My WD My Passport isn't recognised by my laptop.

[giddyup]

I bought a WD My Passport external HD around 12 months ago and loaded up all my photos and files that I wanted to backup. A week ago Windows 7 failed and I had to get a local computer shop to install a new Windows 7, consequently I lost everything I had on my laptop. Thinking that I could recover all the photos I plugged in My Passport but the computer fails to recognise it. I can see it under Devices with a small triangle and an i inside it, but it doesn't show up under "Hard Disk Drives", sso I can't access it. I took the laptop and the HD back to the shop that installed the new Windows 7 and the guy said that the WD HD has failed. I only used the damn thing once and it cost the better part of 2000 baht, what would cause it to fail, and is all my info lost forever?

[MaeJoMTB]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

PS

In had a WD usb drive fail after several years non use.

They do like to spin a bit.

Edited October 12, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[giddyup]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

The guy in the shop already plugged it into another computer, that's how he knew it wasn't working. What is removing the HD from the cover going to achieve and why has a brand new HD failed?

[MaeJoMTB]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

The guy in the shop already plugged it into another computer, that's how he knew it wasn't working. What is removing the HD from the cover going to achieve and why has a brand new HD failed?

You don't know the HD has failed.

The HD might be working, and the USB interface in the WD box failed.

Not to mention,

the WD passport has a 1 year warranty.

The hd inside the box may well have a 3 year warranty, so you can get it replaced free.

Edited October 12, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[giddyup]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

The guy in the shop already plugged it into another computer, that's how he knew it wasn't working. What is removing the HD from the cover going to achieve and why has a brand new HD failed?

You don't know the HD has failed.

The HD might be working, and the USB interface in the WD box failed.

Not to mention,

the WD passport has a 1 year warranty.

The hd inside the box may well have a 3 year warranty, so you can get it replaced free.

Thanks for your info, but surely any warranty would be voided if the HD is removed from it's cover? I don't know how I'd get on for warranty anyway as I bought it from Lazada and not sure if I kept any paperwork.

[MaeJoMTB]

The hard drive warranty is claimed online.

The details are printed on the label on the hard drive.

But you don't know it's broken yet.

[giddyup]

The hard drive warranty is claimed online.

The details are printed on the label on the hard drive.

But you don't know it's broken yet.

Without opening it how can I tell if it's a hard drive problem or the USB connector?

[NeverSure]

At your start menu type

cmd

and hit enter. The command prompt will open. It looks like DOS. Now type

diskpart

and hit enter. When the diskpart command appears type

list disk

and hit enter. If it lists that external it probably isn't initiated or formatted. Post back.

Edited October 12, 2015 by NeverSure

[giddyup]

At your start menu type

cmd

and hit enter. The command prompt will open. It looks like DOS. Now type

diskpart

and hit enter. When the diskpart command appears type

list disk

and hit enter. If it lists that external it probably isn't initiated or formatted. Post back.

No, it doesn't list it. It just lists Disk 1 and Disk 0

Edited October 12, 2015 by giddyup

[NeverSure]

Disk 0 should be your "C" disk. Disk 1 should be that external unless you have yet another. How do the sizes of 0 and 1 compare with your "C" disk (%system% disk) and your external?

0 and 1 would be totally different physical hard disks. Do you have more than two including the external?

I think your 1 disk is your external and Windows can't see it because it isn't initialized and formatted. That is of course software that is missing from the physical the physical hard disk.

A physical hard disk isn't a drive that Windows can see until it has the software that initializes, creates at least one partition (volume) and formats it.

This is why I preach, often without success, that people must know the difference between a physical hard disk (hardware) and a hard drive (software) which Windows can see.

It looks like diskpart can see the physical hard disk but Windows can't find a hard drive on it because that software is missing.

Just a hunch though...

-----

Download and install EaseUS Partition Manager, run it and see if it can see that external and put the software on it so that it will work with Windows. LINK

[giddyup]

Disk 0 should be your "C" disk. Disk 1 should be that external unless you have yet another. How do the sizes of 0 and 1 compare with your "C" disk (%system% disk) and your external?

0 and 1 would be totally different physical hard disks. Do you have more than two including the external?

I think your 1 disk is your external and Windows can't see it because it isn't initialized and formatted. That is of course software that is missing from the physical the physical hard disk.

