Western Digital Hard Drive Data Recovery
We recover data from internal and external Western Digital drives, from computers, laptops and NAS, with mechanical, electronic, firmware or logical faults. Our own laboratory in Carcavelos, recovering data since 2004, with an ISO 5 (Class 100) cleanroom and a success rate of 98.40% in 2025 across all services, audited every year.
Free collection request
Technical Diagnosis in 2 hours* and free collection in mainland Portugal.
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In short
Switch off the Western Digital drive and do not try to open it or replace the board. Fill in the online request and send us only the drive (external drives inside their enclosure, without the cable): collection is free in mainland Portugal. We carry out the diagnosis in 2 hours* and publish the final quote on your request page. The recovery only starts if you accept it.
Western Digital drives in the laboratory
We receive Western Digital drives from computers, laptops, NAS and video surveillance systems, and many WD external drives (My Passport, Elements, My Book). Among the internal families, the most common are WD Blue, Black, Red (NAS), Purple (video surveillance), Gold and Ultrastar.
WD drives have two particular features that change the way we work: in many external drives the USB connection is part of the board of the drive itself, and in some models the data is encrypted with a key that exists only in the microcontroller of the original board. That is why the original board is always needed and the drive is not taken out of its enclosure outside the laboratory.
The most common symptoms (clicking, a drive that does not spin, not recognised, slow, dropped) and what to do in each case are on the hard drive data recovery page. We are the only data recovery laboratory certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 in Portugal.
Faults we see most often in Western Digital drives
Burnt or damaged board, with the data key stored on it.
Clicking, a drive that does not spin, weak heads that make the drive slow.
The drive spins but is not recognised, or shows the wrong capacity.
In external drives, a broken USB connector on the board of the drive itself.
What you should never do
In WD external drives the USB connection is the board of the drive itself: outside the enclosure there is no other way to connect it.
The key that decrypts the data is in the microcontroller of the original board; with another board, the data becomes unreadable.
If it is clicking, slow or has been dropped, switch it off: every attempt can damage the area where the data is.
How much it costs to recover a Western Digital drive
* The 2 hours are counted in order of arrival and within opening hours. Drives that were opened or tampered with before arriving may need an Advanced Diagnosis, at a cost that is always stated beforehand. In some cases (when parts are needed) an initial amount is requested, stated in the quote: if there is recovery, it is deducted from the price; if there is not, it covers the recovery attempt and is not refunded. High-capacity helium drives may have a surcharge of 1,000 EUR + VAT per device, when the heads need to be replaced or the gas refilled.
We work with all brands
These are some of the manufacturers we receive most often in the laboratory.
Other devices
How it works, in 7 steps
- Online request
- Sending the device
- Diagnosis
in 2 hours* - Final quote
- Recovery and file list
- Payment
- Data delivery
The recovery only starts after you accept the quote. See the full process
Frequently asked questions
My WD external drive is no longer recognised. Can I take it out of the enclosure?
We do not recommend it. In many WD external drives the USB connection is part of the board of the drive, and in some models the data is encrypted with a key that exists only on that board. Send us the drive inside its enclosure, without the cable.
Why should I not replace the board of my WD drive?
Because the original board holds information unique to that drive and, in some models, the key that decrypts the data. With another board, even from the same model, the data becomes unreadable.
How much does it cost to recover a Western Digital drive?
The hard drive prices apply, as published on the prices page: from 100 EUR + VAT for logical faults. The exact amount is in the final quote, which you receive after the diagnosis, and the Technical Diagnosis is only charged if you decline the quote or the Advanced Diagnosis, or if the device is so damaged that no quote is possible.
Do high-capacity WD drives cost more?
High-capacity helium drives may have a surcharge of 1,000 EUR + VAT per device, when the heads need to be replaced or the gas refilled.
I have a WD Red in a NAS. Do I send only that drive?
No: send all the drives from the NAS, labelled with the position they were in. See the RAID and NAS page.
What if I accept the quote and then there is no recovery?
You pay nothing for the recovery service or anything else; return shipping costs are separate. In some cases an initial amount is requested before work starts, always stated in the quote: it is deducted from the price if the recovery succeeds and, if it does not, it covers the attempt and is not refunded. If you accept and do not pay the initial amount within 5 working days, the device goes into storage, at a cost of 1 EUR + VAT per day, up to a maximum of 60 days. After that period, the device is recycled free of charge and the storage remains payable.
Still not convinced?
See what our clients say.
Data recovery laboratory in Portugal since 2004, with a cleanroom and ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification. Your satisfaction is our priority, and that is what the more than 1,900 reviews from our clients say.
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