Brand-new External HardDrive Making Clicking-noises and Not Showing Up On Computer.

YNO · 12-22-2009, 09:32 PM

I got a Western Digital My Passport 500GB Portable Hard Drive about a month ago and just today plugged it in to back up some files.
After some seconds, it started making a clicking noise(it repeated but sometimes paused), a noise a bit duller than the sound a computer makes when you click on something.
After about 2-3 minutes, I unplugged it and plugged it back in. It's not making noises now, but it still won't show up in My Computer. (I know it still turns on because of the light.)
Is it broken?

If you need any other info, let me know.

**raptor_pa** · 12-23-2009, 05:51 AM

Does it show in disk management?

YNO · 12-23-2009, 01:46 PM

It shows up in Device Manager under "Drives", but not Disk Management.
I've tried on 2 computers and 1 laptop. Same problem for all of them.

**raptor_pa** · 12-26-2009, 04:57 AM

Does it show correctly by model under drive in device management? This could be a power issue on the USB bus - does the USB cable have two type A plugs? If so connect them both, one would be for power only, one for power and data. Also do not use an extension USB cable or a cable longer than the one supplied with the drive.

YNO · 12-26-2009, 02:56 PM

Yes, it shows as "WD"
This was my first time using it so I only used what was in the box and followed the simple directions it gave me.(Which was basically to connect the hard drive to the USB, USB to the computer, go to My Computer, and I SHOULD have seen "WD")
It's portable so it's only the hard drive and a short USB cable. It turns on fine and the computer has recognized and installed it, but it will not show under Disk Management.

**raptor_pa** · 12-29-2009, 04:04 AM

Can you test this in another computer to see if it might be a USB power issue?

YNO · 12-29-2009, 01:01 PM

I have already tested it on a computer and 2 laptops. Same problem for all of them. I doubt it's a USB issue. The computers recognize that it has been plugged in. It just won't show on Disk Management for some reason.

**raptor_pa** · 01-02-2010, 07:13 PM

This sounds like an issue where the USB enclosure is being recognized but not the drive. If it's only a month old, best to return to WD for replacement - Next step to testing involves voiding the warranty unfortunately

YNO · 01-04-2010, 03:12 AM

So it's not working even though it's brand-new out of the box? How unfortunate.
I will try to return it for a replacement. If that doesn't go through well, I'll come back here and try to fix it.
Thank you for your time.

daftasabrush · 01-05-2010, 08:31 AM

If it gave clicking sounds for a while 'ticking' its usually a sign the hard drive cannot initialise. This is a faulty drive.