Western Digital is not recognized [Solved/Closed]
abzy.P -
Apr 11, 2009 at 11:21 AM - Latest reply: yonghao - Feb 19, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Related:
- Wd my book not recognized
- Wd external hard drive not recognized - Best answers
- Wd hard drive not recognized - Best answers
- WD Mybook not recognized ✓ - Forum - Hard Drive/SSD
- Western Digital 1TB External Hard Drive Not Recognized by PC ✓ - Forum - Hard Drive/SSD
- WD 1tb my book elite not detected on th laptop - Forum - Hard Drive/SSD
- WD My Book Studio Not recognized [Solved] - Windows - Forum - Windows
- WD My Book Essential only recognize in Mac Products - Forum - Hard Drive/SSD
93 replies
Best answer
Hey guys,
My laptop stopped recognizing WD Passport with a letter drive in Explorer. The device was listed as working properly in Device Manager. After calling the tech support, they were really helpful in solving my problem with following steps (Vista Home):
1. Explorer - right click on Computer - Manage
2. Disk Management in left window
3. In lower portion of middle window find your external drive (maybe Disk 1). Try disconnecting and reconnecting USB cable to identify if having difficulties.
4. Right click inside a white rectangular block - Change Drive Letter
5. Assign a different letter (ex: P)
Should be visible in the Explorer as new letter drive.
Good luck.
My laptop stopped recognizing WD Passport with a letter drive in Explorer. The device was listed as working properly in Device Manager. After calling the tech support, they were really helpful in solving my problem with following steps (Vista Home):
1. Explorer - right click on Computer - Manage
2. Disk Management in left window
3. In lower portion of middle window find your external drive (maybe Disk 1). Try disconnecting and reconnecting USB cable to identify if having difficulties.
4. Right click inside a white rectangular block - Change Drive Letter
5. Assign a different letter (ex: P)
Should be visible in the Explorer as new letter drive.
Good luck.
has helped 1698 users this monthView all 8 comments
Report
Thank you Michael, I have so many network drives mapped that my passport took one already mapped
Report
You r the boss.....worked like a charm.
Report
Thanks Michael.Saves a lot of time!!!
Report
Thank you. It works just fine now.
Report
Respond to yonghao
Thanks a lot
Go to Western Digital Site and in downloads there is a software for diagnosis. Download it and run tests on your disk. It will give the test result and the problem also. Most probably your disk connecting cable may be damaged. Kindly replace it with another one and check it. You will get solution.
The instructions in the manual are not clear. The drive is not recognized because it is mapped to the E or F drive. You need to do these steps"
- right click on My Computer and click Manage.
- Click Disk Management
- Select the WD Device and change the drive it is mapped to. Change it to anything else like P or M.
- Then bring up the windows explorer and My Computer. You should be able to see the P or M drive there now and you should be able to drag and drop files.
Note that the above will work only if VCD is enabled. To do enable VCD you will have to bring up the main window that comes up when you initially plug the HD in, go to the right most tab and choose Security. You can set the VCD to enable there.
- right click on My Computer and click Manage.
- Click Disk Management
- Select the WD Device and change the drive it is mapped to. Change it to anything else like P or M.
- Then bring up the windows explorer and My Computer. You should be able to see the P or M drive there now and you should be able to drag and drop files.
Note that the above will work only if VCD is enabled. To do enable VCD you will have to bring up the main window that comes up when you initially plug the HD in, go to the right most tab and choose Security. You can set the VCD to enable there.
Hey guys.
I have a WD My book home edition (WD 5000AAC External USB Device). It's one of the older HD's. the cable that connects it to the computer has an USB port from one side and ... some other ending from the other (the HD end side). I have Win7 on 2 machines. the HD works great on my 3.5 year old laptop, but it is not detected on my new PC. I can't just 'swap cables' because the ending is ... 'unique'. Any ideas?
Thanks
I have a WD My book home edition (WD 5000AAC External USB Device). It's one of the older HD's. the cable that connects it to the computer has an USB port from one side and ... some other ending from the other (the HD end side). I have Win7 on 2 machines. the HD works great on my 3.5 year old laptop, but it is not detected on my new PC. I can't just 'swap cables' because the ending is ... 'unique'. Any ideas?
