Author Topic: I have an external drive that emptied out all of the folders, help! (Read 6779 times)

MakersMarc · « **on:** June 23, 2021, 02:56:11 PM »

i have backblaze, but this is crazy, anyone have this happen? my other four externals are fine, this one has (HAD) all Charlie Miller upgrades.

dyneq · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2021, 03:38:10 PM »

What file system? Have you attempted a repair with OS tools?

MakersMarc · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2021, 03:45:08 PM »

windows 10. os tools?

MakersMarc · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2021, 03:54:16 PM »

tools say no errors

dyneq · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2021, 04:53:22 PM »

Yikes, not sure then. Do you have another Windows machine that you could connect it to? If it shows same behavior there, then it's definitely the drive.

Gil · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2021, 05:16:51 PM »

Do you have access to a Linux machine? It's purely anecdotal, but i've had some luck reading drives on Linux I couldn't on Windows 7 and 10.

MakersMarc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2021, 05:37:43 PM »

Quote from: dyneq on June 23, 2021, 04:53:22 PM

Yikes, not sure then. Do you have another Windows machine that you could connect it to? If it shows same behavior there, then it's definitely the drive.

yah, same results on another pc.

MakersMarc · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2021, 05:38:22 PM »

Quote from: MakersMarc on June 23, 2021, 05:37:43 PM

Quote from: dyneq on June 23, 2021, 04:53:22 PM
Yikes, not sure then. Do you have another Windows machine that you could connect it to? If it shows same behavior there, then it's definitely the drive.

yah, same results on another pc.

nope. thanks for the help

dyneq · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2021, 06:32:36 PM »

Quote from: MakersMarc on June 23, 2021, 05:37:43 PM

Quote from: dyneq on June 23, 2021, 04:53:22 PM
Yikes, not sure then. Do you have another Windows machine that you could connect it to? If it shows same behavior there, then it's definitely the drive.

yah, same results on another pc.

OK, so the disk is likely corrupted.

Does it show as still having the space allocated to the files? IOW, what does it show for used and total capacity? If it still shows space being used, you may be able to use one of the recovery utilities available. I've only used Acronis, but here is a thread with some other suggestions (hoping for the best!):
https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=196006.0

nulldogmas · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2021, 06:35:38 PM »

At this point Backblaze might be the best solution. I wouldn't trust that drive going forward anyway, so may as well replace it and restore it.

daspyknows · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2021, 09:39:28 PM »

I know it sounds stupid but did you check the recycle bin?

MakersMarc · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2021, 10:54:12 PM »

Thanks all, the folder had 2tb out of 5, now shows 25 gigs filled! The folders have nothing or just a track. I asked for a backblaze restores drive. I just bought the drive 11/20 and it’s 2 year warranty definitely will send it back. I didn’t even drop it.😝

Thanks a ton for all the help!

MakersMarc · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2021, 02:17:26 PM »

Quote from: daspyknows on June 23, 2021, 09:39:28 PM

I know it sounds stupid but did you check the recycle bin?

thanks Daspy, no luck. took like an hour to get a WD RMA#.

morst · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2021, 05:48:16 PM »

Quote from: MakersMarc on June 23, 2021, 10:54:12 PM

Thanks all, the folder had 2tb out of 5, now shows 25 gigs filled! The folders have nothing or just a track. I asked for a backblaze restores drive. I just bought the drive 11/20 and it’s 2 year warranty definitely will send it back. I didn’t even drop it.😝

it's an external drive?
TreeSize can help locate files, but it sounds like a defective drive that's just lost them!?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/treesize-free/9nblggh40881?activetab=pivot:overviewtab
Good thing you keep backups!

I would suggest making sure windows defender is up to date and active.

GLouie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2021, 08:29:55 PM »

Would this happen to be a Western Digital My Book NAS?

https://www.westerndigital.com/support/productsecurity/wdc-21008-recommended-security-measures-wd-mybooklive-wd-mybookliveduo

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wd-my-book-nas-devices-are-being-remotely-wiped-clean-worldwide/

https://threatpost.com/my-book-live-wiped-rce-attacks/167270/

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/mass-data-wipe-in-my-book-devices-prompts-warning-from-western-digital/

morst · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2021, 04:34:46 AM »

Quote from: GLouie on June 25, 2021, 08:29:55 PM

Would this happen to be a Western Digital My Book NAS?

