[Usrn]

I have a WD MY Passport Elite that has seemed to be working ok for about two years. I just hook it up about every two months to my HP Vista computer. It seemed to be idle last month and when I looked into it all the data - almost 300 Gb just disappeared. The software interface, scanned my computer and recognized it, but the Passport seemed to be empty and it prompted me to start over as if from scratch. Same thing now. This is really weird. I can't get any help at WD. Any here?

[LiveBrianD]

External hard drive enclosures always seem to be particularly prone to failing. If you have a desktop machine, try putting the drive in that. Otherwise, try another enclosure.

[brainout]

Usrn, on 07 July 2012 - 10:38 PM, said:

I have a WD MY Passport Elite that has seemed to be working ok for about two years. I just hook it up about every two months to my HP Vista computer. It seemed to be idle last month and when I looked into it all the data - almost 300 Gb just disappeared. The software interface, scanned my computer and recognized it, but the Passport seemed to be empty and it prompted me to start over as if from scratch. Same thing now. This is really weird. I can't get any help at WD. Any here?

Three ideas which are easier:
1. If you have another WD Passport Elite, try switching the USB cord. I forget if those cords are standard USB or not. I use the 3.0 WD Passports, and they have special USB cords. Sometimes the problem is only the cord, which you can replace.

2. Go to Windows Update and see if there is a new driver for it. That's been a frequent problem. If you get no report on a new driver, go to WD and type in your model number, see if a new driver. I say this because when I went to Windows Update a few days ago, it alerted me to the need for a new driver on my newly-purchased WD Passports (three of them, 500GB two, 1TB ). But when I first installed the first WD (@500 GB), I didn't have any problems with the others, so didn't download the driver. These WDs hold my backups, so it matters. But they are not Elite brand.

3. Plug your WD Passport Elite into another computer, see if it works. If it does, then the problem is NOT the hard drive, but likely #1. I had the same problem with a SimpleTech drive; some of my computers could read it, others could not. I saw others having this problem with the Elite in Amazon (when researching what HDs to purchase, a few months back). So when I changed the cord, suddenly all my XP computers could read the drive.

Oh, a fourth thing you might want to troubleshoot: if you get the Elite to function on ANY computer, then while ON that computer, run chkdsk. Presumably you know how to do that. If not, yell at me and I'll try to explain. Be sure to tell me your OS.

OH WAIT, here's another thing to try: the larger HDDs really don't operate well solely from USB hooked into your computer: too much power drain. They do work well if you use a separately-powered hub. So, for example, I run my WD Passports from a flat panel monitor which has a separately-powered hub. All my USB ports are 2.0 or 1.1, so that's another factor. The newer HDDs are designed for 3.0, and need more power as a result. Else, XP registers them as devices with problems, or can't recognize the HDD, etc. All these types of problems I've solved by getting flat panel monitors with separate USB hubs. The monitors are Dell 1905FP, 1707FP, used (you can get later models new, like 1909W and 2007FP). I got mine a few months ago from craving savings via Amazon, very happy with them. Just search on 'Dell monitor usb hub' in Amazon. Or, in Dell. Read the manual before buying.

This post has been edited by brainout: 18 August 2012 - 10:04 AM

[FascistNation]

What does WD's DLD say?