WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition

kjhylant · 03-17-2008, 09:36 PM

For some reason my laptop is no longer recognizing my WD portable hard drive. I have encountered the same or a similar problem with the device in the past. I resolved the last problem through reformatting the hard drive and making sure that it is plugged directly into an outlet as opposed to a power strip. I lost all my information, but it solved the problem.. temporarily. But since yesterday that same problem, or a problem with most if not all the same characteristics, once again arose.

One of these characteristics include a clicking noise coming from the hard drive itself. Also, when it is recognized by the computer, it says that the drive must be reformatted in order to use it. Currently, my computer seems to recognize its presence, but cannot make any further connection. It has been functioning perfectly well for the past few months since the last problem, and I changed nothing else about my computer which would merit such an odd problem.

Do you have any suggestions?

**Deleted090308** · 03-18-2008, 08:54 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

Have you tried another USB cable?
Try different USB ports.
Also - if you have other external drives >> disconnect them.
Is it possible to open the enclosure and mount the drive inside a desktop PC - to make sure the drive itself is OK?

kjhylant · 03-18-2008, 10:54 AM

Well I'm currently using firewire to connect it to my laptop, but I'll try switching to a USB to see if that works.
And because I have a laptop, I don't think that your second solution would work.

I'll let you know how that first solution goes.

Thanks

ssj5vegeta · 03-19-2008, 09:17 PM

Is it one of these?

If so, oddly enough, mine has just stopped working as well.

I have tried 4 different computers and still nothing. I have also tried another USB cord but still nothing. When I plug it in the computer, nothing happens. It just doesn't show up. I don't understand what the problem is, I hope I can get answers to this problem on these forums because I've been searching everywhere for the past couple of hours.

**Deleted090308** · 03-20-2008, 02:36 AM

@ssj5vegeta: Welcome to TSF. Please start your own thread to get help.

kjhylant · 04-06-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssj5vegeta

Is it one of these?

If so, oddly enough, mine has just stopped working as well.

I have tried 4 different computers and still nothing. I have also tried another USB cord but still nothing. When I plug it in the computer, nothing happens. It just doesn't show up. I don't understand what the problem is, I hope I can get answers to this problem on these forums because I've been searching everywhere for the past couple of hours.

Vegeta-- mine is actually the WD 500gb Premium Edition with the blue circle. I had a hardware profession look at it and take it apart and he couldn't get it to work. So my options are now to get a new one or to pay a professional service to get my information off it for upwards of $500.. my info isn't that important so I'm getting a new one.

Hopefully you don't have my same problem and yours can be fixed unlike mine.

03-17-2008, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
kjhylant Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition For some reason my laptop is no longer recognizing my WD portable hard drive. I have encountered the same or a similar problem with the device in the past. I resolved the last problem through reformatting the hard drive and making sure that it is plugged directly into an outlet as opposed to a power strip. I lost all my information, but it solved the problem.. temporarily. But since yesterday that same problem, or a problem with most if not all the same characteristics, once again arose. One of these characteristics include a clicking noise coming from the hard drive itself. Also, when it is recognized by the computer, it says that the drive must be reformatted in order to use it. Currently, my computer seems to recognize its presence, but cannot make any further connection. It has been functioning perfectly well for the past few months since the last problem, and I changed nothing else about my computer which would merit such an odd problem. Do you have any suggestions?

03-18-2008, 08:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition Hi, welcome to TSF. Have you tried another USB cable? Try different USB ports. Also - if you have other external drives >> disconnect them. Is it possible to open the enclosure and mount the drive inside a desktop PC - to make sure the drive itself is OK?

03-18-2008, 10:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
kjhylant Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition Well I'm currently using firewire to connect it to my laptop, but I'll try switching to a USB to see if that works. And because I have a laptop, I don't think that your second solution would work. I'll let you know how that first solution goes. Thanks

03-19-2008, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
ssj5vegeta Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2	Re: WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition Is it one of these? If so, oddly enough, mine has just stopped working as well. I have tried 4 different computers and still nothing. I have also tried another USB cord but still nothing. When I plug it in the computer, nothing happens. It just doesn't show up. I don't understand what the problem is, I hope I can get answers to this problem on these forums because I've been searching everywhere for the past couple of hours.

03-20-2008, 02:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: WD 500GB Portable Hard Drive: Issue with device recognition @ssj5vegeta: Welcome to TSF. Please start your own thread to get help.