Community Newsletter: Q&A: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding
- 1/31/08 9:51 PM
western digital dies
by oakiedokie - 2/1/08 6:07 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem and it was in the switch or wiring connections of the switch arrangement in the casing body. The drive in mine was fine when I bought a new 3.5" casing. I had tried electonic connection sprays to see if it would overcome the soldering problem with the internal connections etc but for $A 24.95 inc postage problem solved.
little help for u..
by rhanter - 2/1/08 9:53 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
you can still locate your old files through software..the software name is file scavenger...
Call WesternDigital on the phone
by NeilFiertel - 2/1/08 10:25 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i called Western Digital on the phone the other day and got a very competent support person.Just look on their website and use the phone. By the way, the backup button responds only if the WD software is installed for that purpose. If the LEDs are visible on the front of the drive, then sat least one of the software files is loaded into your applications folder. Go into that folder and find WD anywhere and make certain it is installed. I have no doubt that your files are on that drive. The backup software does not compress the files as far as I understand it. One merely has to open the folders on the drive via your PC and copy them to yet another drive if yoiu feel insecure about their safety. How about doing that first and then make certain the appropriate software is reinstalled onto the Win app folder and run it and see what happens. Good luck
Call WesternDigital on the phone
by NeilFiertel - 2/1/08 10:25 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i called Western Digital on the phone the other day and got a very competent support person.Just look on their website and use the phone. By the way, the backup button responds only if the WD software is installed for that purpose. If the LEDs are visible on the front of the drive, then sat least one of the software files is loaded into your applications folder. Go into that folder and find WD anywhere and make certain it is installed. I have no doubt that your files are on that drive. The backup software does not compress the files as far as I understand it. One merely has to open the folders on the drive via your PC and copy them to yet another drive if yoiu feel insecure about their safety. How about doing that first and then make certain the appropriate software is reinstalled onto the Win app folder and run it and see what happens. Good luck
halp.
by welrdelr - 2/1/08 10:33 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If it is a usb device, add it with SMB and CFS if you ever decide to go with Linux.
SMB for a BSD.
External Hard Drive Failure
by yanr1973 - 2/1/08 11:09 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, It is not necessary to buy another ex-hard drive set. There are many external hard drive casing available in pc shops. Since your button fails you, I think it is the defect of the casing and not your hard drive. Just buy an external hard drive casing and dismantle your old one, remove the hard drive and install into your new casing. If it is the button failure of your old set, as you claimed it, this should solve your problem.
Robert (Hong Kong)
I'm Michael Mores from Cavite Philippines
by khylie - 2/2/08 5:04 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Kailangan mo syang i back-up muna tapos i pormat mo ung external hard drive mo. kung ayaw parin sobok ka ibang external hardrive tapos palitan mo.
WD Harddrive
by Bob3rd1 - 2/2/08 9:13 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
maybe your hard drive is still ok. Assuming you have registered the HD, go to their web site: support.wdc.com and update the software for your HD
Why enclosures???????
by brettze - 2/2/08 11:41 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am so puzzled why most desktop cases come with multiple drive bays. Usually 5 to 8 drivebays for hard drives. I have to set up RAID to be able to put in more than one hard drive or two. I am starinig at the empty bays left fallow. Why cant I use the spare drive bays instead of enclosures?????? I mean, why cant I just turn on and off the spare drives in those spare drive bays for back up purposes like I do with enclosures that I can plug in and out casually. I dont like the bulky enclosures that come with bulky transformers. I have to buy more expensive lighter enclosures that accept smaller 2 and half inch drives and dont require bulky transformers... Or Why cant the bulky 3 and half inch drive enclosures be hooked directly to the power supply in the desktop case. Case manufacturers can put in power outletes on outside surface of the case for external 3 and half inch drive enclosures so that I dont have to carry bulky transformer around with it.... I j u s t d o n t g e t i t!!! Maybe it is your transformer that failed or the power cord between your enclosure and the transformer is stratched or something.. but yes there is poorly made enclosures, but from Western Digital?? I doubt so. I think it is somehow compromised by misuse or damage somewhere in your enclosure system . Take a closer and careful look at the whole thing .. you may detect a short or something .look at the tiny circuit board inside the enclosure. Take closer look like a good technician would do. Or take it to Best Buy for service...
