WD HDD Problem

[Alegend1994]

I've looked through the threads on HDD problems and none of them have helped so here is my problem.

So about 2 weeks ago my Western Digital hard drive died on me, I left it for 2 weeks then connected it to my laptop to see if it would help if it had a rest but it still didn't work.

It happened when I was moving my laptop from one room to another, with the hard drive, but when I plugged it into the mains and connected it to my laptop it was unaccessible, the led light still came on and the disk was able to spin up. I've only had it for a bout 3 months so the warranty is still valid, so if I can't fix it myself I can get it replaced.

I've tried accessing the hard drive and I've tried deleting the volume and then reformatting but every time it freezes the program I'm using then disconnects and then reconnects automatically.

Also it slows down my computer and the CPU goes close to 100% usage every time I plug it in, my computer goes back to normal when I take out the USB cable.

It is a Western Digital My Book Essential 2TB External Hard Drive, if that helps.

Here are some screen shots of the problems:

It comes up as Local Disk (I: ) and when I right click the drive the window freezes and then 5 minutes later it disconnects and then reconnects.

It also displays my CPU as using 4% before freezing the widget, when it is actually close to 100% usage.

When I try to access Disk Management it comes up with this window and then freezes until I disconnect the HDD.

When I open Disk Management then connect my HDD it displays it but when I try to delete the volume it freezes and then the HDD disconnects and then reconnects about 5 minutes later.

I don't care about recovering what's on it since it was only about 200-300GB of stuff I've already basically re-downloaded.

If anyone has any ideas please share with me and if you need anymore information just ask.

Thanks to anyone that helps =).

[lemmingllama]

From what I can see, I would reccomend just getting the new drive, especially if you dont care about your files.

[Alegend1994]

From what I can see, I would reccomend just getting the new drive, especially if you dont care about your files.

Yeah by now it does seem like the easiest option, was justing hoping I could fix it here otherwise I've got to pay for the posting it and have to wait until after Christmas to receive a new one.

[RikuoAmero]

Try booting in Linux and see if you can use that to reformat the HDD. If the same problems persist, the CPU usage and frozen windows, then the problem is most definitely your drive and its not a problem with Windows. I would tell you how to reformat in Linux, but I don't know how.

[ragnawind]

Try booting in Linux and see if you can use that to reformat the HDD. If the same problems persist, the CPU usage and frozen windows, then the problem is most definitely your drive and its not a problem with Windows. I would tell you how to reformat in Linux, but I don't know how.

In Linux, it depends on the distro, but there is always a Disk Partitioning program that partitions the drive and formats it. It basically very similar to windows, since most of the Windows partitioning software originally came from the Linux versions of the software.

[Alegend1994]

Try booting in Linux and see if you can use that to reformat the HDD. If the same problems persist, the CPU usage and frozen windows, then the problem is most definitely your drive and its not a problem with Windows. I would tell you how to reformat in Linux, but I don't know how.

My friend has already tried this for me but he had no luck. He said I most likely need to get it replaced.

I have to wait about 2 weeks until I can send it off in the post so I thought I might as well try this place for some advice =).

[VolvoKing]

Sounds like the interface is shot, and that is an internal problem. If you can get it open and get the numbers off it and get another one with the same numbers you can change the interface. I did that on a 500G hard drive. it was cheaper to try that then pay $1000 to recover all my pictures. It is a 50/50 odds if it will work.

[ZeroPenguins]

LOL funny I actually have the same problem on my portable HDD WD 500GB USB 3.0. It doesn't run at all in Windows XP on my old laptop but it runs on my Windows 7 computer, I figured out the problem was my antivirus causing some kind of conflict, but I haven't fixed that yet. Have you try leaving the drive plugged in and then turn on the computer? Because it works for me.

[Alegend1994]

LOL funny I actually have the same problem on my portable HDD WD 500GB USB 3.0. It doesn't run at all in Windows XP on my old laptop but it runs on my Windows 7 computer, I figured out the problem was my antivirus causing some kind of conflict, but I haven't fixed that yet. Have you try leaving the drive plugged in and then turn on the computer? Because it works for me.

Yeah I tried this but my computer wouldn't start up properly if I did. It got to that stage where it's about to show the user icons but instead it never appears and just leaves a black screen with only the cursor being in usable. Probably the HDD is completely dead if it's affecting my computer this bad =).

