Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: WD External Hard Drive Problem

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    WD External Hard Drive Problem

    My 160GB Passport WD External Hard drive will not open. My PC recognises that there is a devise in use USB, but it is not recognised in MY COMPUTER
    The blue power light is illuminated.

    I have changed to another computer, used another USB port, changed cables, nothing.

    Help, it contains all my old photos. Thanks for any replies.

  2. #2
    isn't trying to wind U up Shooty*'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    West Mids
    Posts
    1,411
    Thanks
    113
    Thanked
    60 times in 48 posts
    • Shooty*'s system
      • PSU:
      • Corsair Modular 620W
      • Case:
      • ThermalTake Tsunami Dream, black, windowed.
      • Internet:
      • Plus Net

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Hmmmm... unfortunately, I think you might be stuffed.

    There IS a story that, if it's due to, for example, stuck heads, if you put it IN A SEALED BAG (important part, that) in the freezer for a few hours, you might get a little bit more life out of it.

    Someone else will have to verify that for you, though.

    In the meantime: Can you feel it vibrating?
    Can you hear the disk spinning up?
    Does it make any grinding noises?
    If it is an "elite" drive, does the "knight rider" style light scroll from side to side?
    When you say you have tried other cables, I assume they're all double USB (I'm sure they are, as presumably you've got the drive to work previously)?
    Have you dropped it recently?
    What else.... if the worst comes to the worst, you could open the enclosure and try plugging the drive straight into your mobo, but that would wreck the case.
    My HTPC: Linky

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Thanks Shooty.

    Yes they are double USB cables and yes it has been operating for the last year and a half with no problems, hasn't been dropped, subject to any kind of shock, temperature or otherwise.

    It's a complete enigma, but thanks anyway for your response.

    Jobber

  4. #4
    CWH
    CWH is offline
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Cambridge
    Posts
    80
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Hi,

    Can you hear any noise from the drive when power is applied?
    If the worst comes to the worst, you could always remove the drive from it's enclosure and try a direct connection in case it's just the internal circuitry thats duff.

    Colin

  5. #5
    isn't trying to wind U up Shooty*'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    West Mids
    Posts
    1,411
    Thanks
    113
    Thanked
    60 times in 48 posts
    • Shooty*'s system
      • PSU:
      • Corsair Modular 620W
      • Case:
      • ThermalTake Tsunami Dream, black, windowed.
      • Internet:
      • Plus Net

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Is there an echo in here?
    My HTPC: Linky

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    415
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    56 times in 41 posts
    • dirky's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Sabertooth
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX8350
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • 256GB 840 PRO, 1TB WD BLACK
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 7970 MATRIX PLAT.
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec P183
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2412M

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Last ditch attempt might be worth booting a linux cd, windows is very picky on reading or not reading hdd. if you can boot into linux and then plug in the device, you might be able to mount it and grab the data from it. dmesg will show you a ton of messages no doube but atleast its worth a try

    Edit: does it click? (echo)

  7. #7
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Try taking the drive out of the caddy it nothing works, there's a chance it's just the USB interface that's broken. It will be a laptop SATA drive so you can install it like any other drive in your PC provided you have a spare SATA cable.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by CWH View Post
    Hi,

    Can you hear any noise from the drive when power is applied?
    If the worst comes to the worst, you could always remove the drive from it's enclosure and try a direct connection in case it's just the internal circuitry thats duff.

    Colin
    I can feel the vibration from the disk spinning and only when I take the cable ot of the drive will My Computer pick up the drive letter (M), but then it disappears.

    How can you remove the case enclosure without having to break it. I cannot locate any screws on the passport drive.

    What do I need and where do I plug it into if I do get the casing open?

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by dirky View Post
    Last ditch attempt might be worth booting a linux cd, windows is very picky on reading or not reading hdd. if you can boot into linux and then plug in the device, you might be able to mount it and grab the data from it. dmesg will show you a ton of messages no doube but atleast its worth a try

    Edit: does it click? (echo)
    Thanks for your comments.

    What is a Linux CD. Sorry I'm not very techy minded.
    Last edited by Jobber; 01-02-2010 at 09:59 AM. Reason: Didn't answer last question.

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by Jobber View Post
    Thanks for your comments.

    What is a Linux CD. Sorry I'm not very techy minded.
    The drive would appear to be spinning. My old SATA drive clicked and I was informed that it was a gonner, this one just whirs as it always did.

  11. #11
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    23
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    Pop the model of WD drive in google and something like "removing case". They're pretty hard to get off and if you don't know where the screws are hidden you'll break the case getting the drive out. You'll probably break the case any way but if you know where to start you're less likely to damage the drive.

    I had one of these units drop dead a couple of months back and I tried everything to access it, no joy. I finally resorted to the freezer trick that's already been mentioned and I wouldn't recommend it. Despite keeping the ice off the drive it rapidly got soaking wet when I plugged it in due to the condensation from a warm room and it made no difference to whether I could see the drive or not. I was a little reluctant to even turn it back off with all that moisture around the caddy!

    I wouldn't have been so upset if I'd had ANY warning it was going to happen and the rickety old Maxtor drive I've had about two years longer and has been hammered is still going strong.

  12. #12
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: WD External Hard Drive Problem

    WD enclosures aren't held together using screws so taking them apart can be a pain. I've took a MyBook apart without damaging it but there is a risk obviously. Here's a video I found on Youtube, might not be the best but it shows you what to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITObQxytdH4

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Broken External Hard Drive
    By r_j_k_p in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 13-07-2009, 06:36 PM
  2. Freecom External Hard Drive 250GB (usb2) £39.99 delivered
    By Mithrandir in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 09-10-2007, 03:18 PM
  3. KN8-SLI hard drive weirdness
    By Philippe in forum abit.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-03-2007, 04:55 PM
  4. External 400gb Hard Drive £149.99
    By mikerr in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 16-02-2006, 11:08 AM
  5. Looking for a Database Programmer
    By tillyoubreakit in forum Software
    Replies: 35
    Last Post: 25-04-2004, 05:00 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •