Windows 7 and WD Ultra Passport

[jtech7]

Let's see if you fellow techs can help out. Microsoft of course is of no help and trying to cash in on $$.

Recently my WD passport ultra has stopped working. It'll show up as "WD Passport 8100" but it won't show a drive. So it is reading it to some extent.

Now, starting up the PC with WD plugged in, nothing loads or loads slowly(eventual freeze). Which mean's running a check disk or virtual disk management is off limits. Definitely won't let me shut down.

I've seen a few microsoft events which have led me to this conclusion: the Server service will not start while the WD Passport is plugged in. It states "starting" in the Services snap in until it's unplugged, then it can start. Second, all that the Server depends on will start, of course, except Server SMB driver 1.xxxx and driver 2.xxxx.

In addition, this drive is formatted for Windows (NTFS) I think, but it the driver works, it shows up, I can see the window files in my Macbook Pro. Also doesn't work with my Surface Pro 3 with windows 8.1.

Also, I am using a Lenovo m73z which utilizes a WD internal hard drive and there in lies the issue between these too. But I can't quite figure it out.

Any help will be appreciated

 

[RealBeast]

Not really a Microsoft issue, I would contact WD for support. They may drop in here to help.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there jtech7,

I'm really sorry that you are experiencing some issues with your WD My Passport. 🙁
I would agree with RealBeast and say that the problem you are facing is most probably related to the drive rather than to the OS.

You can start with something simple as just attaching the drive with another USB cable.
If this does not help, you can unplug the drive -> boot your system -> download WD's Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tool -> plug the drive back in -> run both short and extended tests.

In case the test results show that there is something wrong with the drive and you don't really need the data stored on it, you can just contact WD's Support either by e-mail or phone and eventually RMA the drive.(If still under warranty)
In case you need the data that is stored on it though, you can try some data recovery tool for DOS. You can check the Ubuntu Live CD(booting up from a flash drive or CD) approach for example. There are quite a lot of similar threads on this forum. Here's one: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/267999-32-recover-data-mode

WD's DLG tool: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=P2Xo8z
WD's Support: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=38KqmF

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

 

[jtech7]

Hello D_Know_WD,

Downloaded the diagnostics tool, but as I suspected as soon as I plugged in the external, it froze the program. Unplugging it, lets the program run freely but of course the drive isn't attached so I can't scan it.

Again, it works on my MAC book, able to read the NTFS files.

I've cleaned up old drivers on the computer. I imagine it has something to do with the new SES driver it's required to use on Windows? Because it was working before that and just stopped randomly and won't work on any Windows PC.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Unfortunately, I don't really think that it is driver related.(as it doesn't work on other Windows computers as well)
You can try testing it with WD's DLG tool for DOS.
In case you can access the drive with the tool, then you will most probably will be able to access it with some data recovery tool for DOS as well. It may be a good idea to back up your data as sometimes failing external drives, could act the same way.
Is the drive still under warranty? If it is, after using the testing and data recovery tools, you can contact WD's Support.

WD's DLG tool for DOS: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=8Tqwvn

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD

 

[jtech7]

Well, If anybody else is looking for information about this particular issue. WD has, in a round about way, explained that the SES driver is the issue here.

Basically, if your drive is already visible and working properly do not download the SES driver no matter what. Which will include making sure Windows updates also doesn't download this particular driver.