That's an hell of a major issue those things have right now! That Ars Technica story from two days ago is a good find GLouie!
>On its website, Western Digital advised customers to disconnect their My Book Live devices to prevent further attacks while the company investigates the mass wiping.

however:
>Western Digital stopped supporting the My Book Live in 2015

Quote from: MakersMarc on June 23, 2021, 10:54:12 PM

. I just bought the drive 11/20 and it’s 2 year warranty

I'm guessing Marc does not have a drive which stopped being supported 6 years ago, since he just purchased it.

MakersMarc · « **Reply #16 on:** June 26, 2021, 06:21:09 PM »

I’m not too worried because I’m 99% sure I can get the vast majority of stuff from backblaze disc which is en route. And nothing on it that I recorded. Already picked up another WD 5tb $109 at Best Buy, if I get a new one from WD I’ll find a use for it. Thanks for all the help all!

jefflester · « **Reply #17 on:** June 26, 2021, 06:52:23 PM »

Quote from: GLouie on June 25, 2021, 08:29:55 PM

Would this happen to be a Western Digital My Book NAS?

https://www.westerndigital.com/support/productsecurity/wdc-21008-recommended-security-measures-wd-mybooklive-wd-mybookliveduo

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wd-my-book-nas-devices-are-being-remotely-wiped-clean-worldwide/

https://threatpost.com/my-book-live-wiped-rce-attacks/167270/

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/mass-data-wipe-in-my-book-devices-prompts-warning-from-western-digital/

Wow, that's a serious WTF situation!

MakersMarc · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2021, 11:45:19 AM »

Quote from: GLouie on June 25, 2021, 08:29:55 PM

Would this happen to be a Western Digital My Book NAS?

https://www.westerndigital.com/support/productsecurity/wdc-21008-recommended-security-measures-wd-mybooklive-wd-mybookliveduo

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wd-my-book-nas-devices-are-being-remotely-wiped-clean-worldwide/

https://threatpost.com/my-book-live-wiped-rce-attacks/167270/

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/mass-data-wipe-in-my-book-devices-prompts-warning-from-western-digital/

mine is just an external drive, but that's exactly what happened.

morst · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2021, 12:55:06 PM »

Quote from: MakersMarc on July 01, 2021, 11:45:19 AM

mine is just an external drive, but that's exactly what happened.

Holy Ned!
Was this a drive which connected via Ethernet?
Were you using any WD software to manage data or backups?

GLouie · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2021, 01:24:16 PM »

Troubling. A further reminder to me to always have multiple, full backups that are not connected to the computer. Better to have copies in several locations and/or a cloud backup. How much is it worth to you if all your data suddenly disappeared right now, be it hack, disk failure, earthquake, burst water pipe, fire, etc.?

voltronic · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2021, 08:09:21 AM »

Quote from: GLouie on July 01, 2021, 01:24:16 PM

Troubling. A further reminder to me to always have multiple, full backups that are not connected to the computer. Better to have copies in several locations and/or a cloud backup. How much is it worth to you if all your data suddenly disappeared right now, be it hack, disk failure, earthquake, burst water pipe, fire, etc.?

Also, don't trust hard drives as a long-term storage solution. See my post here:
https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=197224.msg2360201#msg2360201

MakersMarc · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2021, 01:28:04 PM »

Quote from: morst on July 01, 2021, 12:55:06 PM

Quote from: MakersMarc on July 01, 2021, 11:45:19 AM
mine is just an external drive, but that's exactly what happened.
Holy Ned!
Was this a drive which connected via Ethernet?
Were you using any WD software to manage data or backups?

no ethernet, no WD software.

MakersMarc · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2021, 01:30:09 PM »

Quote from: GLouie on July 01, 2021, 01:24:16 PM

Troubling. A further reminder to me to always have multiple, full backups that are not connected to the computer. Better to have copies in several locations and/or a cloud backup. How much is it worth to you if all your data suddenly disappeared right now, be it hack, disk failure, earthquake, burst water pipe, fire, etc.?

I have Backblaze, no way I'd go without it. And a local backup x2 of my 5tb of GD.