Data Recovery · LanCologne

How can I recover data from a WD My Cloud following a system failure?

A WD My Cloud is a small Linux system with one or two internal hard drives. If the device fails, it is often not the hard drive that is at fault, but the circuit board, the power supply or the operating system. The user data is stored on a separate partition – usually ext4; in two-drive models, it is stored in an mdadm RAID.

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Technical background

On some models, the file system uses a block size of 64 KB, which cannot be mounted directly by standard Linux systems. Consequently, attempts to read the drive on a PC often fail, even though the data is intact. Depending on the model, factory resets and system reinstallations may recreate the partitions.

What you should – and shouldn’t – do now

  • Do not perform a factory reset or system restore.
  • Do not allow the drive to be „initialised“ on a Windows PC if Windows prompts you to do so.
  • For two-plate models, make a note of the order of the slots.

Here’s how we do it

  • Removal of the disc(s) and creation of a read-only backup as a raw image.
  • Analysis of the partition table and, where applicable, the mdadm array.
  • Integration of the payload file system with the appropriate block size onto the image, followed by extraction.

Borders

  • If, in addition, the hard disk itself is mechanically faulty, the limitations associated with the specific damage to the disk apply.
  • Following a factory reset that has already been carried out, parts of the data area may have been overwritten.

Possible results

The recovered shares and folders in their original structure, insofar as the file system permits.

How we carry out data recovery

Every data storage device is first diagnosed in our own laboratory in Cologne; the diagnosis is free of charge. You will then receive a written quote and can decide whether to accept it. If you decline, you can collect the data storage device from the laboratory by appointment – there are no postage costs involved – or we will post it back to you; in which case postage and packaging costs may apply. Data is recovered from copies, not from the original – using professional data recovery hardware such as the PC-3000. If a drive needs to be opened, this is carried out on a HEPA H14-filtered clean bench. We do not offer a guarantee of success prior to diagnosis, as this is simply not possible in a professional context. Your storage device and your data will remain confidential and will not be passed on to third parties.

1Enquiries and submission by post or in person at the laboratory by prior appointment
2Free diagnosis of the cause of the damage
3Written quotation – we will only proceed once you have approved it; if you decline, you may collect the item from the laboratory or we will return it to you (postage and packaging costs may apply)
4Recovery, data verification and confidential handover

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my PC show the My Cloud drive?+
Windows cannot read the Linux file system; on some models, Linux also fails due to the block size. This does not mean that the data is lost.
Can I fit the hard drive into a new My Cloud enclosure?+
This may trigger a re-initialisation. It is safer to back up the disk before carrying out any further actions.
Does this also apply to My Book Live and My Cloud Home?+
The principle is similar, but the partitioning varies depending on the model.

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