WD My Passport external hard disk detect but could not open.

[alvin084]

WD My passport 1TB external driver could be detected after loading for a long time by my computer or disk management but only show disk E: but could be detect in device manager as WD My Pasport. safety eject device also can read WD My Passport.

no exclamation mark in device manager, tried uninstalling the device but the window for uninstalling keep loading and nothing happens, called WD company and install the driver, when installing driver with My Passport plug in, it will keep loading and nothing happens. once plug out My Passport the program instantly started to go to the next page. Install 64-bit new driver which compared to my laptop but still have same problem.

other hard disk WD my elements and phone could be detected by my laptop so I don't think is hard disk problem. changed out the cable as well with my other hard disk and problem still remain the same so I don't think its the cable.

call the data recovery company they said need 1000-2000 SGD and 7 working days. I have photos and songs inside but definitely not worth 1000 dollars.

tried to format My passport but once I right click on the local drive E: my computer window hanged and got to use task manager to end the program.

For info: I am using Windows 7. the light on My Passport is blinking and the disk is vibrating and there are no weird sound coming from it

I suspect that it is a virus as I only start to have this problem after using my brother hard disk and after that both my external hard disk have this problem than I system restore to a few days back but only manage to revive my elements and not my passport. the warranty is pass one year already. i also downloaded the Windows Data Lifeguard Diagnostics from WD support site but the program totally cannot detect my passport.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there alvin084,

That is unpleasant. 🙁
Unfortunately, it seems that the device has failed/is failing. The fact that the drive can't be picked up even by WD's DLG tool is not a good sign as well. 🙁
Your safest bet for recovering the data is to look for some professional help. You can check WD's Data Recovery Partners as well: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=bq2laA

Apart from that, as your system hangs when the drive attached and can't be picked up OS tools, I guess you can try using some data recovery tool for DOS mode. For example, you can boot up Ubuntu from a flash drive or a CD and see whether your WD drive will be properly recognized: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/267999-32-recover-data-mode

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

 

[alvin084]

I called WD data recovery partner and they quote me 1000-2000 SGD which 1.4 SGD equal 1 USD. its a tremendous amount for photos and music. I always thought it was virus as it all started when I attach my bro WD external hard disk, his and my 2 hard disk have the same problem. after system recovery my elements can be read but not my passport. I just brought my passport for 2 years and its already broken? if it is truly broken than I don't see why I need external hard disk as backup drive as my laptop already lasted more than 3 years and still running good. I thought it is very reliable and placed all my music and photo in my passport and now it failed me. its a waste of money and time.

Thanks for the conclusion... really appreciate your help... would try Ubuntu a few days later, these few days i have been trying out this and that, calling here and there and to no avail. I decided not ot touch my passport for a few days and catch up with my life where I am lacking.

 

[nulafaloola]

I have just experienced a similar problem, the second WD passport to fail on me. Comes up as 'local disk :f' on my computer and if I try to access it, windows stops responding. I tried most of usual stuff, windows chkdsk and repair, re-naming the drive, different computers, different cables and none worked. I downloaded a data recovery freeware program called 'testdisk', within 10 minutes I am able to recover any file or folder from the HDD. Some great instruction videos on youtube, all well reviewed. The software runs through command lines and made by cgsecurity.

 

[rees26]

I have just experienced a similar problem, the second WD passport to fail on me. Comes up as 'local disk :f' on my computer and if I try to access it, windows stops responding. I tried most of usual stuff, windows chkdsk and repair, re-naming the drive, different computers, different cables and none worked. I downloaded a data recovery freeware program called 'testdisk', within 10 minutes I am able to recover any file or folder from the HDD. Some great instruction videos on youtube, all well reviewed. The software runs through command lines and made by cgsecurity.

Hi, were you able to recover all of your files using 'testdisk'? I have the same problem.