to my emails, so will wait another few days. Dave :)
 
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I personally think it's safe to get rid of it just about anywhere you want. It might be recoverable, but it would be very expensive to do so and given that it would be in a pile of drives similarly disposed, it's unlikely anybody would single it out for that expensive treatment.

or, now that I think of it, just open the case and let air into it. That would render it unusable as the heads are so close to the disk that normal air pollutant molecules cannot fit between them and the disk, so simply opening the case will render the drive unreadable. If you are really paranoid, bend the read/write head just a bit with a screwdriver. It's all up to your personal level of paranoia.

Or, just take a sledgehammer to it.
 
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Or, just take a sledgehammer to it.


Using a shotgun with some good heavy shell shot on such a drive can be quite satisfying. ;D





- Patrick
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Using a shotgun with some good heavy shell shot on such a drive can be quite satisfying. ;D

UPDATE - well, I finally received an email from OWC, which contained a link on How to Destroy a Hard Drive - below pics of just five of the 'recommendations' - :Evil:

The other suggestion was to save the Mercury On-the-Go enclosure (assuming the electronics are still functional) for installment of a 'new' HD or SSD (not sure the latter is possible in their HD enclosure?) - SO, I'll probably take the enclosure apart (if I have the right screw drivers), remove the HD, destroy the platter(s), and then consider a replacement depending on the options and their costs, i.e. may not be worth the effort? Dave :)

P.S. for those interested, check the link for the other methods suggested!
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Slydude

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Using a shotgun with some good heavy shell shot on such a drive can be quite satisfying. ;D

- Patrick
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Are you speaking from expereince or is this mere speculation?:Evil:
 
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Are you speaking from expereince or is this mere speculation?:Evil:


LOL!!! Actually, it was taken from a frustrating experience that two friends went through after living in remote cabin together while they went mining in a semi local copper mine to make some good money so they could carry on at University.

The cause of their frustration was a loud BIG BEN type alarm clock that would go off at all kinds of different times and not always when it was supposed to.

After their last shift, said alarm clock was placed on the side of the gravel road outside their cabin and each of them took a shot with the 12 gauge shotgun they had with resulting large big smiles on each of their faces.

I actually tried taking a photo, but all that showed up when developed and printed was a cloud of dust where the alarm clock had been sitting.

So yes, I am relating to a similar experience and the satisfaction gained.





- Patrick
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Hey Dave...

Great post and ideas from OWC. By the way, method 9 is how the US Govt destroys data sensitive hard drives after they use security software to overwrite the data 10 times.
 
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Hey Dave...

Great post and ideas from OWC. By the way, method 9 is how the US Govt destroys data sensitive hard drives after they use security software to overwrite the data 10 times.

Thanks Charlie - looks like a PERMANENT solution! :) Still awaiting an email from OWC to determine which replacement (and its cost) might work w/ my enclosure - out of town at the moment but on return, will try to take the HD apart to get at the platter(s). Dave
 
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By the way, method 9 is how the US Govt destroys data sensitive hard drives after they use security software to overwrite the data 10 times.


Our Provincial government provides the services of its “EDDIE” the Shredder (Evil Destroyer of Delicate Internal Electronics) , to the general public for those who are really concerned about any Data snooping.

No chance in **** of doing that after it's done going through the machine and you and watch a video of it working here:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...catalogue/secure-electronic-media-destruction

I believe some other places also provide public access to their electronic gadgets for disposal.






- Patrick
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Our Provincial government provides the services of its “EDDIE” the Shredder (Evil Destroyer of Delicate Internal Electronics) , to the general public for those who are really concerned about any Data snooping.

No chance in **** of doing that after it's done going through the machine and you and watch a video of it working here:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...catalogue/secure-electronic-media-destruction

I believe some other places also provide public access to their electronic gadgets for disposal.

Impressive Patrick - for a quicker look below - Dave :)
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Hey Dave...

Great post and ideas from OWC. By the way, method 9 is how the US Govt destroys data sensitive hard drives after they use security software to overwrite the data 10 times.

ANOTHER UPDATE!

Well, I ordered the same WD 1TB HDD from eBay - only $37 - came today and installed - reformatted from NTFS to HFS+ and seems to be ready to use; OWC had a faster 1TB drive but wanted $67. As to the old drive, I used Method #8 from my previous link - drilled a 3/8" hole completely through - could have done more holes but will turn into Best Buy w/ some other items for disposal/recycling - likely will see the 'media shredder', me thinks. Dave :)
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As to the old drive, I used Method #8 from my previous link - drilled a 3/8" hole completely through -


Gee Dave, I'm sure you could've done better and maybe even got some use out of the old drive like these as an example:

3 Best ideas - what can be made from an old Hard drive (HDD) | Tools sharpner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK68BTr5obs

2 AMAZING Life Hacks - Turn HDD into Lathe and sander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyieS8SGyqA&frags=pl,wn

PS: just the magnets alone are worth salvaging for all kinds of things and uses.







- Patrick
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