WD My Passport not showing up in MY PC

Portable Drives My Passport Wireless
1

I have a WD My Passport which I had for a couple of years and then last winter I put many family photos and videos on it using my laptop running win10. WDBBEP0010BBK-03. Recently I tried to access the drive and it did not show up in “my PC” but in the bottom right hand corner on my screen where I eject usb it is there. It say “eject MyPassport”. I click on the eject button and it does eject but the light is still flashing on the WD as if something is still accessing it.
The cable attached to it is a SS Usb according to a label on it. I have tried it on two other newer computers and none can access it either. |I can feel it vibrating inside but thats all. I tried a different cable from another WD PaSSport which i just got for xmas as it was the same connection but that didnt work either.
Please advise

2

. Here’s what you can do:

Check the Connection and Cable:

  • First, double-check if the USB cable is in good condition and properly connected. Sometimes, a damaged cable or a loose connection can be the root cause.
  • Test the drive on a different USB port on my computer to rule out any port-specific issues.

Power Cycle the Drive:

  • If the drive has a power button, make sure it’s powered off, then disconnect it from my computer.
  • Next, disconnect the USB cable from both the drive and the computer.
  • After that, reconnect the USB cable and power on the drive (if it has a power button).
  • Finally, reconnect the drive to my computer to see if it’s recognized.

Check Disk Management (Windows):

  • For Windows users, right-click on the Start button and go to “Disk Management.”
  • There, look for my WD My Passport in the list of drives. It might appear without a drive letter or as an uninitialized drive.
  • right-click on it and assign a drive letter. If it’s uninitialized, I’d be cautious as initializing it could lead to data loss.

Device Manager (Windows):

  • In Windows, open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button.
  • Under "Disk drives,"look for any entries with a yellow triangle, indicating a driver issue. right-click and select “Update driver.”

Try on Another Computer:

  • Although already tried on two other computers give it one more shot on a different machine to see if the drive is recognized there.

Data Recovery:

  • If none of the above steps work and have important data on the drive, consider seeking professional data recovery services. There might be a hardware failure inside the drive that requires specialized attention.

Warranty and Support:

  • If WD My Passport is still under warranty, definitely contact Western Digital’s customer support. They might be able to provide assistance or even replace the drive if necessary.

Remember, it’s essential to be careful when making changes in Disk Management, Disk Utility, or similar tools, as mistakes can result in data loss. If you’re not comfortable with these steps, seeking help from a professional technician or data recovery service is a wise choice.

3

It sounds like there might be a problem with either the USB interface of the drive or a more serious internal issue. Given the symptoms, here are some steps you can take to try and recover your data:

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check Device Manager:

    • Open Device Manager on your Windows computer and look under “Disk drives” and “Universal Serial Bus controllers” to see if the drive is listed.
    • If the drive is listed but with a yellow exclamation mark, it may indicate a driver issue. Right-click the drive and select “Update driver.”

  2. Check Disk Management:

    • Open Disk Management (right-click Start menu and select “Disk Management”) to see if the drive appears there. If it appears as “RAW” or unallocated, the file system might be corrupted.

  3. Try a Different USB Port:

    • Connect the drive to a different USB port on your computer, preferably a USB 2.0 port if you have been using USB 3.0 ports.

  4. Use a Powered USB Hub:

    • Sometimes, the issue can be due to insufficient power. Try using a powered USB hub to connect the drive.

Advanced Steps for Data Recovery

  1. Use Data Recovery Software:

    • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard:
      • Download, install, and run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Select your WD My Passport drive, scan it, and attempt to recover your files.
    • Recuva:
      • Download, install, and run Recuva. Use the deep scan feature to recover your files.

  2. Use a Live Linux Distribution:

    • Sometimes, Linux can access drives that Windows cannot. You can create a bootable USB drive with a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) and boot your computer from it. Once in Linux, see if the drive is accessible.
    • If you are able to access the drive, copy the data to another storage device.

  3. Check for Bad Sectors:

    • Victoria for Windows:
      • Victoria is a powerful tool for checking and repairing bad sectors on a drive. You can download it and use it to scan your WD My Passport drive for errors.

  4. Try HDD Regenerator:

    • HDD Regenerator is another tool that can help fix bad sectors on a hard drive. Download it and run a scan on your WD My Passport drive.

