Hi all,
I bought a Western Digital MyBook (Essential Edition) about a month or
so ago. Set up was easy and I moved all my music to it, and also backed
up my photos. I used it quite a few times and then was out of town and
did not use it for about two weeks. Today I tried to connect it again,
and while it will show that a "external drive detected" and my device
manager shows WD as a disk drive which is functioning properly and
enabled - I am unable to access it. It does not show up on My computer
or when I try the Explore function. I have it connected now and the
light is glowing - but I cannot access it!! Please help.
Thanks so much.
I HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM! or at least this works for my my book 1tb external hard drive. when i initially connect it i get the 'new device detected' pop up thing, but then it doesn't show on my computer. However, I have found that keeping the device pllugged into the computer but removing then replacing the power source from the device causes it to show up. That's all I did, unplug the power cord on the back and replace it. The computer says 'new hardware detected' and 'found my book mass storage device,' then it appears on my my computer tab. Hope this works with you as well!
Nice simple solution: Start > My Computer (Right Click) > Manage > Storage > Disk Management > Right Click the My Book > Format > Continue to format disk, quick format is much quicker so I used that. Hope this helps. Nice to see a friendly, knowledgeable forum. Nick.
THANK YOU,THANK YOU.............THANK YOU!!!!!!
I got to the last stage of this but then it said "The partition or volume is not enabled. To enable, restart your computer" but after restarting it still didn't enable it! Do you have any tips?
I got to the point where it said to click initialize and when I did I got the message that media is write protected. Any suggestions as to what I do now ?
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Soloution #3 works. Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management then you right click on your drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Path"> Assign a unused letter. The autoplay box should show up and hapiness will naturally follow.
I have the same problem with 3 external storage drive which works on other PC, tried your method and everything goes back to normal. thanks pal, really appreciate! thinks maybe something to do with the uninstallation of EASE Partition software?? S'pore Chiam
for those using WD external drive or Passport, seems like a quality issue. mine failed a 1 and half year of use, clicking noise and nothing shows up. ended up disposing it in the trash. risk to make a claim as too many confidential info inside the storage to return to manufacturer.
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It's weird, but you need to reset the board on the HD. You can do this by following the steps below:
1) Power off the computer
2) Take out the power to the HD
3) Pull out the USB Cable from the HD & Computer
4) Put the USB cable into the computer & then HD
5) Power up the computer
6) After the computer is fully on - Plug in power to HD
Just got a western Digital Harddrive 250 External from a friend to troubleshoot. What I found was a Bad voltage regulator on board. Looking at the circuit board I noticed a very poor design. Im going to try and replace the voltage regulator, but Im thinking I will go with a different power supply. Looks like this could be the probelm!
DId you guys try and remap the drive to another drive letter under My Computer/ manage funciton/ Drive Management?? It could be using another drive that is already mapped?
All these solutions got me to the same place, in computer management / disk management , then when i right clicked on the hardrive the "assign new drive letter" was greyed out, so i just had to delete the partition, and then remake the partition, and format. Which i supose wasnt a good solution for someone who is trying to save their data, but then again i didnt need the data, i just wanted to use my harddrive. thanks again for the help!
Windows XP Pro SP3 couldn't find my WD MyBook 500GB. After disconneting and cooling of the device, it runs again for a while. My solution is instalation of a fan into the box: http://blog.belin.sk/index.php?PgId=8&Lang=En
Windows XP Pro SP3 couldn't find my WD MyBook 500GB. After disconneting
and cooling of the device, it runs again for a while. My solution is
instalation of a fan into the box:
http://blog.belin.sk/index.php?PgId=8&am...
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Check out this post on self help especially if it is the power with the system and not the drive itself. I am going to do this because when I hook up my WD 250 gb drive the drive doesn't appear on the computer, the light blinks, and i don't hear the spinning of the disk inside.
http://www.ransackery.com/western-digital-mybook-open-case-recover-data.htm
To solve the problem where the hard drive doesn't show up and it's worked before; specifically to the 'SimpleDrive' external 1TB HD I found that the only way I got mine to work again was to unplug the power source from the back of the hard drive and then plug it back in with the computer on. IMMEDIATELY it responded. I dont know why it wouldn't respond when I rebooted the computer, or replugged back in the cable that connects to the computr. I tried those ways a million times and it did't work.
