OK so I have just saved my data from a 4tb WD Passport drive, as I type this the data is trickling back to a safe RAID array.
The USB-super micro whatever the name is -port failed. No hope. I unscrewed the board, carefully slid a jimmy tool under the board to disconnect the "internal port" Google ***2060-800041-003 REV P1.*** I took a hot air station, got the port off the board. Then I soldered on what I needed for USB2 i.e. Red, white, green and black GND cable. Wikipedia got the pinouts if you are unsure.
What I will say is that WD uses the thinnest of layering for the traces on the circuit board. I accidently ripped the data cables (white and green) several times with the logic board traces coming with it, and had to resort to solder one cable straight to the leg of the controller chip.
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Lots of work - micro-soldering, but I am just a DIY guy who likes Rossmann repair - and I got it working.