Free tech help is just a phone call away!
by drlightman - 2/2/08 8:36 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Helene, relax and call your local computer club. I am certain someone will be more than happy to come and help you. Don't know why people today forget about this invaluable resource. There was a time we had to make our own and we have done our best to pass on this knowledge and keep the Do It Yourself tradition alive. Your local Ham Radio (ARRL) club may also be of help. Try the phone book, newspaper or do a search online for the nearest chapter.
You are not alone. BTW I have several WD drives, never had a bit of trouble from them.
Don't buy anything else!!
by tommybitt - 2/3/08 5:27 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same thing happen to me. It was either the USB cord or the power source cord. I bought a new IDE cable with 2 plugins-1 for the master Hard drive 2. to plug into the ext drive....Turn your external into an internal. Set the jumpers correctly. (I did spend $9.00 on e-bay for a bracket to mount the 2nd drive to my Dell) When I booted up I ran a chkdsk. It fixed bad sectors and I was able to access 5 YEARS of family pictures and music. I WILL NEVER USE AN EXTERNAL HD FOR ARCHIVING! ONLY TRANSFERRING!
and now I periodically BACK UP EVERYTHING!
Hope this helps.
Tom
Where does hard drive #2 go?
by aalake - 2/3/08 2:37 PM In reply to: Don't buy anything else!! by tommybittI have never put anything into my computer except PCI cards and memory. Except I do remember brackets and setting jumper cables for something a long, long time ago - but my ancient (70 yr) brain needs refreshing. This was probably from back in the days of ATs and DOS.
Hard Drive External
by Tom1M - 2/3/08 5:56 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Helene
I cant respond to your problem with the drive. If your using an external drive you know more about them than I do. But maybe the other posts I have made will help you in some way or other people. I hope so!
Tom1M
Misguided advice
by raggi - 2/4/08 2:16 AM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Oh boy.
This thread if full of misguided advice, many based on the unlikely assumption that the drive itself if faulty. From the limited information in the question one would guess that the drive works fine.
Although I know the problem was solved I like to point out how one should stick to basics on solving the problem
Based on the information one can deduct three possible things that are wrong
1 That the button is not working
2.The backup software is not working or not running
3. Something wrong with the USB drivers.
What to try:
See if the software is working and if you can run the backup from the software without using the button.
If software is not working, try reinstall or repair (in add remove programs or from the installation CD)
Try the external hard drive and the enclosed software in friends computer.
If it is the button, get someone to fix it or try different software, You can get quite good backup software for free, but the won't use the button.
If it is USB problem (that is it works in a another computer), pop a question to the manufacturer or even Microsoft. It is very difficult to fix (can't think of anything worse apart from opengl not working for ATI graphics cards), but often it seems to be usb wifi card drivers that are the culprit.
That's it.
Regarding warranty, US citizens are getting worse deal that anyone else. Shop from someone that can give you extended warranty. At least test your gear thorougly while the warranty is not expired
Bad button, but probably good HDD. Try Autorun.inf
by BigGuns149 - 2/7/08 10:56 PM In reply to: Help! My external hard drive isn't responding by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Believe or not, I don't think the drive sounds nearly as bad as you think, but I am skeptical about repairing the buttons. Based upon what you said the only defect with this drive is that the buttons on the front that allow you to open the backup program don't work. I presume that you haven't found any reason to believe the actual drive is damaged. Almost everyone I have ever met agrees that these "one touch" backup buttons are a huge marketing gimmick. Millions of average people didn't find double clicking on their favorite backup utility confusing or just copying the folder with all their must retain stuff onto the external drive with Windows Explorer if their backup job was relatively simple. The retailers tend to charge more for this "feature" nevermind that you can easily set your machine to automatically open the exact same backup utility that WD provides you with. Either that or you could simply have Windows Explorer copy the folders that you want onto the drive. Either way you don't need the "easy" button to backup your computer.
Based upon Western Digital's Warranty policy page I am not sure whether WD will fix it and if they don't I question whether you want to attempt to fix it.
