⟐ Commented January 30, 2026 at 3:34 MST

it appears in the device windows , just doesn't start (or initialize). I even tried the refrigerator trick, nothing

I've also tried several data recover progs, recuva , testdisk, easyus, wondershare WAC, etc, they all fail to see the external drive.

there must be a program that can go through , any ideas?

thanks, Jim

⟐ Answer accepted October 09, 2018 at 5:20 MST

⟐ Answered March 12, 2026 at 4:03 MST

The drive light is on & I can hear the drive. But its not showing up on my desktop. Can anyone help me to backup the data from my hard drive. I have some very important data on it.

⟐ Answer deleted May 18, 2021 at 5:53 MST

1) i tried putting other cables , NOT HELPED

2) also tried in other laptops , NOT HELPED

3) recently tried with a Macbook Pro 13", it showed for a second, but hanged my laptop

after restarting it, it didnt show evev once, althought IT IS BEING SHOWN in the disk utility, it is NOT getting repaired, but teliing to format it

4) there is NO CLICKING sound or any sound coming from inside it

HELP ME please. as very valuable file is inside it

⟐ Commented October 06, 2020 at 23:38 MST

I tried to recover data by using Yodot Mac Data Recovery but it said there was no volume in the file. Can anybody please give me some advice to recover my data?

⟐ Answer edited January 18, 2020 at 5:57 MST

my id is SAADBAIG267@GMAIL.COM

FB NAME :SAADBAIG

⟐ Commented August 04, 2022 at 5:14 MST

⟐ Answer edited September 27, 2024 at 2:09 MST

Let me explain the "normal way":

I have another 1TB WD (same model as my 2TB WD) which behaves in a "normal way". Just plug and play. Nothing weird! Once I connect it, the LED blinks for a few times for successful connection. Done. I can find it in explorer

Let me explain the "bizarre way:

The 2TB WD behaves in a "bizarre way". If I connect it in the "normal way", it will not show up in explorer, Diskpart, or Disk management no matter how long I wait. In order to make the 2TB WD to show, I have to process the following steps every time I connect this 2TB external hard drive: First, plug in the USB cable halfway through any one of my desktop computer's USB ports. Then, wait for the drive to show up in explorer. Finally, I can push the USB completely into the USB port. The difference is that the successful connection of the 2TB WD happens when the USB cable is half way into the USB port.

Troubleshoots:

————— USB Port Test —————

That particular 2TB WD behaves in the "bizarre way" on all usb ports of my Win 8.1 desktop and my Win 10 Surface Pro 3.

—————— Cable Test ——————

Since my 1TB WD is working properly, I try to switch the USB cables between them. The 2TB WD still behaves in the "bizarre way". Thus, I can tell it's not a USB cable issue.

———— Partition Table Test ————

Also, I have tried to reformat the 2TB WD based on GPT or MBR partition tables. It still acts in the "bizarre way”.

==========================================

Last edited: 08-06-2020

Temporary Solution: Halfway-in-USB trick

For Windows machines, first push USB half way through a USB port just tight enough for successful connection (you’ll hear the classic Windows sound effect), then push it down completely. The solution may not work for you depending on your situations (For example, different Operating Systems). As some visitors commented it worked, you are welcome to try. If this “Halfway-in-USB“ trick is for you, backup your data after you have access to the hard drive. I am not sure how long the method will last.

For future visitors: Looks like the post had helped some people having the same issue. I just leave it at that. Please read other comments as well because you may find the surprised solution just for you. Thanks everybody for participating in discussion.

⟐ Commented October 30, 2022 at 10:40 MST

⟐ Answer edited July 02, 2021 at 11:27 MST

⟐ Answered October 31, 2024 at 8:53 MST

⟐ Commented October 24, 2023 at 22:24 MST

⟐ Commented October 15, 2016 at 15:23 MST

⟐ Commented March 06, 2025 at 1:46 MST

⟐ Commented November 04, 2024 at 2:49 MST

⟐ Answered September 13, 2019 at 5:16 MST

I've tried different outlets, also subbed in the power cable from my older MyBook Studio, all to no avail! This is especially maddening since I have many externals, one from 2006 even, that I no longer use but still powers up! makes me think newer is less reliable - !! This really blows!

so if I tear it down, what am I looking for?

is there a way to access it w/o a power source?

fyi, it's barely 1 yr old - bought it in Aug 2016

⟐ Answered July 14, 2024 at 5:32 MST

There was no physical damage it received. I had the drive plugged into my laptop, I attempted to open a folder on it after some time had passed: it froze, then closed out. I unplugged the drive and re-inserted it: my computer recognizes that something was plugged in, but I cannot access the files on the drive.

There is no clicking noise. It lights up fine, and I can hear the disk spinning smoothly. It shows up under Device Manager under its proper name, but not in Disk Management. When I open disk management, I get a message that says “you must initialize a disk before logical disk manager can access it”. It does not work when plugged into different computers, nor when switching the cables.

I am a computer novice, but my sleuthing leads me to believe that the issue is with the SATA connections. Though this seems to be an easy fix, Western Digital unfortunately has the sata connections integrated into the rest of the board. A video had suggested buying another identical hard drive and replacing the controller board with the old one, but others have said that is a bad idea. Please help me.

⟐ Answer edited September 15, 2021 at 15:50 MST

⟐ Answer accepted January 07, 2017 at 7:20 MST

⟐ Commented December 27, 2023 at 4:41 MST