My Book Essentials Not Connecting to Windows 7 Laptop

I obtained a used My Book Essential 2TB external drive. I had it hooked up and it worked, but I was not ready to begin backing up, so I disconnected. Now I’m ready. So, I hooked everything up again but it is not working properly:

  • Smart Ware or other software does not start

  • The single bottom white light on the “spine” flashes

  • There is a bullet-shaped light above that which also flashes, but I am not sure if it is actually flashing or just picking up the light from the one below it so it looks like it’s flashing.

  • None of the strip of lights above these are lit

  • When I press the power button on the back, nothing happens

  • When I hold the power button, it causes the lights to stop flashing and be on constantly until I release the button

  • The connecting cable is the same one that worked the first time (USB 2.0)

  • I have tried each of the three USB connectors on my laptop without success

It is basically as if it does not realize that it is connected to a computer.

Any ideas? Thank you!

Check if the drive appears on disk management

see if able to format or change drive letter