A physical hard disk isn't a drive that Windows can see until it has the software that initializes, creates at least one partition (volume) and formats it.

This is why I preach, often without success, that people must know the difference between a physical hard disk (hardware) and a hard drive (software) which Windows can see.

It looks like diskpart can see the physical hard disk but Windows can't find a hard drive on it because that software is missing.

Just a hunch though...

-----

Download and install EaseUS Partition Manager, run it and see if it can see that external and put the software on it so that it will work with Windows. LINK

OK thanks, I think I'll give it to the shop to see if he can fix it. It's all starting to get beyond my capabilities.

Edited October 12, 2015 by giddyup

[NeverSure]

Giddyup, EaseUS is real easy. If it can see that external go through the easy steps of

1. Initialize the disk

2. Create a partition as big as it will let you

3. Format that partition.

After that Windows should see it if you rescan. If you don't know how to rescan right now, just reboot. If EaseUS acted like it initialized, partitioned, and formatted it should be good to go.

Cheers.

Edit. I just saw your last post. If you want to take it to a shop, do it. You'll find that a lot of techs have no idea what we're talking about here though.

Edited October 12, 2015 by NeverSure

[Pib]

No use disassembling the drive to try to test in a desktop because the USB interface circuity is physically part of the hard drive circuit board; it's not like a normal external USB enclosure where you plug a drive into the USB interface internal connector which is part of the enclosure and not part of the drive.

[Pib]

Give this a try. Where that device drive is showing up with a triangle, right click on it and then click uninstall to remove the incorrect/corrupt driver. After removal then right click again and select Scan for Hardware changes. I've seen posts else where that worked.

I know you said the guy at the shop tried it on another computer, but it only takes a couple seconds to try. Also make sure the cable is good...cables to go bad...the little wires inside break.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Pib

[lostinisaan]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

The guy in the shop already plugged it into another computer, that's how he knew it wasn't working. What is removing the HD from the cover going to achieve and why has a brand new HD failed?

You don't know the HD has failed.

The HD might be working, and the USB interface in the WD box failed.

Not to mention,

the WD passport has a 1 year warranty.

The hd inside the box may well have a 3 year warranty, so you can get it replaced free.

Thanks a lot. Nice to read posts from guys who know what they're on about.

[lostinisaan]

Disk 0 should be your "C" disk. Disk 1 should be that external unless you have yet another. How do the sizes of 0 and 1 compare with your "C" disk (%system% disk) and your external?

0 and 1 would be totally different physical hard disks. Do you have more than two including the external?

I think your 1 disk is your external and Windows can't see it because it isn't initialized and formatted. That is of course software that is missing from the physical the physical hard disk.

A physical hard disk isn't a drive that Windows can see until it has the software that initializes, creates at least one partition (volume) and formats it.

This is why I preach, often without success, that people must know the difference between a physical hard disk (hardware) and a hard drive (software) which Windows can see.

It looks like diskpart can see the physical hard disk but Windows can't find a hard drive on it because that software is missing.

Just a hunch though...

-----

Download and install EaseUS Partition Manager, run it and see if it can see that external and put the software on it so that it will work with Windows. LINK

No idea why, but i prefer the Mini Tool Partition Wizard Pro. Seems to be much better structured. Found it on the bay.

[astral]

I have found that Windows can have a problem assigning a letter to a drive

The Partition Manager mentioned above should allow you to correct that

Hard Disk sentinel is a useful tool for monitoring the state of you disks

http://www.hdsentinel.com/

[MaeJoMTB]

Once you use partition software, all the data will be gone.

I thought the guy wanted his photos back?

[johng]

No use disassembling the drive to try to test in a desktop because the USB interface circuity is physically part of the hard drive circuit board; it's not like a normal external USB enclosure where you plug a drive into the USB interface internal connector which is part of the enclosure and not part of the drive.

Are you sure ? That would be a strange hard drive..... why would Western Digital make that "proprietary" interface while everyone else is using SATA ?

If the OP wants his data back he shouldn't be formatting the drive that will make recovery of data much harder.

More likely that the USB drivers are messed up. Remove and reinstall them and try the drive again.

[MaeJoMTB]

No use disassembling the drive to try to test in a desktop because the USB interface circuity is physically part of the hard drive circuit board; it's not like a normal external USB enclosure where you plug a drive into the USB interface internal connector which is part of the enclosure and not part of the drive.

