Hard Disk Data Recovery – WD Black (Logical Failure)
Case Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Client | Individual Professional (Photographer) |
| Drive Model | Western Digital Black 1TB (WD1002FAEX – SATA 6Gb/s) |
| Interface | SATA III |
| Condition | Detected by BIOS but inaccessible in Windows (“Drive Not Initialized”) |
| Failure Type | Logical Failure – No mechanical or hardware issues |
| Data Importance | 4+ years of professional photo and video archives |
| Goal | Complete data recovery without altering drive contents or performing invasive repair |
Incident Summary
Recognizing the risk of overwriting data, the client refrained from formatting and contacted Byte Guard Forensics for a safe, non-destructive recovery.
Diagnosis and Analysis
Step 1: Drive Inspection
Visual check showed no PCB burns or abnormal head noises.
SMART attributes (via PC-3000 Utility) were all within healthy thresholds.
Drive responded normally to ATA commands, eliminating physical head/platter issues.
Step 2: Forensic Imaging
A bit-by-bit forensic image was created using PC-3000 + Data Extractor to ensure recovery on a clone, not the original.
Process Summary:
Imaging performed in read-only mode.
Created bad sector map (less than 0.01% weak sectors).
Generated MD5 hash before and after imaging to confirm data integrity.
Step 3: File System & Partition Reconstruction
Tools used: R-Studio
Findings:
MBR contained invalid partition entries.
NTFS boot sector and $MFT partially corrupted.
File system recognized as RAW.
Recovery Steps:
Rebuilt MBR and partition table using Software.
Repaired NTFS metadata with R-Studio reconstruction utility.
Verified folder hierarchy and consistency.
Step 4: Data Extraction & Verification
Recovered Data:
280,000+ photos (.NEF, .CR2, .JPG)
5,600 video files (.MP4, .MOV)
40 project folders (.PSD, .AI, .PRPROJ)
Backup archives (.ZIP, .RAR)
Verification Process:
Random sampling and checksum comparison confirmed 100% data integrity.
File metadata and timestamps preserved.
Total Recovery: 992 GB (≈100%).
Step 5: Reporting & Client Delivery
Byte Guard Forensics provided a detailed Data Recovery Report, including:
Drive specifications and SMART report
Imaging logs with MD5/SHA256 hashes
File system repair methodology
Recovered directory listing
Validation summary
All recovered data was transferred to a client-provided 2TB external drive and verified on-site.
Results Summary
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Drive Model | WD Black 1TB (WD1002FAEX) |
| Failure Type | Logical / File System Corruption |
| Physical Condition | No mechanical damage |
| Tools Used | PC-3000, R-Studio |
| Total Recovery | 100% (992 GB verified) |
| Integrity Verification | MD5/SHA256 match |
| Turnaround Time | 36 hours |
| Client Satisfaction | ★★★★★ (All files intact) |
Key Technical Insights
Sudden power loss during write operations can corrupt NTFS boot sectors and $MFT records.
WD Black drives feature robust firmware, but logical metadata corruption can render partitions inaccessible.
Forensic imaging before repair prevents further damage or data loss.
Combining PC-3000 imaging with R-Studio logical reconstruction ensures high recovery success in non-physical failures.
Conclusion
Byte Guard Forensics successfully achieved 100% data recovery from a WD Black 1TB hard drive affected by logical corruption—without physical intervention.
The structured forensic workflow ensured:
Zero alteration to original evidence
Verified data integrity via cryptographic hashing
Full transparency through documentation
This case reinforces Byte Guard’s technical mastery in logical and forensic-grade data recovery, ensuring reliable outcomes for professional clients.
Tools Utilized
PC-3000 Express – Imaging & SMART Diagnostics
R-Studio – Partition & NTFS Reconstruction
Outcome
Data Fully Recovered (100%)
No Physical Repair Required
Forensically Verified & Legally Admissible
Delivered with Certified Recovery Report