Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 2.0 1 TB USB Hard Drive Logo
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Anonymous Posted on Feb 08, 2011

How do I disconnect (uninstall) a WD External Hard Drive from my computer? I am using a WD 3200AAK WD External Hard Drive and want to install a 1 TB WD External Hard Drive. I would like to use the old one on a different computer. When I try to plug in the new one, the computer will not recognize it. I found some directions in My Computer: Went to My Computer, clicked on WD icon, Properties, under Hardware and highlighted WD3200AAK external drive. Said this device is working properly. Then went to Policies and found Write caching and Safe Removal: A. Optimize for quick removal (This is chosen). This setting disables write caching on the disk and in Windows, so you can disconnect this device w/o using the Safe Removal Icon. B. Optimize for performance This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect his device from the computer, click Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area. My other computer will recognize both WD External Hard Drives. So what do I need to do to install the 1 TB WD?

  • Anonymous Feb 08, 2011

    I was able to disconnect the old WD external hard drive by using the Safe Removal icon. But my computer does not recognize the new WD external hard drive. I can tell the computer is trying to read it, but nothing happens.

  • Anonymous Feb 08, 2011

    Windows XP. Was able to get WD ext hard drive disconnected properly, had to turn computer off first. Now the computer recognizes the ext hard drive BUT during installation I get this message: The software you are installing for this hardware USB Mass Storage Device has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP.
    Continuing your installation of this software may impair or destabilize the correct operation of your system either immediately or in the future. Microsoft strongly recommends that you stop this installation now and contact the hardware vendor for software that has passed Windows logo testing.
    So where do I go to find this Windows Logo testing..

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  • Posted on Feb 08, 2011
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External hard drives don't need any program installed on your computer to run. Your operating system Windows, Linux should handle it as soon as you plug the usb in your computer. The programs included in your WD external hard drive are tools to backup your data.

If you try to hook up your hard drive to a Windows prior to XP, maybe your computer will not handle it.

It is always safer to safely remove your drive using the green arrow icon in the lower right corner of your screen. This way, the drive is shut down properly and you minimize chances of fails when you plug it again on another computer.

Hope this helps!

  • Anonymous Feb 08, 2011

    Which operating system are you using? Windows, Linux and which version?

  • Anonymous Feb 08, 2011

    Hi. Go ahead even if it says that your device has not passed.......
    Microsoft will not test every hardware you plug in your computer.

    WD software are safe to install even if Windows warns you about the compatibility test. I have four external WD hard drives and I installed every softwares sucessfully and never had any problems.

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