Have to turn external HD on and off multiple times before it is recognized by disk management

[YosemiteGP]

I have a WD (black) 1TB HD in Rosewill RX-358 U3C external enclosure case (see URL link below). Using this external HD as backup. I turn the case off when I'm done backing up data. When I turn it back on it is very common that the HD is not recognized by desktop computer using Windows 10 Home 64-bit (does not show in Disk Management or File Explorer, or anywhere else). This also happens when using this external HD with my laptop computer.

When the HD is not recognized I turn the enclosure case off and on again and after about three cycles of turning off and on it will then work and the HD will be recognized. It seems like the problem may be with the external HD or enclosure case because when HD is recognized (after turning case off and on again several times) the blue LED light on the enclosure will blink and I hear sounds from the HD head on the platter. When it is not recognized the LED light in enclosure doesn't blink and I don't hear the sound of the HD head on the platter.

Appreciate any help on this.
URL for enclosure case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182247&cm_re=rosewill_external_rx-_-17-182-247-_-Product

 

[ArtPog]

It could, of course, be a defective USB enclosure or possibly (although unlikely) a defective HDD.

You've connected the USB device to various USB ports, but always with the same problem, right?

So what happens when you install the WD HDD in your desktop PC as an internally-connected drive? Seen by the system or non-detected?

And did this problem with the USB device surface immediately after you began using it or did it perform OK previously?

 

[YosemiteGP]

Haven't tried connecting to different USB ports yet - will try that.

Have not tried connecting the WD HDD as internal drive. Will wait and see if switching to different USB port works.

This behavior started from the very beginning of my use of this WD HDD as external backup drive with the Rosewill enclosure. I just always thought it was my old laptop that had a problem with recognizing the drive, so I put up with it. Now that I just completed my new build and am experiencing the same issue on a clean install of Windows 10 it is making me worry that one of these times I won't be able to get the HDD to be recognized. I just don't know why it would be an intermittent issue that fixes itself with multiple cycles of turning enclosure off and on...

Appreciate feedback. I'll try the different USB ports and post update.

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, YosemiteGP!

I'd second what @ArtPog have suggested in terms of troubleshooting!
However, it does sound like the third-party enclosure could be malfunctioning. This would explain why the multiple cycles of powering up and down the enclosure. Another thing you should definitely try while swapping the USB ports is changing the USB cable itself. Either one could be going through shortage of power supply.

I'd also try using a different HDD with that enclosure and make sure that the fault is not with the WD Black. You can also try running the QUICK and EXTENDED tests from WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics for Windows. This will help us determine the health and SMART status of the drive as well.

Hope I was helpful. Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[YosemiteGP]

Thanks for additional suggestion. I had already ordered another enclosure for a 2nd back-up drive so when it arrives I'll try swapping out the USB cable as well.

Also - tried leaving the drive hooked up and letting my desktop go into sleep mode which also stopped the HDD from spinning and when I woke my desktop up the drive came up also with no problems. I'll just start going through the suggestions one by one and see if I can't isolate the problem.

Thanks ArtPog and SuperSoph_WD