Professional Data Recovery Services

If none of the above methods work, it may be time to consider professional data recovery services, especially since you have important family photos and videos on the drive. Given your experience in the data recovery business, you might already have access to tools and techniques that can help, but if not, professional services have specialized equipment and expertise to recover data from damaged drives.

Important Notes

  • Do Not Format the Drive:
    • Even if prompted by Windows, do not format the drive as this will make data recovery more difficult.
  • Avoid Excessive Attempts:
    • Repeatedly trying to access a failing drive can sometimes cause further damage. If the drive is making unusual noises or shows signs of physical failure, it’s best to stop trying and seek professional help.

If you need detailed guidance on any of these steps or tools, feel free to ask!

4

Sorry to hear that. Your WD My Passport drive may have a hardware or file system issue. :shushing_face:

I will try to briefly explain the possible solutions.

Method 1: Restart your computer and plug WD passport into another USB port.
Method 2: Replace a brand-new USB cable.
Method 3: Run Troubleshooter in the Setting app.
Method 4: Update or reinstall your disk driver in Disk Management.
Method 5: Change a drive letter in Disk Management.
Method 6: Run a virus scan.
Method 5: Run CHKDSK on your drive (Using CMD)
Method 7: Format your drive as the last resort. (All data will be erased.)
Method 8: Send it for manual repair.

These are all some very basic solutions. If you need detailed step-by-step instructions, take some time to read this guide.

5

Step 1: Diagnose the Drive

:one: Check Disk Management (Do this FIRST):

  • Press Win + X → Disk Management.
  • Look for your WD drive. If it shows as “RAW”, “Unallocated”, or “No Drive Letter”, we can fix it!
  • If it’s offline: Right-click → “Online”. If no drive letter: Right-click → “Change Drive Letter” → Assign one (e.g., E:).

:two: Try a Different USB Port:

  • Use a motherboard-connected port (not a hub). Test USB 2.0 and 3.0. Sometimes older ports work better for faulty drives.

Step 2: Recover Your Family Photos (SAFEST METHODS)

:small_blue_diamond: Option A: Use Data Recovery Software (If drive appears in Disk Management):

:small_blue_diamond: Option B: Avoid Chkdsk (Unless you’re desperate):

  • DO NOT run chkdsk yet—it risks data loss if the drive is physically failing. Only use this after recovering files.

Step 3: Fix the Drive Recognition Issue

:point_right: Driver Fix:

  • Open Device Manager → Expand “Disk Drives”.
  • Right-click the WD drive → “Uninstall device” → Restart PC (Windows will reinstall drivers).

:point_right: WD-Specific Tools:

  • Download WD Drive Utilities → Run diagnostics. DO NOT format unless you’ve already recovered data.

:point_right: Partition Revival:

  • If the drive shows as “RAW” in Disk Management, use Partition Master Free → Right-click drive → “Check File System”.

:rotating_light: Critical Red Flags (Hardware Failure)

  • Vibration but no detection + Noises: Likely mechanical failure. STOP USING THE DRIVE to avoid further damage.
  • Next Steps for Hardware Issues:
    • Freeze Trick (Temporary Fix): Seal the drive in a ziplock, freeze for 12 hours, then try accessing it quickly. Only works for short-term recovery.
    • Professional Recovery:
      WD’s Data Recovery Services or labs. Costs $300–$2000, but family memories are priceless.

Prevent Future Disasters

  • Backup Rule: Follow 3-2-1 (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite). Use a NAS (Synology) + cloud (Backblaze).
  • Replace the Drive: WD Passports last 3–5 years. Upgrade to a newer SSD for reliability.
7

First, check Disk Management to see if the drive is there and try to assign it a letter or format it. Test it in different USB ports and check Device Manager for any driver problems. Make sure the drive is getting enough power. You can also try using WD tools to check for issues. If you still can’t access the drive, try data recovery software Like Stellar data recovery, Easeus or Advanced data recovery or connect it to a Linux computer. If nothing works, you might need professional help. WD My Passport Ultra Not Showing Up in Windows 11[2024]

8

If the WD external hard drive cannot be detected or fails to show up on your PC, change the USB port (you may try to connect the external hard drive to the motherboard), or connect it using a different USB cable to check if it shows up on the PC. Or, you can do as follows: * Click Start > Type: devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.

  • Open Device Manager > Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
  • Right-click USB Root Hub > Click Properties > Power Management.
  • Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.