Thanks
GOOD NEWS ! I found out the problem....
It seems windows 7 doesn't understand its own permission system for ext drives. If u had any kind of permission (Normally turned on from having a password on a user account) then windows 7 can't see in the drive and will only let u reformat it.
Lucky its very easy to fix as long as u have a 2nd computer with xp/vista installed.
First of all check that in control panel - folder options - view tab. at the bottom of the list make sure use simple file sharing is not ticked.
now
Plug the drive in on the 2nd computer, go to my computer, right click properties, go to the security tab, (vista uses will have to click edit) add a new permission... type "everyone" and set to full access... Apply the setting this will take some time depending on data.... now plug the drive in your windows 7 PC and be amazed that the data is all there....
I'm surprised Microsoft have made a mistake like this because there windows xp upgrade requires a ext drive to save your data.
Keep in mind that this will not fix damaged hardware.
It seems windows 7 doesn't understand its own permission system for ext drives. If u had any kind of permission (Normally turned on from having a password on a user account) then windows 7 can't see in the drive and will only let u reformat it.
Lucky its very easy to fix as long as u have a 2nd computer with xp/vista installed.
First of all check that in control panel - folder options - view tab. at the bottom of the list make sure use simple file sharing is not ticked.
now
Plug the drive in on the 2nd computer, go to my computer, right click properties, go to the security tab, (vista uses will have to click edit) add a new permission... type "everyone" and set to full access... Apply the setting this will take some time depending on data.... now plug the drive in your windows 7 PC and be amazed that the data is all there....
I'm surprised Microsoft have made a mistake like this because there windows xp upgrade requires a ext drive to save your data.
Keep in mind that this will not fix damaged hardware.
For the rest of you follow this link from Microsoft 'A computer that is running Windows XP cannot detect a USB flash drive, an Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive' (which worked for my PC) or buy a Mac, which worked best for me all round!
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196/en-us
Geoffrey... play nicely with the other children.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196/en-us
Geoffrey... play nicely with the other children.
This worked for me. Only one of the values was there, I deleted this one (the upperfilters) and it works fine now.
My problem started after I tried using the HD on my work Mac, (which didn't work), then when I went back to my personal PC it wasn't recognised. Strangely the HD also wasn't recognised on my boyfriend's PC, but after doing the registry fix on my PC only it now works fine on his PC again.
My problem started after I tried using the HD on my work Mac, (which didn't work), then when I went back to my personal PC it wasn't recognised. Strangely the HD also wasn't recognised on my boyfriend's PC, but after doing the registry fix on my PC only it now works fine on his PC again.
The link title exactly describes my problem - ie WD HDD cant be found. But the FixIt button within that page is for fixesof problems with DVD/CD - when I could not find a Fix it specifically relating to the Ext HDD USB etc I tried the DVD/CD fix. Nup. Wasnt the problem, so didnt fix it. So where is the Fix It you people have used for the missing Ext HDD coz that link doesnt go there for me!
I'm betting that your hub was externally powered.
A standard USB port is current limited to 500mA. However a 2.5" drive typically requires around 800mA during startup and 400mA thereafter. Some USB ports are OK with this, while others are not.
You can get around this limitation with a Y-cable that picks up power from two USB ports. Learn what is Y cable here http://www.google.com/...
A standard USB port is current limited to 500mA. However a 2.5" drive typically requires around 800mA during startup and 400mA thereafter. Some USB ports are OK with this, while others are not.
You can get around this limitation with a Y-cable that picks up power from two USB ports. Learn what is Y cable here http://www.google.com/...
Ok the problem is the formatting. Number one what you need to do is take out what is in your WD transfer it to which computer can recognize it. Once the WD is empty you need to format that. I know how to do it on MAC but with windows I have not tried. With WD they do have a website and it's free when you call them. They will guide you how to format that on the phone. Once you have done the proper format you can use the WD to any computer. ANY. try to check the website to get the number for technical support.
Or you can format that onto a mac computer. here is how you do it. If using mac to format:
Click on Macintosh HD
Click on Application
Choose Utilities
Double click on Disk Utility
Click on your WD e.g 320.07 GB WD etc.
Click on Partition Tab.
