Question:

How can I restore a 1TB WD Elements 25A2 USB Device that is no longer recognized by my computer after a failed error-checking process?

I have a 1TB WD Elements 25A2 USB Device that contains many important files. I was playing some steam games from the device when I encountered a “Cyclic redundancy error” for each game. I searched online and found out that this error indicates a problem with the data on the device. I decided to run the “check for problems on the device” feature from Windows to fix the issue. However, during the process, my computer became unresponsive and I had to force shutdown it by holding the power button.

When I restarted the computer, the device did not show up on “My PC” and on disk management it was labeled as “Unknown”, “Not initialized” and “Not attributed”. I am worried that I have lost all my data on the device. Is there any way to recover the device and the data on it? What could have caused this problem and how can I prevent it from happening again?

Answer:

If you have a 1TB WD Elements 25A2 USB Device that is no longer recognized by your computer after a failed error-checking process, you may be wondering if you can recover the device and the data on it. The good news is that there are some possible solutions that you can try to restore your device and retrieve your files. However, before we get into the details, let us first understand what could have caused this problem and how you can prevent it from happening again.

What is a Cyclic Redundancy Error and Why Does It Occur?

A cyclic redundancy error (CRC) is a type of data corruption error that occurs when the data on a device does not match the data that was originally written to it. This can happen due to various reasons, such as physical damage, power failure, malware infection, faulty hardware, or improper handling of the device. A CRC error indicates that the data on the device is corrupted and cannot be read or written correctly.

When you encounter a CRC error while playing a game from your device, it means that the game files are corrupted and cannot be loaded properly. This can affect the performance and functionality of the game, and may cause it to crash or freeze. To fix this issue, you may need to repair or reinstall the game files, or delete and download them again.

What is the Check for Problems on the Device Feature and How Does It Work?

The check for problems on the device feature is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to scan and fix errors on your device. It is also known as the error-checking tool or the CHKDSK command. This tool can detect and repair bad sectors, file system errors, and other issues that may affect the integrity and functionality of your device. To run this tool, you need to right-click on your device in “My PC” or “This PC”, select “Properties”, go to the “Tools” tab, and click on the “Check” button under the “Error checking” section. Alternatively, you can also open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type the command “chkdsk X: /f /r”, where X is the letter of your device.

The check for problems on the device feature works by scanning your device for errors and attempting to fix them automatically. The /f parameter tells the tool to fix any errors that it finds, while the /r parameter tells it to recover any readable information from bad sectors. Depending on the size and condition of your device, this process may take a long time to complete. During this process, you should not interrupt or cancel the tool, as this may cause further damage to your device and data.

What Happens When You Force Shutdown Your Computer During the Error-Checking Process?

When you force shutdown your computer during the error-checking process, you may cause more harm than good to your device and data. This is because the tool may not have finished scanning and fixing your device, and may have left it in an unstable or inconsistent state. This can result in your device becoming unrecognized, unallocated, or inaccessible by your computer. You may also lose some or all of your data on the device, as the tool may have overwritten or deleted some files during the repair process.

When you restart your computer, you may find that your device does not show up on “My PC” or “This PC”, and on disk management it is labeled as “Unknown”, “Not initialized” and “Not attributed”. This means that your device has lost its partition information, file system, and drive letter, and cannot be accessed by your computer. To recover your device and data, you will need to use some third-party tools or professional services, which we will discuss in the next section.

How Can You Recover Your Device and Data After a Failed Error-Checking Process?

If you have a 1TB WD Elements 25A2 USB Device that is no longer recognized by your computer after a failed error-checking process, you may still have a chance to recover your device and data. However, you should not attempt to format, initialize, or create a new partition on your device, as this may overwrite or erase your data permanently. Instead, you should try the following solutions:

• Use a data recovery software: A data recovery software is a program that can scan your device and recover your data from it. There are many data recovery software available online, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Stellar Data Recovery, etc. You can download and install one of these software on your computer, and follow the instructions to scan your device and recover your data. However, you should be careful when choosing a data recovery software, as some of them may be unreliable, ineffective, or malicious. You should also be aware that data recovery software may not be able to recover all your data, especially if your device is severely damaged or corrupted. You should also save your recovered data to another location, such as another device or cloud storage, and not to the same device.
• Use a disk management software: A disk management software is a program that can manage your device and its partitions. There are many disk management software available online, such as DiskGenius, MiniTool Partition Wizard, AOMEI Partition Assistant, etc. You can download and install one of these software on your computer, and follow the instructions to repair your device and its partitions. However, you should be careful when using a disk management software, as some of them may be complex, risky, or incompatible with your device. You should also backup your data before using a disk management software, as some of the operations may delete or format your data.
• Use a professional data recovery service: A professional data recovery service is a company that can recover your device and data for you. There are many professional data recovery services available online, such as Ontrack, DriveSavers, Secure Data Recovery, etc. You can contact one of these services and send your device to them for evaluation and recovery. However, you should be prepared to pay a high fee for their service, as they may charge you based on the size, condition, and complexity of your device and data. You should also be aware that professional data recovery service may not be able to recover all your data, especially if your device is physically damaged or overwritten.

How Can You Prevent This Problem from Happening Again?

If you have successfully recovered your device and data after a failed error-checking process, you may want to prevent this problem from happening again. To do so, you should follow these tips:

• Backup your data regularly: The best way to prevent data loss is to backup your data regularly to another location, such as another device, cloud storage, or external hard drive. You can use the built-in backup feature in Windows, or use a third-party backup software, such as Acronis True Image, Macrium Reflect, etc. You should also verify your backup data periodically to ensure that it is intact and up-to-date.
• Protect your device from physical damage: You should protect your device from physical damage, such as drops, shocks, spills, heat, dust, etc. You should store your device in a safe and dry place, and use a protective case or cover for it. You should also avoid moving or unplugging your device while it is in use, as this may cause data corruption or disconnection.
• Protect your device from malware infection: You should protect your device from malware infection, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, etc. You should install and update a reliable antivirus software on your computer, and scan your device regularly for any threats. You should also avoid opening or downloading any suspicious or unknown files or links, as they may contain malware.
• Use the check for problems on the device feature properly: You should use the check for problems on the device feature properly, and only when necessary. You should not use this tool frequently, as it may cause wear and tear on your device. You should also not interrupt or cancel this tool, as it may cause data loss or damage. You should also close any other programs or processes that may access your device while this tool is running, as they may interfere with it. You should also backup your data before using this tool, as it may delete or overwrite some files during the repair process.

Conclusion

In

conclusion, a 1TB WD Elements 25A2 USB Device that is no longer recognized by your computer after a failed error-checking process is a serious problem that may result in data loss or damage. However, there are some possible solutions that you can try to recover your device and data, such as using a data recovery software, a disk management software, or a professional data recovery service. However, you should not attempt to format, initialize, or create a new partition on your device, as this may overwrite or erase your data permanently. You should also follow some tips to prevent this problem from happening again, such as backing up your data regularly, protecting your device from physical damage and malware infection, and using the check for problems on the device feature properly. We hope that this article has helped you to understand and solve your problem. Thank you for reading.