WD My Book 500gb not recognized

RussianCarl · 07-09-2008, 01:25 AM

Well, it seems like this may be a common problem... I have read through similar threads on this subject here but none seem to apply to my case. At any rate...

I've had a WD My Book 2.0 500gb for about 6 months now and it has worked perfectly fine... no funny sounds or anything. Well, today I reset my computer and unplugged my external while doing this. I did not think it was a big deal, but when I went to plug it back in a few hours later it was not recognized.

At first, the blue indicator light was on so I looked under Disk Management and Device Manager but it was not there. Tried 2 other USB ports and then I unplugged the HD from the power strip, let it sit, and replugged it. Blue power light flashed and did not come back on... still no recognition. I then tried it on another computer and it was not showing up either.

Next, I googled around some more and I went through various booting and rebooting sequences and made sure Plug and Play is activated. I am pretty clueless here... the only thing I can think of is that I fried the power switch in the case. I can't imagine I corrupted the data or anything else by unplugging it without ejecting first, or through the reset. But, before I open it up and void my warranty I wanted to check if there were any other ideas or things i could try.

I am running a brand new computer with XP SP3, and a EP35-DS3L if that information is relevant.

Thanks.

Carl.

vladimirb · 07-09-2008, 03:51 AM

Hey mate,
can you plug some other USB devices??? Are they recognized???
Also, try to plug an external HDD to other PC and see what will happen...
This way you will know what is wrong with your HDD...
Report back please...

RussianCarl · 07-09-2008, 09:33 AM

Yes, other USB devices work on this computer. And no, the hard drive does not work when plugged into other computer USB ports. Ugh.

Deleted090308 · 07-09-2008, 10:46 AM

Hi,
The external WD's, for some reason, don't like power strips/surge protection.
Have you tried plugging it directly to the wall?
Also - try another USB cable.

RussianCarl · 07-09-2008, 11:49 AM

Tried both already, and even went and tried to plug it into a 3rd computer. Very odd but I still am leaning towards a power problem.

Any guides on how to open this sucker up? I have found ones for the previous version with green button, but i have the Essential with no power switch and the blue light in front. I have to imagine there are some push pins holding it together, but nothing easily visible. I'd like to open it up and try to fix it without destroying it so I can still RMA it possibly.

Any guides on that end?

Deleted090308 · 07-09-2008, 09:44 PM

Try this (I know it's for a My book premium): http://www.instructables.com/id/STCE6MFFC73C3DO/

2xM · 07-25-2008, 01:09 AM

I've got the same problem with my WD MyBook 500GB. I tried to plug it to other computers, other cables, took it out of the case and plug it directly and still nothing. It sounds like it doesnt's spin as it should - in my computer it shows up and then immediately it disapperars..if that. I really don't know what to do and since the disc was nearly full it is a big problem for me :(

btw: I bought it 6-ish moths ago

vladimirb · 07-25-2008, 01:23 AM

Hey 2xM it is better to open your own thread mate...
Try to plug it to other PC...
Take it out from HDD case and try manually to plug it to PC...
maybe HDD case is faulty...

07-09-2008, 01:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
RussianCarl Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	WD My Book 500gb not recognized Well, it seems like this may be a common problem... I have read through similar threads on this subject here but none seem to apply to my case. At any rate... I've had a WD My Book 2.0 500gb for about 6 months now and it has worked perfectly fine... no funny sounds or anything. Well, today I reset my computer and unplugged my external while doing this. I did not think it was a big deal, but when I went to plug it back in a few hours later it was not recognized. At first, the blue indicator light was on so I looked under Disk Management and Device Manager but it was not there. Tried 2 other USB ports and then I unplugged the HD from the power strip, let it sit, and replugged it. Blue power light flashed and did not come back on... still no recognition. I then tried it on another computer and it was not showing up either. Next, I googled around some more and I went through various booting and rebooting sequences and made sure Plug and Play is activated. I am pretty clueless here... the only thing I can think of is that I fried the power switch in the case. I can't imagine I corrupted the data or anything else by unplugging it without ejecting first, or through the reset. But, before I open it up and void my warranty I wanted to check if there were any other ideas or things i could try. I am running a brand new computer with XP SP3, and a EP35-DS3L if that information is relevant. Thanks. Carl.

07-09-2008, 03:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
vladimirb Hardware Team Tech Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Posts: 1,292 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003 My System	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Hey mate, can you plug some other USB devices??? Are they recognized??? Also, try to plug an external HDD to other PC and see what will happen... This way you will know what is wrong with your HDD... Report back please... __________________ Realm: Bronze Dragonflight - EU Undead Rogue --- Level 70 --- Spec: Combat Orc Shaman --- Level 70 --- Spec: Elemental Tauren Warrior --- Level 70 --- Spec: Protection Troll Priest --- Level 57 --- Spec: Shadow

07-09-2008, 09:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
RussianCarl Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Yes, other USB devices work on this computer. And no, the hard drive does not work when plugged into other computer USB ports. Ugh.

07-09-2008, 10:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,292 OS: Xp	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Hi, The external WD's, for some reason, don't like power strips/surge protection. Have you tried plugging it directly to the wall? Also - try another USB cable.

07-09-2008, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
RussianCarl Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Tried both already, and even went and tried to plug it into a 3rd computer. Very odd but I still am leaning towards a power problem. Any guides on how to open this sucker up? I have found ones for the previous version with green button, but i have the Essential with no power switch and the blue light in front. I have to imagine there are some push pins holding it together, but nothing easily visible. I'd like to open it up and try to fix it without destroying it so I can still RMA it possibly. Any guides on that end?

07-09-2008, 09:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,292 OS: Xp	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Try this (I know it's for a My book premium): http://www.instructables.com/id/STCE6MFFC73C3DO/

07-25-2008, 01:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
2xM Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Vista Business SP1	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized I've got the same problem with my WD MyBook 500GB. I tried to plug it to other computers, other cables, took it out of the case and plug it directly and still nothing. It sounds like it doesnt's spin as it should - in my computer it shows up and then immediately it disapperars..if that. I really don't know what to do and since the disc was nearly full it is a big problem for me :( btw: I bought it 6-ish moths ago

07-25-2008, 01:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
vladimirb Hardware Team Tech Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Posts: 1,292 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003 My System	Re: WD My Book 500gb not recognized Hey 2xM it is better to open your own thread mate... Try to plug it to other PC... Take it out from HDD case and try manually to plug it to PC... maybe HDD case is faulty... __________________ Realm: Bronze Dragonflight - EU Undead Rogue --- Level 70 --- Spec: Combat Orc Shaman --- Level 70 --- Spec: Elemental Tauren Warrior --- Level 70 --- Spec: Protection Troll Priest --- Level 57 --- Spec: Shadow