External HDD Problem

[bonoz]

This with my 500GB USB WD hard drive. So I was transferring some data to it when it gave me an error: "Cannot read; I/O error" and then I'm receiving pop-up ads "Disk-write error". Then the hard drive changed its name in my computer from "My Book". And then it sometimes would not be recognized at all, sometimes it gets recognized but again it's name is changed and I get that I/O error everytime I access it.

So is my hard drive gone? is there something I can do to recover my data? I was turning this into my back-up so there's important data on it but it's not everything. Should I consider data recovery services? if so, how do those work? should I try local recovery companies?

Thanks

 

[KurrentEweser]

It's most likely the drive is bad. To verify that it's not the controller, the drive can removed from the enclosure and connected to the PC. If it can read the drive for any length of time, transfer as much as you can ASAP.

I've heard quotes for 200gb drives being in the $2000 range. That was several years ago.