Prolem with starting my WD500 (model wd5000h1u-00)

I take help from online websites that have this service like helping in repair some like reliable-store have instant help.. others are a bit slow which I don't prefer... rest is up to u.. U can also get free manual works fine .

> it is still in warranty

If you exercise the warranty, you'll have to send the current device back to W.D.
But, W.D. will take _no_ responsibility for 'rescuing' the files currently on the disk.
Is that what you want?

Disassemble the enclosure, and remove the disk-drive.
Connect it as a 'slave' disk-drive in a desktop computer.
If it works, the disk-drive is OK.
So, look at: http://www.canadaram.com/3_5_sata_enclosures.htm
and buy a new enclosure, with a new power-supply.
(Or, buy the new enclosure locally, at any computer-store.)
Disassemble your current unit, remove the disk-drive,
and transplant the disk-drive into the new enclosure.

Read this instructions my friend
It is possible to use a Western Digital external hard drive on botha PC and a Mac. However, there are some things to keep in mind if youwant to do this. Moreover, Western Digital does not recommend doing it.

• For both PC and Mac to be able to read the drive, it must beformatted in the FAT32 file format. In order to format to FAT32 on aMac you may need to contact Apple for support. We do have a FAT32Formatting utility for Windows that reformats WD external hard drivesto their full size, but in only one partition. The FAT32 formattingutility can be downloaded from our Downloads Library. You will find it on your WD drive's Downloads page.
Critical: Do not attempt toconnect any external drive to multiple computers, simultaneously; letalone to both a Mac and PC. This could quickly damage the drive'spartition and corrupt the data on the drive.


• Sometimes, PC's won't read Mac FAT32 formatted drives, andMac's won't read PC FAT32 formatted drives. You may have to re-formatthe drive trying both the PC and Mac until you get a format that works.


• Most WD external hard drives come pre-formatted with one large FAT32 partition, which is accessible by Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, and Mac OS 10.4 and 10.5.


• Windows 2000, XP and Vista can only create FAT32 partitions that are 32 GB's or smaller.


• Mac 10.4 and 10.5 can create FAT32 partitions the full size of the drive.


• There is a 4 GB file size limit on the FAT32 file format. Thisis a file system limitation that affects both Mac's and PC's, and thereis no way around it.


• Finally, you need to understand that if you are using the samedrive back and forth between a Mac and PC, there is always the chanceof files being corrupted. Mac's and PC's are different platforms, andtheir file systems function differently. Please keep backups of allyour files before you start sharing between Mac and PC computers.

Note: Once the data iscorrupted, that drive may no longer be recognized by one or both of thecomputers. Or, the drive may be recognized, and the data may bevisible, but you won't be able to open any files. At that point, youwill need to re-partition and reformat the drive in order for it to berestored and usable by both computers again. In the process, you willlose all the data on the drive. For that reason, you need to keep abackup of the files you are transferring between computers.At the bottom of the page, you will find links for partitioning and formatting in Windows XP and Vista, and Mac 10.4 and 10.5.

Plug the drive into your PC.

Right Click on My Computer (or Computer in Vista/Windows 7) and select Manage.

Click on Disk Management.

Right Click the Volume in question and select Format. Select FAT32 in the options.

you may have a FAT32/NTFS format problem between your wd500 and your pc. or differently formatted partitions. right click on their device letters on 'my computer' and look at 'properties'. should tell you how they're formatted and # of partitions, etc.
just a guess!
good luck!

cant you just hook it up and see it under my computer as a drive?

I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO REPARE THIS

You will have to go your BIOS settings. What its doing is the BIOS is looking for a removable storage to booot to before it looks for your actual hard drive. You will have to change the order of boot checking to where your hard drive is first. 
Reboot your computer without the drive connected.
While still on the black screen that looks like DOS, it should come up and say press F2 (or some other key) to get to SETUP.
Press the key rapidly until the screen comes up. 
If it dosnt come up then you were to late and then reboot your system and start pressing it repetadly agian right when it turns on.
Navigate in your BIOS menu to find BOOT OPTIONS.
Once there rearange the list to where IDE or HARD DRIVE 1 is first on the list.
Press the exit button and make sure to save chages not discard them. 
Then try connecting it and turning on.

Are you sure the power supply is OK for this drive?

Does it make any clicking/clunking sounds like any of these: http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php?
If yes - it's really bad.
If it sounds normal then try to remove it from enclosure and connect directly to a PC.

Lots of posts on this on other boards -- I was looking for output voltage of AC adapters as they are not labeled WD and had mixed multiples from other devices in one box while moving-- -- found that answer -- BUT I also saw several people whose drive stopped working suddenly. One got a tip from WD support to unplug adaptor from power strip and into wall socket directly -- This seemed to have solved this for many. Being a study of electrical and electronics I have a suspicion that the current capacity of the strip plug cord wires or strip internals are being overloaded. This will cause a drop in voltage out of the power supply itself, thus low voltage to the drive. One individual re-created the problem by again going back to a loaded strip. No guarantees but worth a try!!