I have a 250 GB WD Passport drive which 2.5 year old but still under warrnaty. few days back, it stopped detecting. When I tried to check with hard drive utilities, it passes quick test in no time but extended WD test failed and it could not repair with the message - it has bad sectors. WD will replace the drive but I am wondering how do I restore the data ( WD's recommended data recovery costs 300+ $). Please note that it makes mechanical sound 4 times in the begining and then light is steady on the drive. any hardrive utility can help here?

Several possibilities:

* bad USB port in your computer (try another USB port)
* messed-up copy of Windows (try connecting to a different computer)
* damaged USB cable between computer and the Passport (replace it)
* bad disk-drive inside the enclosure (replace it)
* bad USB-to-disk-drive adapter (buy a new "empty" enclosure)

Check the warranty on it, to see if W.D. will replace it, at minimal cost to you. If the warranty has expired, W.D. has a "Customer Loyalty" program -- buy a new Passport through their web-site, and you qualify for a discount on your purchase.

Try connecting it to another computer, to see if your computer is the problem.

Try a different USB cable between the unit and your computer.

If it is still under warranty (one year?) then contact W.D. to get an RMA (Return Materials Authorization) -- then, ship the unit to them, for repair/replacement.

If the warranty has expired, open the case, disconnect the USB-to-disk-drive adapter, and connect the disk-drive as a "slave" drive in some desktop computer, to see if it can be properly "detected".

Note that W.D. has a "Customer Loyalty" program -- give them the serial-number from the disk-drive, and you get a good discount on the purchase of a new Passport from their web-site.

Sounds like bad usb cable try replacing the cable.

Is the drive formatted? Did you get an install disk supplied with it? If so try running it.
Check your system BIOS and see if the drive is being detected there. Also you can check the Device Manager in Windows to see if there any issues with the drive.

If your system detects the connected device that is a good start. Was the drive formatted for another operating system? Certainly try the drive on another system and/or another drive on your system.

Had similar issue with my WD passport , it turned out that it didn’t like my USB 2 ext lead, as i am unable to access my PC’S USB socket i was a bit stuck ...... i have now found that a low cost “POWERED” USB hub solved the issue .....good luck

Hi !

First check if your WD is running (spinning), no matter if the blue light is on. Can you hear it close with your ear, or feel vibrations on your hand when it starts.

If it runs, then check/replace the USB cable you are using with another.
Check the Power supply if it gives necessary power.


If you are familliar with disassembling/assembling, then open and remove the HDD from the box and try to connect the disc directly to your PC (using another HDD Data/Power cables).

If it runs, and you can acces it, then something is wrong with the Box.

If it doesn't, then the HDD is broken or damaged.

Please note that if your device is under warranty, DO NOT open the box ! Contact your seller for service/replacement instructions.

Regards.

In the end, I assigned a different drive letter to the device and it worked.

There's a lot of info out there on how to assign a letter. Here's one link:

http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/change-windows-drive-letters-167525.php

Try using a Usb 2 cable "The one that came with the WD My Passport " And put it directly to the PC...
In some cases, Like mine, I used an extended cable + the cable that came with the "WD My Passport" and i got the same problem ..
So i simply removed the extended cable and put the put "WD My Passport " directly to the PC with its own cable and the problem was solved to me ..
Samer.F

Does you drive make any sounds like these? If yes you have a mechanical problem and you should get a specialist to work on it.
If not - try to remove the drive from the enclosure and connect it directly to the computer to recover your files.