WD Elements 1TB Drive - What size SATA? [ Edited ]

[Spyce]

A couple years ago I purchased a 1TB Elements drive (this model). About a year ago, I accidentally dropped the drive, and now my computer doesn't recognize it- I don't know exactly what happened, but the USB connector stopped working. I tried using different cords and that didn't work. It was a problem with the USB connector on the drive itself. Fortunately, the drive still works if I remove the CD-ROM drive from my desktop and put the WD drive in it's place using the SATA connection. Unfortunately (again) my desktop stopped working so I can no longer use/acccess my external drive at all.

I recently came across a nifty device- SATA to USB adapters- and I'm pretty sure this will work for what I need. The problem is I see there's all different sizes. The one I linked to says 2.5", I saw one on Amazon for 3.5". I've even seen 5.25"... how do I know which size SATA cable my drive takes? I tried looking under the product specs but didn't see that listed anywhere. Any tech gurus know?

Thanks!

[Salariel]

I'm having the same problem except I haven't tried to plug it into my DVD drive because I need it. I have a 1 TB and all my stuff is on it. Sometimes it shows up under my 'Safely Remove Hardware' but once it shows up I can't access my explorer to see if it'll show up.  I was thinking of putting in my Desktop as a storage drive but i don't know what size SATA  I need.

[Wizer]

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Spyce wrote:

A couple years ago I purchased a 1TB Elements drive (this model). About a year ago, I accidentally dropped the drive, and now my computer doesn't recognize it- I don't know exactly what happened, but the USB connector stopped working. I tried using different cords and that didn't work. It was a problem with the USB connector on the drive itself. Fortunately, the drive still works if I remove the CD-ROM drive from my desktop and put the WD drive in it's place using the SATA connection. Unfortunately (again) my desktop stopped working so I can no longer use/acccess my external drive at all.

I recently came across a nifty device- SATA to USB adapters- and I'm pretty sure this will work for what I need. The problem is I see there's all different sizes. The one I linked to says 2.5", I saw one on Amazon for 3.5". I've even seen 5.25"... how do I know which size SATA cable my drive takes? I tried looking under the product specs but didn't see that listed anywhere. Any tech gurus know?

Thanks!

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You don't know what happened?

The drive was dropped and that's terrible for the platters and the data

The drive for the elements is a 3.5 internal.. 

You can also replace the drive if it still under warranty and you have not removed from the enclosure

[-Reo-]

The WD Element you bought was the portable one right?(the link you showed was portable's one, just wanted to make sure which was the one you are using)
The  SATA to USB adapters you found, is for internal HDD use. about the HDD physical size, 2.5" is for laptop HDD use, and 3.5" is for desktop HDD use.(both are internal HDD)

so, the problem you are having now is the WD Element portable's mini USB interface are broken? or did I got it wrong?

[Salariel]

Mine is the portable, I tried calling their tech support and they're saying they don't have the information about a cable for the pins on the HDD board. According to every computer place I've taken it, it's a special SATA cable that the company makes.

[Salariel]

Also mine isn't in warranty so they can't help me anyway except to give me info on recovery agents

[-Reo-]

it's sad to say this, since it's out of warranty it can't be helped and I think it's the best for you to recover your data and get a new portable HDD. take good care with your new portable HDD.

I have the same portable HDD too, was afraid to having the same problem. and I'm much more afraid in Japan the Data Recovery wasn't support product which I bought from Malaysia.