Are you sure ? That would be a strange hard drive..... why would Western Digital make that "proprietary" interface while everyone else is using SATA ?

If the OP wants his data back he shouldn't be formatting the drive that will make recovery of data much harder.

More likely that the USB drivers are messed up. Remove and reinstall them and try the drive again.

Here we go ....... standard 2.5" SATA inside with a USB interface board on the back.

[johng]

Well it seems Pib is correct the Western Digital My Passport has the USB interface built into the HD controller board....yuck I'll have to remember not to buy one of those ! !

[Pib]

No use disassembling the drive to try to test in a desktop because the USB interface circuity is physically part of the hard drive circuit board; it's not like a normal external USB enclosure where you plug a drive into the USB interface internal connector which is part of the enclosure and not part of the drive.

Are you sure ? That would be a strange hard drive..... why would Western Digital make that "proprietary" interface while everyone else is using SATA ?

If the OP wants his data back he shouldn't be formatting the drive that will make recovery of data much harder.

More likely that the USB drivers are messed up. Remove and reinstall them and try the drive again.

Take a look at some of the youtube videos on dis-assembly of a WD Passport. Yes, the basic drive itself is SATA but the SATA-to-USB interface is built into the drive's circuit board...that special little USB connector on the drive for use with a external USB cable is part of the drive's circuit board...the connector can't be removed.

The WD Passport is not a standard hardware configuration drive like you would buy to put in your desktop/laptop. The enclosure they use is just a plastic box with no electronics like you see with a standard USB enclosure because they built the USB interface right into the SATA circuit board vs the enclosure box.

Whereas in an external USB enclosure box the box comes with the USB-to-SATA interface as part of the enclosure and then you can plug-in any SATA drive you want into the enclosure. Or take that SATA drive out of the enclosure and plug the drive into SATA connection in your desktop or laptop.

The WD Passport was built to be a external drive you plug into via external USB interface....you can't plug it directly into a SATA interface in your computer. I expect that proprietary build lowered their manufacturing cost...other manufacturers also use a proprietary hard build as the drives are not meant to be removed.

Very short video showing disassmebly (notice no SATA connector on the inside...just the unattachable USB connector.

Anther link showing some pictures of dis-assembly and a quote of a comment relating to no SATA connector.

http://www.jrin.net/2013_09_11/how-to-dismantle-a-western-digital-my-passport-external-hard-drive

thanks for the guide! external hard drives are often cheaper than buying just the bare drive for some reason so I was going to get this drive or similar… until i realized that there is no sata connection – very disappointing.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Pib

[Pib]

johng & MaJoeMTB

whoops...our posts were passing in the night due to me taking so long to write my post above....got interrupted by the wife to fix something...by the time I finished writing above post you guys had already made your additional posts confirming the interface situation. Some other manufacturers of external drive use the same approach as I expect it reduces their cost. Cheers.

Pib

Edited October 12, 2015 by Pib

[elgordo38]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

PS

In had a WD usb drive fail after several years non use.

They do like to spin a bit.

I had a failure with mine to and even contacted WD for help. Their advice was reformat and start over. I had it jammed packed with my favorite movies. I also tried TV for help and received many helpful answers (thank you) nothing worked except the fact that I could plug it into the TV and play the movies but could not add or subtract anything. Disgustedly I threw it in the drawer for a couple months and the other day noticed it and and plugged it into my computer and walla my computer read it and opened it up. A friend of mine told me the other day that sometimes these newer digital items will heal themselves over time. If your patient (which I am not) it might work for you.

[elgordo38]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

The guy in the shop already plugged it into another computer, that's how he knew it wasn't working. What is removing the HD from the cover going to achieve and why has a brand new HD failed?

You don't know the HD has failed.

The HD might be working, and the USB interface in the WD box failed.

Not to mention,

the WD passport has a 1 year warranty.

The hd inside the box may well have a 3 year warranty, so you can get it replaced free.

WD told me mine had a 3 year warranty. They tried to help but failed. Father time came to the rescue and healed it.

[elgordo38]

Once you use partition software, all the data will be gone.

I thought the guy wanted his photos back?

