This is an odd one for sure. I have a My Book Essential 2TB USB3.0 Drive that recognizes briefly, long enough to access the one file that is on the top directory, but then becomes invalid. I’ve tried different machines. I’ve tried different USB cables. I’ve plugged directly into the wall. I’ve used a different power adapter and gotten down two levels of folders deeper before the drive is no longer recognized. I have eliminated all hubs. I have disabled USB legacy mode in the BIOS. In all cases, the drive shows up for a few seconds in the disk management pane before disappearing. While it persists in Windows Explorer, attempts to reach a command line from the drive or any subfolders recognized before it “disappears” are unsuccessful. The USB light stays on, and the computer “knows” that something is uninstalling whenn I shut down the drive with the reboot button on the back. The used and free space numbers are still correct on the drive. I’m beginning to think my only option is to buy a card to install the drive a an internal drive on a desktop PC to attempt data recovery.
WHOOPS! Forgot to add that I was NOT running with the Smartware installed – only the Driver – so the data will NOT be encrypted, right?
The data is encrypted on the drive within the enclosure
if you remove will might not be able to read it AFAIK
I’m out of other options so I’ll let you know. I realize should have been more discerning with my purchase – I neither want nor need my hardware to encrypt as I’m quite capable of doing so myself when necessary. My loyalty to WD is getting pretty shaken anyway. I have five WD externals purchased over the last decade. The three oldest have been trouble free. The two newest have been noting but headache.
… and of course, thanks for at least acknowleding the question. Not sure if will/may is considered an answer to be kudoed or not.
