Hi there,
since 2019 I’ve been using a Western Digital Elements Portable 4 TB for backup purposes. Today it suddenly decided it no longer wants to be mounted. It will spin up just fine, but then report I/O errors. Oddly, according to the SMART data, it says the drive is “locked” and doing a bit of research has revealed to me that this is usually the case when one has set a password, which I have not. Is it possible that the bridge chip is faulty? More importantly, is there any way to access the data without expensive specialized equipment?
Thanks in advance!
dmesg
[10229.900528] usb 2-3: new SuperSpeed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[10229.913355] usb 2-3: New USB device found, idVendor=1058, idProduct=25a1, bcdDevice=10.14
[10229.913365] usb 2-3: New USB device strings: Mfr=2, Product=3, SerialNumber=1
[10229.913368] usb 2-3: Product: Elements 25A1
[10229.913370] usb 2-3: Manufacturer: Western Digital
[10229.913373] usb 2-3: SerialNumber: 575834314443384452394A33
[10229.925346] usb-storage 2-3:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[10229.925432] scsi host6: usb-storage 2-3:1.0
[10230.932362] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access WD Elements 25A1 1014 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[10230.935187] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Spinning up disk...
[10231.955785] ...ready
[10234.003910] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Very big device. Trying to use READ CAPACITY(16).
[10234.154305] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] 7813969920 512-byte logical blocks: (4.00 TB/3.64 TiB)
[10234.154309] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] 4096-byte physical blocks
[10234.154912] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[10234.154932] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 47 00 10 08
[10234.155673] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] No Caching mode page found
[10234.155679] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[10234.235829] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.235839] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.235843] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.235846] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.235848] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.235858] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
[10234.284831] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.284833] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.284834] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.284835] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.284836] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.284838] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
[10234.284843] ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
[10234.331849] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.331858] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.331861] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.331865] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.331867] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.331876] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
[10234.378836] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.378845] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.378848] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.378852] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.378854] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.378862] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
[10234.425828] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.425831] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.425832] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.425833] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.425834] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.425837] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
[10234.425844] sdb: unable to read partition table
[10234.425863] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
[10234.481818] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[10234.481821] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Sense Key : Aborted Command [current]
[10234.481821] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 Add. Sense: No additional sense information
[10234.481822] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#0 CDB: Read(16) 88 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00 00
[10234.481823] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[10234.481825] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb, logical block 0, async page read
smartctl -a /dev/sdb
smartctl 7.5 2025-04-30 r5714 [x86_64-linux-6.18.13-arch1-1] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-25, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Western Digital Elements / My Passport (USB, AF)
Device Model: WDC WD40NMZW-11GX6S1
Serial Number: WD-WX41DC8DR9J3
LU WWN Device Id: 5 0014ee 65e93964a
Firmware Version: 01.01A01
User Capacity: 4.000.787.030.016 bytes [4,00 TB]
Sector Sizes: 512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate: 5400 rpm
Form Factor: 2.5 inches
TRIM Command: Available, deterministic
Device is: In smartctl database 7.5/5706
ATA Version is: ACS-3 (minor revision not indicated)
SATA Version is: SATA 3.1, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is: Mon Mar 9 14:32:41 2026 CET
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status: (0x00) Offline data collection activity
was never started.
Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status: ( 0) The previous self-test routine completed
without error or no self-test has ever
been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection: (12240) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: (0x1b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
Suspend Offline collection upon new
command.
Offline surface scan supported.
Self-test supported.
No Conveyance Self-test supported.
No Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities: (0x0003) Saves SMART data before entering
power-saving mode.
Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability: (0x01) Error logging supported.
General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 620) minutes.
SCT capabilities: (0x30b5) SCT Status supported.
SCT Feature Control supported.
SCT Data Table supported.
SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate 0x002f 200 200 051 Pre-fail Always - 0
3 Spin_Up_Time 0x0027 253 253 021 Pre-fail Always - 4150
4 Start_Stop_Count 0x0032 094 094 000 Old_age Always - 6889
5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct 0x0033 200 200 140 Pre-fail Always - 0
7 Seek_Error_Rate 0x002e 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
9 Power_On_Hours 0x0032 073 073 000 Old_age Always - 19742
10 Spin_Retry_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
11 Calibration_Retry_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
12 Power_Cycle_Count 0x0032 096 096 000 Old_age Always - 4854
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032 195 195 000 Old_age Always - 4446
193 Load_Cycle_Count 0x0032 150 150 000 Old_age Always - 150972
194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0022 122 100 000 Old_age Always - 30
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
197 Current_Pending_Sector 0x0032 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable 0x0030 100 253 000 Old_age Offline - 0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count 0x0032 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate 0x0008 100 253 000 Old_age Offline - 0
SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged
SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
No self-tests have been logged. [To run self-tests, use: smartctl -t]
Selective Self-tests/Logging not supported
The above only provides legacy SMART information - try 'smartctl -x' for more
hdparm -I /dev/sdb
/dev/sdb:
ATA device, with non-removable media
Model Number: WDC WD40NMZW-11GX6S1
Serial Number: WD-WX41DC8DR9J3
Firmware Revision: 01.01A01
Transport: Serial, SATA 1.0a, SATA II Extensions, SATA Rev 2.5, SATA Rev 2.6, SATA Rev 3.0
Standards:
Supported: 10 9 8 7 6 5
Likely used: 10
Configuration:
Logical max current
cylinders 16383 0
heads 16 0
sectors/track 63 0
--
LBA user addressable sectors: 268435455
LBA48 user addressable sectors: 7814037168
Logical Sector size: 512 bytes
Physical Sector size: 4096 bytes
Logical Sector-0 offset: 0 bytes
device size with M = 1024*1024: 3815447 MBytes
device size with M = 1000*1000: 4000787 MBytes (4000 GB)
cache/buffer size = unknown
Form Factor: 2.5 inch
Nominal Media Rotation Rate: 5400
Capabilities:
LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
Queue depth: 32
Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, with device specific minimum
R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 0
Advanced power management level: 128
DMA: *mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 udma6
Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns
Commands/features:
Enabled Supported:
* SMART feature set
* Security Mode feature set
* Power Management feature set
* Write cache
* Look-ahead
* WRITE_BUFFER command
* READ_BUFFER command
* NOP cmd
* DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
* Advanced Power Management feature set
Power-Up In Standby feature set
* SET_FEATURES required to spinup after power up
* 48-bit Address feature set
* Mandatory FLUSH_CACHE
* FLUSH_CACHE_EXT
* SMART error logging
* SMART self-test
* General Purpose Logging feature set
* 64-bit World wide name
* IDLE_IMMEDIATE with UNLOAD
* {READ,WRITE}_DMA_EXT_GPL commands
* Segmented DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
* Gen1 signaling speed (1.5Gb/s)
* Gen2 signaling speed (3.0Gb/s)
* Gen3 signaling speed (6.0Gb/s)
* Native Command Queueing (NCQ)
* Phy event counters
* Idle-Unload when NCQ is active
* NCQ priority information
* READ_LOG_DMA_EXT equivalent to READ_LOG_EXT
DMA Setup Auto-Activate optimization
Software settings preservation
* SMART Command Transport (SCT) feature set
* SCT Write Same (AC2)
* SCT Features Control (AC4)
* SCT Data Tables (AC5)
unknown 206[7]
unknown 206[12] (vendor specific)
unknown 206[13] (vendor specific)
* DOWNLOAD MICROCODE DMA command
* WRITE BUFFER DMA command
* READ BUFFER DMA command
* Data Set Management TRIM supported (limit 255 blocks)
* Deterministic read data after TRIM
Security:
Master password revision code = 65534
supported
enabled
locked
not frozen
not expired: security count
supported: enhanced erase
Security level high
766min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 766min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 50014ee65e93964a
NAA : 5
IEEE OUI : 0014ee
Unique ID : 65e93964a
Checksum: correct