[ZeroPenguins]

Oh ok, well apparently loads of people have the same problem http://www.google.com.au/search?q=USB+3.0+problems+with+USB+2.0+WD+HDD+doesn%27t+load+up+on+windows&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=X&ei=1gPwTrX6KcWaiQfRocypBw&ved=0CBoQBSgA&q=External+Western+Digital+HDD+not+being+recognized&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=440660d03c957758&biw=1680&bih=927 meh I cbf fixing it now, sorry a bit tired from uni, gonna go off and take a rest now.

[Alegend1994]

Oh ok, well apparently loads of people have the same problem http://www.google.com.au/search?q=USB+3.0+problems+with+USB+2.0+WD+HDD+doesn%27t+load+up+on+windows&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=X&ei=1gPwTrX6KcWaiQfRocypBw&ved=0CBoQBSgA&q=External+Western+Digital+HDD+not+being+recognized&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=440660d03c957758&biw=1680&bih=927 meh I cbf fixing it now, sorry a bit tired from uni, gonna go off and take a rest now.

Cool I do some more research into this, I didn't think it might be a problem with the USB type.

[Gambit3014]

I've looked through the threads on HDD problems and none of them have helped so here is my problem.

So about 2 weeks ago my Western Digital hard drive died on me, I left it for 2 weeks then connected it to my laptop to see if it would help if it had a rest but it still didn't work.

It happened when I was moving my laptop from one room to another, with the hard drive, but when I plugged it into the mains and connected it to my laptop it was unaccessible, the led light still came on and the disk was able to spin up. I've only had it for a bout 3 months so the warranty is still valid, so if I can't fix it myself I can get it replaced.

I've tried accessing the hard drive and I've tried deleting the volume and then reformatting but every time it freezes the program I'm using then disconnects and then reconnects automatically.

Also it slows down my computer and the CPU goes close to 100% usage every time I plug it in, my computer goes back to normal when I take out the USB cable.

It is a Western Digital My Book Essential 2TB External Hard Drive, if that helps.

Here are some screen shots of the problems:

It comes up as Local Disk (I: ) and when I right click the drive the window freezes and then 5 minutes later it disconnects and then reconnects.

It also displays my CPU as using 4% before freezing the widget, when it is actually close to 100% usage.

When I try to access Disk Management it comes up with this window and then freezes until I disconnect the HDD.

When I open Disk Management then connect my HDD it displays it but when I try to delete the volume it freezes and then the HDD disconnects and then reconnects about 5 minutes later.

I don't care about recovering what's on it since it was only about 200-300GB of stuff I've already basically re-downloaded.

If anyone has any ideas please share with me and if you need anymore information just ask.

Thanks to anyone that helps =).

WD External hdds SUCK!!! they dont last long, they always bog up the system. if you're up for it, buy a external hard drive enclosure and throw a seagate in that bad boy!!! Seagate's have a 5 yr warranty, and are generally a good hdd (my opinion). I had 2-3 WD external hdds and they have all failed. Sorry about your luck, hope this helps. happy x-mas

Cheers

Gambit

[Alegend1994]

WD External hdds SUCK!!! they dont last long, they always bog up the system. if you're up for it, buy a external hard drive enclosure and throw a seagate in that bad boy!!! Seagate's have a 5 yr warranty, and are generally a good hdd (my opinion). I had 2-3 WD external hdds and they have all failed. Sorry about your luck, hope this helps. happy x-mas

Cheers

Gambit

Lucky I still have a warranty on this drive, I'm pretty sure it broke because my family didn't look after it. They always just took the USB cable out whenever they felt and would pick up the laptop with it still connected then the HDD would dissconnect and fall to the floor, so it was inevitable. Hopefully WD HDD's aren't that bad because I just bought a WD Element, no-one other than me is allowed to touch this one.

[Gambit3014]

Lucky I still have a warranty on this drive, I'm pretty sure it broke because my family didn't look after it. They always just took the USB cable out whenever they felt and would pick up the laptop with it still connected then the HDD would dissconnect and fall to the floor, so it was inevitable. Hopefully WD HDD's aren't that bad because I just bought a WD Element, no-one other than me is allowed to touch this one.

well that's always a good start! I hate it when my technology is handled by someone else. I hope WD works for ya, i know the higher end hdds are great, raptor and such. best of luck to ya bud... enjoy some anime over x-mas.

Gambit

[Scruffy]

as a tech... i would recommend SeaTools or Dl the free Hirens Boot CD.. it's a Diagnostic CD and from there you will be able to check to see if you have memory problems.. and HDD problems

from then if you get errors.. than yes they are correct buy another Hard Drive

if you don't get any errors i recommend try re-seating the HDD and Memory.. if that's not your problem then it's probably Software related