I checked with disk management
drive is shown there but drive letter is not assigned then i have to assign drive letter manually
n even while transferring files it does not support long file names
Hi, I used to come across the similar problem, and my external Seagate hard drive didn't show up on my Mac. And I followed this guide to fix external hard drive not showing up: How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac
Problem SOL-VED!! (For me anyway, and I ain't no tech-head - just an Irishman who thinks a 'puter is a bag of spuds!
Like others, it would not show on 'My Computer' though it showed as 'working properly' in Device Manager. Windows 7.
My 1 TB NEW Touro Hitachi wouldn't show after I cancelled a 'partition-clone' that was in progress. Shook it, kicked it, kissed it, after I found the solution.
If you're lucky enough that it shows in Device Manager, Right Click it,
go to Properties
Driver
Uninstall it
Unplug it and re-connect it
Go to Control- Panel
Computer Management - Storage - and Disk Management
There are several windows there (lotsa blue) and I can't remember how and where, but I found the little sucker and right-clicked it, and then selected the 'Volume Simple - Basic' and that showed up in my 'Computer'. I had to rename it, as 'Touro' was replaced with the 'F' Drive of my computer - your's might be D or E - I have several internal drives, hence the 'F'.
Maybe someone can fill in the last part of this solution mentioned above (around the blue bits) but I think you'll find enough before that to take you to the recovery.
YIPPEEE!!! Let me know - John South Australia
BytheWay: I only purchased the Touro because (although more expensive) it was rated as the BEST and most reliable - then I found out the company had been taken over by Western Digital who were rated the WORST. I had one of theirs - a WD 1TB - used it once to back-up and a year later went to do a reinstall and it had died in the meantime - already out of warranty; and into the bin. [b]Never again![/b] Next time I'll take my chances with the cheapest on at the store!! :bounce:
Ya you can get your hard drive showing and recovering by this link
My HD working properly but doesn't show up in My Computer and even Disk Management..any ideas? please help
When i tried nformby's way I got to the end then it said, "The option cannot be completed because the disk is not initialized." HOW DO YOU FIX THIS?!?!?!?
It could be your usb cable i had the same problem but now i solved it by using my ps3 usb cable instead
Had a similar problem trying to hook up my external drive It was showing up in device manager but not in explorer. i followed the advice of grandin (Solution #9) and it worked straight away!!!
Same problem - the drive works fine, just doesn't assign a drive letterautomatically. Assign an unused letter manually using Disk Management,and it works great. Too bad WD doesn't post this solution for thenovices among us.
DGH9
Just acquired one of these drives going cheap on ebay and had the exact same problem. At first I was disappointed but didn’t complain too much as I thought the price was too good to be true. However, after a quick google, I discovered that it’s a common problem even with brand spanking new models so I had a little tinker and can say that Solution #4 above from DGH9 is the way forward. For those of you using XP, right click on ‘My Computer’ and select the ‘Manage’ option, then right click on the new ‘disk’ at the bottom of the screen and I can’t really remember the next steps but they must have been fairly intuitive for me to end up assigning a drive letter to the unit. As I had intended to use the drive as mobile storage between home and work I’m not too sure if I will have to repeat the process on every computer – I hope not.
Cheers.
This is a common fault with WD Hard drives, I would return it if i were you and get another.
Mine worked with soltion#9 from Grandin. thanks
Even I had a similar problem with my 500 GB WD.
When I looked at the Device Manager -> Storage -> Disk Management, i could see a volume but drive was not assigned to it. So, I assigned a drive name and my external drive started showing up.
Hope it helps.
Solution #3
posted on Apr 29, 2008 worked for me to
Many thanks
My External hard drive can't be seen any more used to see it auto or click START > COMPUTER .(vista)
Even with solution 9, i am not able to delete the partiton, please i need help i have tried all the ways is described above but all the options is greyed out such as
Change Drive Letter and Path
or delte the partition!
SOURCE: mybook essential edition
Hi, As I have responded to a similar post, this is a common problem with external storage. Based on your post/description: 1. Your laptop does not recognize the external hard drive via its USB connection - try on a different computer - if it is still a no go, then it's not a PC problem; 2. Try replacing the cable - again if a no go, so it's not an interface/cable problem; 3. That leaves you only with the WD500GB itself as the possible at fault. An external hardrive would consist of 2 main parts, the electronic board and the hard disk itself. The board seldom (if ever) fails. Its function is to provide conversion/interface from the SATA/IDE connectors of the HD to the out USB/Firewire. The HD more often than not fails. Most external storage uses a standard HD inside the enclosure. Your possible options: a. Claim warranty/replacement; b. Replace the HD only; c. Physically remove the HD and connect it directly inside a desktop either as IDE or SATA and run manufacturer's diagnostic and/or third party recovery software; d. Seek services of professional data recovery firms (if data/files are mission critical); Hope this be of some help/idea. Post back should you need further information. Good luck and kind regards.
