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    I don't think you can fix this with just modifying the MBR fields. The NTFS filesystem itself on that disk is also internally calculating with 4K sectors and you have no way of adjusting that. Rescue your files (you already know how) and re-partition. It is a pain in the ***, but that is the only sure and safe way of recovering your data.
    – Tonny
    Commented Oct 28, 2020 at 14:18
  • 'Ubuntu 15.4', or better 15.04, is quite rather old and unsupported: Vivid Vervet end of life was on February 4, 2016. You may want to try (maybe on a USB pen) a more recent version. BTW it may result useful to edit your post adding the specifications of the old usb box. Maybe it is somehow still possible to emulate the hardware, install the firmware on the vritual device and give the hdd to the emulated machine with the aim to extract all as soon as it possible. Next format it again (and buy a replacement, old hardware is prone to break).
    – Hastur
    Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 12:46
  • @Hastur Yeah - I know it's old, but none of the update channels work (it looks like they've gone offline), so it's not trivial to upgrade and I don't use it enough to invest the time in figuring out how to work around this. It shouldn't matter for the purposes of this question, though. Interesting your point about emulating, but unless I'm missing something, this will result in a copy+reformat+copy back, which seems like a more complicated version of my answer, below. Nevertheless, I'll try and get the specs for the old enclosure, in case that helps anyone.
    – HappyDog
    Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 14:04
  • @HappyDog The idea of formatting is to avoid any unnecessary layers. In general you should be sure in every case that you get the correct data, now and in the future. Since it seems like it is not possible to know if the firmware has introduced anything beyond block translation, you (or anyone in a similar situation) should find the same hardware / firmware mount the disk (physically), get the data, etc. If the latter is not possible, emulate the hardware (if possible) and install the original firmware. If you can't even do that, go ahead and save the data as you can (continue).
    – Hastur
    Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 14:32
  • The problems with unnecessary layers (even if in principle handled correctly) are the general slowdown and the lack of optimization by the system. Furthermore you would have (1) the HDD firmware layer, (2) the one of the box (possibly emulated) and the one (3) of the operating system. If the central layer (2) is not longer or in any case necessary, it is better to remove it: how? Recover data, reformat HDD with new hardware and put data back. But mind that if the box hardware is already broken, the HDD hardware may also be at the limit. Backup, always.Twice. ;-)
    – Hastur
    Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 14:40