Computer not recognizing WD My Book external HD?

Question

I own a WD My Book Essential, 160GB, external hard drive and have been using it for three years with no problems.  My computer's OS is Windows XP Home Edition.

I use my external as a secondary hard drive, mostly for storage space.  Today, I unplugged it to take it to a friend's house.  When he tried to plug the HD into his computer, his computer didn't recognize it (calling it an "unknown device").  He then tried plugging it into his laptop, which had the same result.  Upon getting home, I tried plugging it back into my computer, and it did the same thing (says "Unknown Device").

Normally, whenever it's on, it's displayed on My Computer as the J: drive; ever since this happened, however, it doesn't recognize it.  When I go into Device Management, it says it needs a new Driver; however, there's no driver on the WD website for the My Book Essential when run on anything above Windows 98.

I tried plugging other USB items into each of my five USB ports, and those devices worked.  So, it's not a problem with any of the USB drives.

Any ideas?

Boom Boom · Accepted Answer

You couldve freaked it out if you just unplugged it without ejecting it first. 
 The reason id lean towards a hardware problem is because xp doesnt need drivers for this.(Thats why there are none listed above Win98) .Its plug and play.So check that the cable hasnt gone bad.If its replaceable.You can check the hardrives health by using the Data lifeguard diagnostics from Western Digitals Website.
  Good Luck !

                                                   Boom Boom

? · Answer

OSX does no longer study NTFS this is the record device it probable had put in. you should reformat it into FAT32 in case you like it to study on a Mac and a computer. What probable happened become that Mac began the technique of formatting it without asking you ensuing in it being tousled. you have probable lost each and all the information on it. Plug it into the laptop and then open laptop administration on the laptop. Double click on storage. Then click Disk administration. you should work out the exterior HD. precise click it. click format and format it into FAT32. despite you do do no longer format it into HFS as somebody else interior the solutions reported. That'll make it no longer readable on the living house windows laptop. although there are workarounds for OSX yet this demands workarounds with some degree of laptop saavy. you will discover them with a cursory Google seek.

JoelKatz · Answer

Unfortunately, it sounds like the controller failed. You can try removing the hard drive from the external enclosure and using it with another USB controller.

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Computer not recognizing WD My Book external HD?

3 Answers