Hard Drive Data Recovery
WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) Data RecoveryWD20EFRX / WD30EFRX / WD40EFRX
WD Red and Red Plus drives are built for NAS environments. The most common failure is Module 32 (Relo-List) corruption causing the drive to become extremely slow or unresponsive. We frequently recover these as part of multi-disk NAS or RAID array rebuilds. We recover WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) drives using our PC-3000 system's WD module at our Austin lab.
WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) Specifications
WD Red and Red Plus drives are built for NAS environments. The most common failure is Module 32 (Relo-List) corruption causing the drive to become extremely slow or unresponsive. We frequently recover these as part of multi-disk NAS or RAID array rebuilds.
- Manufacturer
- Western Digital
- Form Factor
- 3.5"
- Spindle Speed
- 5400 RPM
- Interface
- SATA
- Capacity Range
- 2TB-6TB
- Recording Technology
- CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording)
- PC-3000 Module
- WD
Recovery Feasibility
Standard WD 3.5" procedure. Match model, head map, preamp version.
Model Numbers
The following model numbers belong to the WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) family. Check the label on your drive to confirm it matches one of these models before referencing the failure modes below.
6 models in this family
Failure Modes
Each failure mode requires a different diagnostic approach and recovery technique. Identifying the correct failure is the first step before any work begins.
Module 32 slow responding
Most common failure. Relocation List corruption causes extreme slowness. Standard SATA, no SED encryption by default.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive extremely slow
- NAS reports drive degraded
- RAID array degraded with one slow drive
Related search terms
Head failure in RAID/NAS
Frequently in RAID/NAS arrays. Vibration in multi-bay enclosures accelerates head failure.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive dropped from RAID
- Clicking in NAS
- SMART reallocated sector count increasing
Related search terms
Head Swap and Donor Matching
Donor Requirements
Standard WD 3.5" procedure. Match model, head map, preamp version.
We maintain a donor drive inventory at our Austin lab and can source additional donors when needed. Head swaps are performed in our ISO Class 5 clean bench environment.
Recording Technology
This drive uses Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). Each track is independent, making sector-by-sector imaging more predictable than SMR drives. Write operations do not affect adjacent tracks.
CMR simplifies recovery because there is no media cache layer to reconstruct. The data layout on the platters directly mirrors the logical block addresses.
How We Recover WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) Drives
Firmware-Level Recovery
We use the PC-3000 with the WD module for firmware diagnostics and repair. This handles translator corruption, service area damage, and firmware boot failures.
Firmware recovery preserves the original head assembly and avoids the risks of a donor swap. For WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) drives with firmware corruption, this is the first recovery path we attempt.
Head Swap Recovery
When the heads have physically failed (clicking, grinding, or no spin), we perform a head swap in our ISO Class 5 clean bench environment. This involves sourcing a compatible donor drive, removing its head stack assembly, and transplanting it into the patient drive.
After the head swap, we image the drive sector by sector using the PC-3000, skipping unstable areas and returning to them with adjusted read parameters. The goal is a complete clone before the donor heads degrade.
Pricing
Logical and firmware recovery for WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) drives typically costs $300 to $600. Head swap cases requiring a donor drive run $600 to $1,500 depending on head count and donor availability. Clean bench platter work, when needed, is $1,200 to $2,000.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
What is Module 32 slow responding on WD Red drives?
My WD Red is in a NAS RAID array. How does recovery work?
Why do WD Red drives fail from vibration in multi-bay NAS enclosures?
What is the difference between WD Red and WD Red Plus for recovery?
How much does WD Red NAS drive recovery cost?
Other Western Digital Drive Families
We also recover these Western Digital hard drive families.
Not a hard drive issue? We also recover SSDs, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
Hard Drive Recovery Overview →Other Recovery Services
Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
WD Red / Red Plus (Mars) drive not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.