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I am having the same issue but with a 320GB Drive! My Button Manager shows that my drive is connected, my drive shows the wonderful blue lighting, and yet I can't see this drive in "My Computer"!? Even when I "Add Hardware" the drive is saying it works properly!
I have this same problem. I can use it SOMEtimes...but when I really need to, it doesn't connect. I can't deal with this "on again, off again" functionality. Is there a solution?
My hard drive was working fine and all of sudden after a reboot it is not showing up in the disk drive in my computer. The driver are installed and the device is functioning properly under device manager. i use windows vista ultimate
same problem as first post. What do I do?
I have a WD My Book 500 GB External Hard Drive. It was working great for a few months. I uploaded about 100 gig of music and photos now I cannot access the drive. I did not back the unit up since my computer did not have enough space. Are all my photos and music lost. Does Western Digital stand by their product? Is there technical support to help? Seems like a lot of people with the same problem!! Does anyone have a solution.
I have tried to reboot, trouble shoot the drive, test the USB, test the unit on another computer. Nothing worked!!
Help!
I'M another  that has suffered the same problem.
how annoying. any way to get at the data?
same
I am having the same problem. I tried to backup my documents but instead get a message saying that cannot find external drive for backup.
My WD is only a couple months old.
My problem is the same. The only difference is: 320 G
Yep. same problem.
We bought a 250g WD external drive and haven't been able to use it AT ALL. £80 down the tubes.. It didn't even come with any installation instructions... just the box in a box. Complete and utter rip off. The laptop recognises an external device and the light on the external hard drive is lit up - just can't do anything with the thing. Can we send these things back without the receipt because they are faulty!? I use Windows 2000.
I have the same problem
PC not recognizing hatd drive spent last 9 days going through their web site knowledge base still no luck.
my WD harddisk was working.. then a power failure interrupted.. after that it is not showing the drive.. it shows on device manager and says there is no problem.. the light on HD is on.. but it doesn't show up on DiskManagement either.. so it is not that HD is mapped to incorrect Device letter.. please help
same problem
Have the same problem. Have tried most of the solutions identified previously where I can. Some people just don't understand (or is it me) that the HD is not available to reformat, change drive letter. Have been able to determine that the drive is now registered as a 2TB drive by Windows XP. Not sure how it got that way, but this is more than likely the problem.
i bought the WD hard drive of 120 gb 3 weeks ago and suddenly today it is getting connected ad the device is showing as enable in device manager but i am unable to view it in my computer.. Just mail me the resolution at the following email address :- kushal[email protected]
I have a My Book Essential 320 GB drive, I loaded up some music, and did backup's a few small important files. Now I can't access the disk. It shows up in Device Manager as WD. I have moved it to every USB port on my pc.
It still will not show up on My Computer. I am running Windows XP SP2 and I keep up automatic updates. I even hooked up to a laptop and had the same trouble.
I
On my computer, the drive is powered, blue light, etc. It shows up in Device Manager as "USB Mass Storage Device" (which is the same thing it shows up as on computer that do detect it), but does not show up in Disk Management. It obviously does not show up in My Computer. If I restart the computer while the disk is connected, the computer will not boot until I unplug the device. PLEASE HELP - posted solutions all assume that the disk shows in disk management, but mine doesn't.
The WD light is flashing and can't see it from my computer. WD was working fine, and I moved to another computer and it started flashing. I can not access the WD at all.
THE STORE DEVICE IS SHOWN AT THE DEVICE MANAGER BUT NOT IN MY COMPUTER I HAVE NO ACCESS TO IT AT ALL AND I HAVE IMPORTANT FILES THAT I NEED TO GET BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. I TRIED CONNECTING IT TO ANOTHER COMPUTER, ITS HELPLESS. PLEASE IF ANYONE OUTTHERE COULD HELP US.
Problem description:
Use to work fine, now cannot see it under My Computer or Drive Manager.
HD is seen by the device manager and declared as working properly.
When connecting to the computer, the HD now makes a series of sound which then stops after repeating the sound sequence 5 times.
