Thanks very much 4WD. I'm in Adelaide tho.
The drive in question never had any deletions, only read/writes. So the storage ought be in close to pristine condition.
It's a 2.5 portable wd, acting like it's dead (maybe as you suggest, dead usb interface board).
Given I can't get any computer to even recognize it as a valid device, I can't try any data recovery s/ware.
 From what you say, only option seems very expensive specialist data recovery service (pricing at their upper end) or being brutal and giving the
bloody thing a good thump (unbelievably optimistic)
 Now, all important data IS on 3.5 drives, each backed up

for long term viewing within the family only

-tsaint (February 12, 2022, 03:52 AM)

I think long-term viewing will require at least some video

-Dormouse (February 12, 2022, 03:56 PM)

Thanks Dormouse...the "viewing" referred to viewing as in being able to read said notes. Sorry for my ambiguity.
As an aside, re video, a month ago, I purchased a new 5 TB hd and transferred a lot of scattered across many HDs "toddler" videos to it. Plan was to then get a second HD for back up.
2 weeks after the collation/consolidation the new HD died. BEFORE I backed it up :( My stupidity.
 2 reasons for not using a professional data recovery service: price, and fear of the photos and videos being onsold to paedophiles (Toddler is the cutest little girl)
Anyway, video backup is uppermost in my mind

Hi,
situation:
2 people, one old, other young mother. Old won't be around many more years, fine with computer, has a paid web hosted account.
Mother fine on android phone, not really interested in computers.
Aim:
 to easily create a (roughly daily) record of new vocab, behaviours etc of 2 year old child for long term viewing within the family only, using android/windows s/w (NO apple)
Caveats:
1. MUST be able to easily retrieve the data (to text files preferably) at a later date when old person (me) gone
2. Both people must be able to independently "post" the info - probably like daily thoughts. Her thru android phone, me thru either android phone or computer
3. In the past I've set up wordpress blogs, with ability to email posts to blog. But I'm ruling out wordpress as the mother won't be able to extract the posts from the wp database
(I know it's possible, but it won't get done if I'm not around)
4. prefer to use my hosted service for safety. I do have a (new) synology NAS but I don't know enough about it yet to know whether it might provide part of a solution
5. I don't trust commercial online services, so not looking in that direction. I want more control/ownership of the files
 Suggestions would be appreciated thanks
Tony