External Hard Drive Help

[DeusVult]

Was this an internal drive that you bought a case for and made it an external?

When/how was the last time you put files on there?

Is it IDE, Sata, and Sata2, USB?

[kainbloodheart]

Its a western digital 500gb My Book

[DeusVult]

Hmm, I would recommend just doing as Ketsuron suggested. (And in the future, always make sure to have 2 copies of your data)

[kainbloodheart]

well after ringing my friends and asking it looks like there were only a couple of recent relesaes that i had downloaded that they don't have so im formatting my hard drive and getting everything of my friends. Thank you very much to everyone who has helped. So much friendlier than some people i asked. so a to all who helped

[kainbloodheart]

Originally Posted by kainbloodheart

well after ringing my friends and asking it looks like there were only a couple of recent relesaes that i had downloaded that they don't have so im formatting my hard drive and getting everything of my friends. Thank you very much to everyone who has helped. So much friendlier than some people i asked. so a to all who helped

WELL screw what i just said it won't let me reformat it

[Conquest]

Did you try the diagnostic tools or updating the firmwire?WD Support > Downloads > My Book
Just have to find yours on that list if you havent tried that already.

[FireFlower]

Sounds like there is an issue with the hard disk itself or electronics of the external case.

If you don't have anymore warranty on it, pick up a screw driver and take that little bastard of the external case and connect it directly to your PC's motherboard. If then you cannot see your files / reformat it then it is the most likely broken.

I can say to you this: Keep always two external HDD's that both have same files. (contains your most valueable files). External HDDs have a bigger chance to break down than ones connected directly to motherboard. Why? You're moving, shaking and it heats more and so on.

[1UP]

Best bet:
Plug it in let it go through w.e it does.

Right click my computer and click Manage
Your drive will show up there without a doubt and from there you can run tests. It may be as simple as assigning it a new drive letter.

I've had the same issue on my 120GB WD External and it was a drive letter fix
So if anything check into that

[kainbloodheart]

All sorted now, totaly wiped and formated properly, like fireflower said i'm gonna get a second hard drive to back up backup :)

[hikaru]

External hard drives are not known for their durability, despite their names on them. Internal hard drives are more stable to their fixed location, Remember that portable hard drives can be harmed by rough movement, static, and weather conditions and environment.