Choose Partition 1 on the drop down below
You can rename your WD to anything
Click on Format option and Choose MS-DOS (FAT) not big woman ok.
click option below and Tick Master Booth Record
Then Click Apply:
You will notice on the desktop the WD will change name. That indicates that the format is done and you can use your WD to any computer... hope this help.
Or you can format that onto a mac computer. here is how you do it. If using mac to format:
Click on Macintosh HD
Click on Application
Choose Utilities
Double click on Disk Utility
Click on your WD e.g 320.07 GB WD etc.
Click on Partition Tab.
Choose Partition 1 on the drop down below
You can rename your WD to anything
Click on Format option and Choose MS-DOS (FAT) not big woman ok.
click option below and Tick Master Booth Record
Then Click Apply:
You will notice on the desktop the WD will change name. That indicates that the format is done and you can use your WD to any computer... hope this help.
THAT IS IT!!!
I used the cable that came with my blackberry phone and presto.. it works!!!!
the cord could have gotten changed or misplaced, ect.. but the answer after hours of trying,, it was the cord. the really strange thing is that the "bad cord" worked on vista and XP. just not windows 7.
I can even replicate the problem again and again, grab the "bad" cord, plug into my vista laptop, it works, plug into windows 7 Nothing, it doesn't even see the drive although the drives power lights come on.
change the cord to the "good" cord, and it works on vista, xp, and 7
I used the cable that came with my blackberry phone and presto.. it works!!!!
the cord could have gotten changed or misplaced, ect.. but the answer after hours of trying,, it was the cord. the really strange thing is that the "bad cord" worked on vista and XP. just not windows 7.
I can even replicate the problem again and again, grab the "bad" cord, plug into my vista laptop, it works, plug into windows 7 Nothing, it doesn't even see the drive although the drives power lights come on.
change the cord to the "good" cord, and it works on vista, xp, and 7
Hey Geoff,
Stop being a douche.
That being said and done, I have the same problem with my WD external HD. Sometimes when my computer restarts or shuts down for any reason, it stops reading it. If left alone, it suddenly recognizes it, but only after several hours. This doesn't help, but may help someone ultimately determine what is going on with this P.O.S. hard drive.
Stop being a douche.
That being said and done, I have the same problem with my WD external HD. Sometimes when my computer restarts or shuts down for any reason, it stops reading it. If left alone, it suddenly recognizes it, but only after several hours. This doesn't help, but may help someone ultimately determine what is going on with this P.O.S. hard drive.
Hopefully this can help.
I was using my WD passport my parents computer like normal. Then I connected it to my own new eeepc which started to installing the device etcetc. but it wasnt showing up as normal, it only said "local disc (E:)" for example.
So It wanted me to format and my computer was really slow during the time.. Really annoying. What I did was I went to device manager and I uninstalled it (USB mass harddrive device(?) under the USB tab) like 2-3 times and during these tries I switched USB ports and tested with everyone of them. Suddenly I got both the "format this disc before use" and the screen for "How do you want to open this disc" so. Ofcourse I quickly copied everything on it to my desktop and now Im looking in to it further. Hopefully this was just a case of "bad disconnection" between my parents computer and my own. Always use safe remove before disconnecting.
If this doesn't work. connect the non working external drive and go to device manager where you change its drive letter. "Drive letter and paths" or something, I cant really remember right now. Hope this helps.
I was using my WD passport my parents computer like normal. Then I connected it to my own new eeepc which started to installing the device etcetc. but it wasnt showing up as normal, it only said "local disc (E:)" for example.
So It wanted me to format and my computer was really slow during the time.. Really annoying. What I did was I went to device manager and I uninstalled it (USB mass harddrive device(?) under the USB tab) like 2-3 times and during these tries I switched USB ports and tested with everyone of them. Suddenly I got both the "format this disc before use" and the screen for "How do you want to open this disc" so. Ofcourse I quickly copied everything on it to my desktop and now Im looking in to it further. Hopefully this was just a case of "bad disconnection" between my parents computer and my own. Always use safe remove before disconnecting.
If this doesn't work. connect the non working external drive and go to device manager where you change its drive letter. "Drive letter and paths" or something, I cant really remember right now. Hope this helps.
