If external drive does NOT show in Disk Management...is it done?

orlando1974 · 20 May 2020

I have an 2TB WD My Ultra Passport external drive which has always worked fine but today I plugged it in and it took long for the drive icon to show up in Windows Explorer. When i clicked it - my system was frozen until I physically disconnected it.
I tried different ports and different computers. Same thing. Also, the WD Drive Utilities is not recognizing it. The little light is on, and I hear it spinning but its cyclical like a regular rhythmic pattern. If I right-click and do Properties...it searches and searches...until it says that the drive is unavailable (Parameter is incorrect). Then it says 0bytes.

It's used as a backup so losing the data would only mean losing a copy and I'd have to replace the drive.

Is there anything else I can do to test it before I conclude that it has finished its life?

dalchina · 20 May 2020

Hi

I hear it spinning but its cyclical like a regular rhythmic pattern

- very typical of a real mechanical issue. Replace it.

bobkn · 20 May 2020

The drive in the 2TB WDC My Ultra Passport appears to have only a USB interface, rather than being a SATA drive in a USB enclosure. There's no chance that it could have a defective USB adapter.

I think it's a goner. I offer my regrets.

Before you toss it, I suggest disabling it completely with a tool similar to one I've used for the purpose: an 8lb sledge hammer.

orlando1974 · 21 May 2020

bobkn said:

The drive in the 2TB WDC My Ultra Passport appears to have only a USB interface, rather than being a SATA drive in a USB enclosure. There's no chance that it could have a defective USB adapter.

I think it's a goner. I offer my regrets.

Before you toss it, I suggest disabling it completely with a tool similar to one I've used for the purpose: an 8lb sledge hammer.

LOL ok!

trinsic · 21 May 2020

It could be the HDD controller, but It sounds more like that the enclosure controller failed to me. Have you tried removing the drive from the enclosure to see if you can access it?

orlando1974 · 21 May 2020

trinsic said:

It could be the HDD controller, but It sounds more like that the enclosure controller failed to me. Have you tried removing the drive from the enclosure to see if you can access it?

Hi thank you for your suggestion. This is a sealed portable drive (not an enclosure).

trinsic · 21 May 2020

orlando1974 said:

Hi thank you for your suggestion. This is a sealed portable drive (not an enclosure).

Yea it looks like this model uses the controller on the drive itself for the interface, never mind.