You do not need the receipt only the serial number off of the box. Its written on the back. When you contact WD just give them the serial number and they know when and where you bought it. Like most warranty things its a real hassle to get through to a real person.

[Pib]

plug it into another computer.

If that doesn't work,

Remove hard drive from WD box and plug directly into a tower/desktop PC.

PS

In had a WD usb drive fail after several years non use.

They do like to spin a bit.

I had a failure with mine to and even contacted WD for help. Their advice was reformat and start over. I had it jammed packed with my favorite movies. I also tried TV for help and received many helpful answers (thank you) nothing worked except the fact that I could plug it into the TV and play the movies but could not add or subtract anything. Disgustedly I threw it in the drawer for a couple months and the other day noticed it and and plugged it into my computer and walla my computer read it and opened it up. A friend of mine told me the other day that sometimes these newer digital items will heal themselves over time. If your patient (which I am not) it might work for you.

Well, a digital (or analog) item can have an intermittent hardware problem which works when it wants to. For example Ball Grid Array (BGA) chip which was soldered using low quality solder or not solder at the correct temperature can become intermittent or stop working after X-years (or even months) due to the solder joints becoming brittle and losing full contact with the circuit boards...it's a kind of cold solder joint. Such intermittent problems can be most frustrating...one day the item works...next day it don't...etc....and of course the problem always reappears at the worst time.

A software misconfiguration/corruption can also cause an intermittent problem...can make it look like a hardware problem when it really a software problem...then one day a certain Windows update happens or maybe you install an updated driver from the manufacturer's support website and the problem magically disappears because the misconfiguration/corruption was fixed by the update.

[NeverSure]

We didn't get an answer as to whether diskpart could see more than just disk 1. Can it see the size? It sees my USB external as 931 GB when it's 1 TB but that's normal. At least I know it's the right disk as opposed to my 0 disk which is my 500GB Samsung SSD.

Let's get real, LOL. If diskpart can see that disk and ID it and Windows can't, it's a software issue. Diskpart can see hardware - it can see just an uninitialized HDD.

If we indeed got an answer saying that diskpart lists it, then it is "none of the above" regarding hardware. We are spinning our wheels looking at any of the hardware.

It's not hardware as in motherboard USB or HDD controller because it's talking to diskpart. It's not the cable or the enclosure or the physical HDD because it's talking to diskpart.

There is either a bad driver in Windows or the HDD isn't initialized and partitioned and formatted. Because it wouldn't work in another computer it isn't the driver.

The process of elimination says that something wiped the HDD, perhaps even a voltage spike but the needed software is gone.

Cheers.

Edited October 13, 2015 by NeverSure

[Pib]

OP,

If you can see the passport drive (i.e., Disk 1) when using Windows Disk Management this means your BIOS/motherboard is seeing the hard but just maybe it don't have a "Drive Letter" assigned. Drive Letters are "suppose" to be assigned automatically but sometimes Windows just don't...it has happened to me over the years with Win 7 and even Win 10. And you can google the problem and see tons of other folks have experienced the problem with all versions of Windows.

Take a look at the Disk Management snapshot below of my my laptop which has one internal drive identified as Disk 0 with several partitions. Notice the primary partion has Drive Letter "C" assigned. The internal CD/DVD drive is designated as "CD-ROM 0". And the external hard dive, like you external passport, is Disk 1 and has a Drive Letter "E" assigned.

While a drive can be partitioned and formatted if Windows did not automatically assigned a Drive Letter then your computer will not be able to see it like when using File Manager, etc. But it still show up under your Devices.

Anyway, go into your Windows Control Panel, System & Security, Administrative and click the selection names "Create and format hard disk partitions." Don't worry my clicking/opening that selection it will not format any of your drives without several other selections on the following screen. When the Disk Management window opens take a look and see if your passport drive is showing as Disk 1 "and a Drive Letter is assigned." If no Drive letter is assigned that is easily fixed by a few clicks/within a few seconds within the Disk Management screen which I can tell you how to do. But actually giving us a snapshot of your Disk Management screen might help us in trying to help you.

[giddyup]

Cheers Pib, no time now but I'll give it a try tomorrow and report back.

Nope, did as you suggested, it asked me to partition the disk (my passport) but then I got the message, "unable to partition because of disk error", so I guess the ext. hard drive is faulty.

Edited October 13, 2015 by giddyup