Western Digital Green SATA Hard Drive Data Recovery – Buzzing Noise & Not Recognised

A client contacted Birmingham Data Recovery after their Western Digital Green SATA hard drive became unresponsive. The key issues reported included:

  • The hard drive was making a buzzing noise, indicating potential spindle motor failure or internal mechanical damage.
  • The client purchased an external caddy to test the drive, but it was still not recognized by the system.
  • A local computer shop attempted basic troubleshooting but could not retrieve the data, referring the client to our specialist data recovery team.
  • The hard drive contained important personal and business files, requiring urgent data recovery.

Since buzzing noises often indicate severe internal mechanical issues, a recovery approach was required.

Our Expertise in Western Digital Green SATA Hard Drive Recovery

With 25 years of experience, Birmingham Data Recovery specialises in:
Recovering data from hard drives with buzzing, clicking, or non-responsive issues
Repairing damaged read/write heads and spindle motors
Forensic imaging and data extraction for failing SATA hard drives

Diagnosis & Recovery Process

Upon receiving the WD Green SATA hard drive, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic assessment. The key findings included:

  • Buzzing noise indicated spindle motor seizure, preventing the platters from spinning.
  • The drive was not recognised in BIOS or any external caddy, confirming a mechanical failure.
  • No visible PCB damage, meaning the issue was internal and required a cleanroom repair.

To successfully recover the client’s data, we implemented a multi-step hard drive recovery strategy:

Step 1: Inspection & Hard Drive Component Repair

  • Opened the WD Green hard drive.
  • Identified and repaired a stuck spindle motor, allowing the platters to spin freely.
  • Replaced faulty read/write heads with donor parts from a matching hard drive model.

Step 2: Drive Cloning & Data Preservation

  • Created a sector-by-sector forensic clone of the repaired hard drive to prevent further degradation.
  • Used advanced bad sector management tools to extract as much data as possible.

Step 3: File System Reconstruction & Data Extraction

  • Repaired corrupt NTFS partitions to restore lost directory structures.
  • Extracted documents, images, multimedia files, and business-related data.

Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer

  • Conducted file integrity checks to confirm all recovered data was intact.
  • Successfully transferred the recovered data to a new external storage device.

The Result

We successfully recovered 99.3% of the client’s lost files, including:
Personal documents, photos, and multimedia files
Business files, spreadsheets, and archived projects
Emails, backups, and important application data

The client was able to restore all their critical files, avoiding permanent data loss.

Why Choose Birmingham Data Recovery for Western Digital Green SATA Recovery?

25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in hard drive mechanical failures and data restoration.
Forensic Data Extraction – Recovering data from damaged platters and read/write heads.
Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring minimal downtime and 100% data confidentiality.

If your Western Digital Green SATA hard drive is making a buzzing noise and is not being recognized, contact Birmingham Data Recovery today for professional assistance!