WD5000BPVT 500GB External Drive found with a disk magnet clinging to the outside of the plastic case. Pulled the magnet off and heard something that sounded like a coil spring, ZZzzipp sound. Plugged it into the USB and the laptop no longer could read the disk.
Do you know how to get my “frozen in time” Windows 7/32 bit Dell Laptop to recognize it again?
When I plug it in the drive lights up then blinks for a while then goes back to continuous light and Windows Explorer never sees it. Before the magnet it was fine. I believe it showed as Drive F.
The disk magnet is about 3/8" diameter and 1/8" thick. This is not a monster magnet but it is quite strong. The only way to remove it is to slide it sideways until you can pincer grasp two sides of it, then you can pull it off.
The drive model number is WD5000BPVT-22HXZT1
Hi @bobtrower,
Please refer to the article how to check if a WD drive is damaged or defective
Link: Check Drive for Errors or Failure on Windows and macOS
We would request you to download the SSD dashboard and run the diagnostic test :
Link: Error
Thank you.
I downloaded the Diagnostic Dashboard and ran the program. WD Scorpio Blue was detected and shows the Security as Frozen. Capacity shows the drive as 500.1 GB with 264.9 GB Free Space and 235.1 GB Used. It shows Drive Health as Normal/Green.
Problem restated: Windows explorer does not recognize the drive.
Remember that I am running 32 bit Windows 7 on this 2011 Dell Core i3 computer.
Is there a program that I can use on this platform that will provide an address that was possibly affected by contact with the small magnet?
Hi,
I appreciate that you have performed the troubleshooting steps.
Please contact the WD Technical Support team for best assistance and troubleshooting:
https://support-en.wd.com/app/ask
