If that drive data can still be accessed, make a copy of everything you care about NOW. It's on its last legs, likely.
this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024
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Thank you! This is actually my backup drive and I have full copies of all the data on this drive on 2 other computers so what I'll do is get a new drive soon to replace the backup drive.
What do you think I should do with this drive?
Smash it with a hammer before recycling
Too risky, disassemble the drive, shatter the platters, then melt them down and cast the material into a marble and drop it down a borehole at the nearest quarry.
I used to use platters as coffee mats at one of my old jobs.
If it still mounts and doesn't throw any errors probably still keep it as a redundant cold storage just don't add anything to it anymore. That way if your new backup drive dies because of x reason you still have a chance to recover some data.
Edit: this is assuming its nothing too sensitive where you one want a certain amount of copies in the world and its not under warranty anymore. If it is sensitive, you can try removing the drive from the enclosure, this is called shucking, tape it up with a few layer of whatever tape you have, then either take a drill or a pickaxe to it to destroy the shiny disc of metal inside, aka the platter make sure you do this outside. If its under warranty, securely erase it and get it sent off to be replaced by WD
Thank you for bringing up warranty, it's not something I thought about since I thought this was an expected failure mode. Turns out WD authorized an RMA even though I couldn't find my receipt because it's been less than 3 years since the ship out date from their factory and their warranty is 3 years so pretty happy with that.
Aye glad to hear you have a game plan. Hope the replacement process goes smoothly
Clicking is not a good sign for a hard drive. Yup, time to replace.
Thank you! This is just a backup drive and I have 2 other copies if the data so ill get a new backup drive soon and all should be good. Can you think of any interesting uses for a drive like this now that I cant trust it?
I disassemble and retrieve the magnets, there may be other uses...
That drive is failing. You need to get the data off of it right now. It should not be used again
Thank you!
Of course.
You don’t have to drop everything you’re doing to get the data off, it’s not like the drive has minutes to live. However, you must unplug it and stop using it until you have time to move everything off of it