Hello sir
i purchased wd 1 hard disk500GB from Chadni chowk (shoping name Arihant Infotech ltd ,kolkata) market one month ago.now it stop working,when power on it makes sound but my pc is not recognising it.plz solve my problem ,After 7days over iam complain loged ( RMA No. 820 353 66 & CASE ID : WD 07xxxxxx ) but atpresent not received my hard disk / no exchenge when am contract in your customercare phone number more time answering called mode "After our technician contract shortly " iam wait for your customercare called but one hours over not respond.
iam AWAIT FOR YOUR VERY BAD SERVICE. When your technician receive my hard disk !
I Hope don't purchege your WD hard disk ANY PERSONS .... VERY VERY VERY VERY BAD SERVICE ..
Thanking you
Rgds
Rana sen gupta
9051086030
i purchased wd 1 hard disk500GB from Chadni chowk (shoping name Arihant Infotech ltd ,kolkata) market one month ago.now it stop working,when power on it makes sound but my pc is not recognising it.plz solve my problem ,After 7days over iam complain loged ( RMA No. 820 353 66 & CASE ID : WD 07xxxxxx ) but atpresent not received my hard disk / no exchenge when am contract in your customercare phone number more time answering called mode "After our technician contract shortly " iam wait for your customercare called but one hours over not respond.
iam AWAIT FOR YOUR VERY BAD SERVICE. When your technician receive my hard disk !
I Hope don't purchege your WD hard disk ANY PERSONS .... VERY VERY VERY VERY BAD SERVICE ..
Thanking you
Rgds
Rana sen gupta
9051086030
Hi Guys
I have the WD passport Elite 250gb.Had not used it for about a month,went to use it on my XP PC and as many others PC would not recognise it at all.
So put it straight on my Dell netbook and it worked straight same usb lead. Tried all sorts including those mentioned on here with the exception of external powered usb .Nothing worked.
So today off to Staples bought a Belkin external powered usb hub,asked if I could bring it back if it didnt work,no probs with that.Fired it up plugged the HD in and it fired up straight away.
Tried it back in the built in usb's no luck back in the belkin usb and again working.
FRom what I have read this is a major issue with these and has caused a lot of people problems.
I have the WD passport Elite 250gb.Had not used it for about a month,went to use it on my XP PC and as many others PC would not recognise it at all.
So put it straight on my Dell netbook and it worked straight same usb lead. Tried all sorts including those mentioned on here with the exception of external powered usb .Nothing worked.
So today off to Staples bought a Belkin external powered usb hub,asked if I could bring it back if it didnt work,no probs with that.Fired it up plugged the HD in and it fired up straight away.
Tried it back in the built in usb's no luck back in the belkin usb and again working.
FRom what I have read this is a major issue with these and has caused a lot of people problems.
I fixed that problem with a WDC My Book Home 1TB in Windows 7:
The drive was recognized in computer management and in device manager but no drive letter was allocated while connected with a e-sata cable.
1.in computer management > storage > disk management
2.rightclick drive 1 or wathever the number of the WDC drive (which should be basic at this time)
3.select 'convert to dynamic disk'
4.drive should get a drive letter
5.format (warning: all data get lost, but you can download original software from wdc.com)
Succes!
Olivier
The drive was recognized in computer management and in device manager but no drive letter was allocated while connected with a e-sata cable.
1.in computer management > storage > disk management
2.rightclick drive 1 or wathever the number of the WDC drive (which should be basic at this time)
3.select 'convert to dynamic disk'
4.drive should get a drive letter
5.format (warning: all data get lost, but you can download original software from wdc.com)
Succes!
Olivier
Hey, I got the solution. I was having the problem because of old motherboard, which doesnt support high speed WD usb harddisk. WD portable harddisk has much more rotations (i guess 75 rpm) which is not supported by some low perfoming motherboards.
Even sometimes, it can detect ur harddrive, as you restart your pc by disconnecting the USB mouse or USB keybard, in some cases. As these devices shares the USB power output with connected usb harddrive its unsufficient for portable harddisk, if your motherboard is old (and even SMPS output voltage is low).
Even sometimes, it can detect ur harddrive, as you restart your pc by disconnecting the USB mouse or USB keybard, in some cases. As these devices shares the USB power output with connected usb harddrive its unsufficient for portable harddisk, if your motherboard is old (and even SMPS output voltage is low).