WD Elements Hard Drive - randomly works on computers

[7think8thought9]

So I can't tell if I'm having the same exact problem as it seems a lot of others do but here it goes.

My WD Elements 10B8 Media Hard Drive (1.5TB) works great when it actually shows up on my computer. HOWEVER, its super inconsistent when it does come up. (I've tried on multiple computers.) There will be times when it does come up, and it works perfectly fine, other times and the light will turn on, I can hear it spinning, yet nothing shows up on the desktop or disk utility.

I've had this drive for just under a year. I got in the end May 2016. This problem didnt start happening till about a month ago, seems to be getting worse however.

It happens to work just now of course so I tried the First Aid in Disk Utility and it said there were no problems with it. Anyone know what I should do to get it to come up consistently or anyone at least having this exact dilemma?

 

[popatim]

Have you tried a new usb cable?

 

[RolandJS]

If affordable, if possible, usb or dvd boot Macrium Reflect or anything similar, do a one-pass sector by sector clone or full image of the whole HD onto any reliable external HD. Keep the clone spare in a safe place, it might be needed later on. Please consider this before the HD stops working completely, at that point, DR will be problematic and extensive.