The same sound sequence can be heard when the HD is powered up and the USB cable unplugged from the computer (after using the safely remove feature of XP SP2).
same problem
I used my usb hard disk many times. Today I tried to connect it again, and while it will show that a "external drive detected" and my device manager shows as a disk drive which is functioning properly and enabled - I am unable to access it. It does not show up on My computer or when I try the Explore function. I have it connected now and the light is glowing - but I cannot access it!! Please help.
Thanks so much.
I still used my External Disk yeterday and it worked fine. When I connected it today, the computer sees a new hardware but came up with an error " unknown device". The icon is not displayed in My computer.I need the information I saved in the ED badly.Kindly assist.
I bought a Western Digital MyBook (Essential Edition) about a month or
so ago. Set up was easy and I moved all my music to it, and also backed
up my photos. I used it quite a few times and then was out of town and
did not use it for about two weeks. Today I tried to connect it again,
and while it will show that a "external drive detected" and my device
manager shows WD as a disk drive which is functioning properly and
enabled - I am unable to access it. It does not show up on My computer
or when I try the Explore function. I have it connected now and the
light is glowing - but I cannot access it!! Please help.
Thanks so much.
Okay here goes...
My father in law bought the external essentials 250GB drive. He then went and loaded all his stuff on it and decided he needed more room so he deleted the Western Digital folders... bad move... he essentially removed the operating system from the thing, now it won't work at all. Any ideas on how to get these files back onto the thing so it will work?
Tom
huckfinnifkcuh 'at' yahoo.com
I have used my western digital drive to back up my computers. On one computer it works find but on the other the computer won't recongize the drive. If I plug in a thumb drive it works fine but when I plug in my 500gb hard drive into the same usb port the computer can't find it.
I've tried the "format drive" solution as suggested however I get a "cable read error" as soon as I try to run the format. I get a similar response to just about any other tool I've tried to access the drive with so I went out and purchased a brand new cable and no such luck. I'm feeling a bit frustrated here and just want my drive back. Someone on another forum mentioned they ran some spyware detector which found and fixed the prob. Apparently there was something there that didn't belong and I forget if it was a virus, mall ware or what. I'm not sure how they got it to scan the drive since it wont respond however I'm trying the same on the off chance it works however so far no such luck. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
same problem
hard disk is not detected by the system
WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?
Hi all,
I bought a Western Digital MyBook 500gb from florida about 2 and a half years or so ago. Set up was easy and I moved all my music to it, and also backedup my photos. I used it quite a few times and then was out of town anddid not use it for about two weeks. Today I tried to connect it again, in the begining on start up the wd gives a grinding noise like tak tak ..3 times and and while it will show that a "external drive detected" and my devicemanager shows WD as a disk drive which is functioning properly andenabled - I am unable to access it. It does not show up on My computeror when I try the Explore function. I have it connected now and thelight is glowing - but I cannot access it!! ...Please help.
Thanks so much.
Mine is the same problem :(
i have a simple tech external drive, i used many time. i have pictures, graphics, plugin on it.. now my computer can't find it.. i took it over the hoilday to my parents.. their computer hadno problem pluf it in their usb and it came up and i was able to view all files.. what do i do to get my xp computer to find it again.. Karen
I dropped my wd 250 gb drive and now it makes a clicking sound when the device driver tries install. My device manager says that the device is working properly. If I can't fix the drive is it possible to recover the files that are on the drive?
i can no longer read my WD My Book Essential 500GB external drive, i have alot of personal stuff (music, photos etc.) on it ...willing to pay to get files recovered from it if possible ...anyone know if this is possible?
donal
I defragged my computer's hard drive and then it automatically defragged my My Book and now I can not find my My Book on My Computer - assume all my backed up data is lost. Can anyone suggest anything?
same problem
same problem, can't detected my WD 250 GB can you help me to solve it?
My WD Essential Edition has only been powered up for three days. I was off four days, come back and it will no l onger power up.
The bad thing is, I've already transferred 300GB of stuff on it, so I cannot afford to lose it. Is there any way I can get my stuff off it so I can send it back to the company for a replacement?
Same for me only I cannot see the drive in Explorer
My 640GB mybook just stopped showing up. It's light is on and it's making the normal sounds. I tried re-installing the driver, and it saids found new hardware, but nothing shows up....I really don't want to lose the data or pay up for data recovery.
i got a western digital 250 gb external harddrive my book essentials from my bro it is detected in device managment but not detected in my computer for me to access the harddrive.
SOULTION 3 WORKS!! IT WORKS!!!!
Im having the exact same problem with my Western Digital external hard drive
wont use SD memory
cant download upgrades. not enough storage but there is 4gigs according to the device
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