Western Digital (WD) has launched an investigation into potential issues with some older hard drives following alerts published by data recovery specialists. Reports point to firmware-related effects that, in certain scenarios, could lead to complete drive failures. The company has confirmed that their engineering teams are already working to determine the scope and details of the reported cases and has urged affected customers to contact official support.
WD’s move comes in a delicate context for consumer storage reliability. In its statement, the company emphasizes that trust and reliability are pillars of its brand and promises transparency as the investigation progresses. The reaction contrasts with recent episodes involving its former subsidiary SanDisk—which related to USB SSDs with data loss—where, according to some analysts, communication was lacking for weeks.
Which models are under suspicion (and which are not)
Reports suggest disks up to 6 TB based on an internal platform known as VeniceR and employing SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology. Simply put, these are older models that are no longer manufactured, although old stock might still appear in certain stores. This is why it’s recommended to carefully verify the exact model before purchasing WD units ranging from 2 to 6 TB in retail channels.
Conversely, WD excludes impact on the WD Purple family, which is built on a different technical foundation. These drives—aimed at video surveillance—are not part of the current investigation’s scope.
Why SMR is different (and where it might fail)
The shingled magnetic recording (SMR) method increases data density by partially overlapping tracks. This overlap requires a more complex firmware management layer: translation and data placement tables that log which track and sector each fragment resides in after rewrites and internal reorganizations.
When everything functions properly, the user won’t notice this added complexity. But if something gets out of sync—for example, errors in the tables or during consolidation processes—symptoms emerge:
- Abnormal latencies when reading/writing.
- Pending sectors or integrity errors that grow over time.
- In the worst case, irrecoverable failure of the drive.
The cases reported by data recovery specialists point precisely to side effects related to this logical layer—not to a single physical batch—hence WD refers to firmware investigations rather than an isolated mechanical defect.
Are these drives still being sold? Risks of “old stock”
Although WD emphasizes that affected models are no longer in production, in the storage market it’s common for remanent or refurbished stock to appear intermittently. In this case, various stores still list references consistent with the low-profile under investigation. The practical recommendation for those needing to purchase now is:
- Check the exact model (not just the “series” or “family”).
- Verify the recording technology (SMR vs. CMR) whenever possible.
- Prefer recent units with updated firmware and known manufacturing date.
What to do if you already own a potentially affected drive
The first advice is operational caution: if you suspect , do not force the drive with destructive tests or aggressive tools, as this might accelerate damage. From there, a minimal plan:
- Immediate backups. Prioritize irreplaceable data. If the drive is still accessible, migrate its contents to another solution (internal CMR/SSD or reliable external drive).
- SMART review. Check indicators like reallocated sectors, read errors, and abnormal response times. Any upward trend is a warning sign.
- Firmware. Check if official updates are available and whether WD publishes specific tools within the investigation framework.
- WD Support. In case of failure, open a ticket with the manufacturer. Remember that RMA processes do not recover data: if data is critical, consider a professional recovery service before manipulating the drive.
Important: even with manufacturer support, lost data may be unrecoverable. Prevention—through backups and rotation—is the only true guarantee.
SMR vs. CMR: a useful reminder
- CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) writes non-overlapping tracks, simplifying random rewrites and reducing dependency on complex translation logic.
- SMR overlaps tracks to increase density. In exchange, rewrites and updates can involve more costly internal reassignments, especially under mixed or continuous workloads.
Both technologies have their place, but it’s advisable to align them with actual use cases: sequential archiving or backups tolerate SMR better; active systems with many random writes tend to work better with CMR. In any case, firmware and its maturity make the difference.
Implications of the investigation for the end user
In the short term, likely no immediate recall: WD will first determine which models, firmware versions, and usage conditions are behind the failures. In the medium term, patches or replacement programs may arrive if a strong correlation between firmware and failure is established. Meanwhile, the best defense remains data hygiene:
- 3-2-1 strategy (three copies, two different supports, one off-site).
- Periodic restoration checks (a backup that can’t be read isn’t a backup).
- Health monitoring (SMART, logs) and preventive replacement throttles on units with years of service.
What if I need to buy a 2 to 6 TB drive today?
- Specify the exact model in the product description and avoid vague references.
- Prefer CMR if your workload is varied and persistent (home servers, multitasking NAS, containers, etc.).
- If selecting SMR for price/capacity, verify manufacturing year, firmware, and the return policy of the store.
- Do not mix disparate units within the same logical volume without a plan: differences in performance/firmware complicate resilience.
What’s next: transparency and corrective actions
It’s now WD’s move. The company has taken the first step with an internal technical review and a public commitment to clarify scope and cause. The user community—and especially data recovery professionals who raised the alert—will closely monitor:
- If new firmware updates are released and what improvements they include.
- If specific models/series are targeted with part number markers.
- If a replacement program or warranty extension is implemented for verified cases.
Recent industry experience shows that early and detailed communication prevents confusion and—most importantly—reduces losses for end customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which WD drives might be affected?
Based on initial reports and the company’s response, the focus is on older models of 2 to 6 TB with SMR technology built on the VeniceR platform. WD Purple is not included due to differing technical foundations. These investigated models are no longer manufactured, but could still appear as stock.
How can I tell if my drive is SMR or CMR?
Check the full reference of the product and the spec sheet from the manufacturer. If the store doesn’t specify, ask in writing. For older drives, online listings and technical forums can provide guidance, but the definitive confirmation must come from the official datasheet.
Can I lose data even if my drive “seems” to function?
Yes. Firmware and translation table issues can accumulate silently until causing a sudden failure. That’s why it’s advisable to migrate critical data to another drive and implement backups as soon as possible if your model fits the low-profile profile under review.
What do you recommend doing right now?
- Backup essential data. 2) Check SMART for anomalies. 3) Look for firmware updates and support channels from WD. 4) Avoid destructive tests if instability is suspected; if data is critical, contact a professional service before manipulating the drive.
Sources: Western Digital’s statement on the investigation into old SMR drives; reports and observations from data recovery specialists (030 Data Recovery); public product documentation on WD families and SMR/CMR technologies.