Citing the warranty from WD:
"WD will have no liability for any Product returned if WD determines that:
The product was stolen from WD.
The asserted defect:
is not present,
cannot reasonably be fixed because of damage occurring when the Product is in the possession of someone other than WD, or
is attributable to misuse, improper installation, alteration (including removing or obliterating labels and opening or removing external covers (unless authorized to do so by Western Digital or an authorized Service Center)), accident or mishandling while in the possession of someone other than WD."
If the damage is caused by misuse WD can legally reject warranty repair. Furthermore, if they don't fix it chances are the remaining 9 months on your warranty are likely to be voided if you attempt you own repair. Unless WD repairs it or someone they authorize to repair it the warranty is voided. Except for some of the data recovery firms like DriveSavers most anyone you are familiar with isn't an authorized repair facility. That being said a 200GB drive is pretty cheap to replace so you might not be too bothered by voiding the warranty. Provided that you are careful you shouldn't damage the drive inside.
Sources:
http://support.wdc.com/warranty/policy.asp#youruse
http://support.wdc.com/warranty/policy.asp#policy
I've never dissected a WD MyBook before, but based upon the case it doesn't look easy. According to some of the walkthoughs there are some hidden screws just as I expected. There are a few people with some instructions on how to do it:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1140329
http://rebootdaily.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-to-open-western-digital-my-book.html
I think that there are laptops where I could swap out the RAM faster than taking apart and putting back together WD MyBook. Unless you are careful about documenting your steps to disassemble you might have trouble getting it back together. Unless your time isn't worth much to you in my opinion I wouldn't worry about the buttons. If the little microswitches just died or for some reason aren't being touched by the plastic in front on them it is a pretty easy fix, but if it is on the logical board in the case I would say just deal with it. Provided that the hard drive diagnostic tools all say that the drive is functioning properly and doesn't have physical damage I wouldn't worry about a relatively petty issue because as I will get to in a moment you can easily have your drive automatically run your backup utility everytime you plug the drive in. I would go to WD's site and download their HDD diagnostics tools for your drive if you haven't already.
Just go to:
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp#diagutils
and pick your particular drive. It should automatically give you the right utility. Provided everything checks out I wouldn't worry about your data. If the utility reports any hardware damage I would copy everything that I don't have a copy of another another drive and call WD and have them replace it. HDD shouldn't die in under a year. If their own utility reports damage you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a warranty repair provided the drive doesn't show obvious abuse.
If I were you I would simply set your WD drive to automatically ask you if you want to run your backup utility every time you plug in the drive. Regardless of whether you want you are running Windows XP or Vista this trick should work.
Simply open Windows Explorer and go into the root directory of your Western Digital drive went it is pluged in(you should just see the drive letter and a \ ex. D:\, E:\, F:\, etc.) for . If there is anything after the \ keeping moving up until you are there.
Right click in some empty space on the right pane and click New>Text Document. Double Click on it. You should now be in Notepad.
Then paste this into the document:
[AutoRun]
OPEN=MYAPP.EXE
ICON=MYAPP.EXE
ACTION=Open my backup program
Replace MYAPP.EXE in both instances with where ever the full path to your backup program is located. Just go to the start menu and right click on the backup program and click properties. Under the word target you should see the full path. Now save the file. Now select the file to rename it and give it the name autorun.inf. Provided you did everything right the next time you plug in the WD drive you will be prompted to "Open my backup program."
It is possible to have it set it up to automatically bypass the prompt and go straight to the backup program, but this unfortunately would require you to repartition your drive, which if you want to do it safely and with a fairly user friendly program would cost you some money. I've owned a Lexar flash drive (JD Lighting) that was partitioned so that it appeared to be a CD (ISO 9660) and a standard FAT partition and hence since windows considered it a CD it would bypass the prompt. Without getting too detailed and technical Partition Commander ought to be able to do this if you want to spend the money, but I wouldn't spend the money just to save one click.
Bottom line, unless the drive is physically damaged or you use a shoddy partitioning utility to reproduce the autorun without the prompt trick that Lexar was using you shouldn't lose any data. Unless the casing appears damaged I wouldn't see the point in moving it to another enclosure.
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