Why won't my Western Digital passport external drive work on my computer?

My WD passport external drive wont work. It powers up and I hear the drive spinning but the computer wont read it. What can I do to access its content?

In Finder Preferences>General, is Show... External Disks checked?
Does it show in Disk Utility?

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Why won't a 2TB W.D. Black Drive Work in my G5 Power Mac?

Why won't a 2TB W.D. Black Drive Work in my G5 Power Mac?
It's a Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Black SATA III WD2002FAE
My G5 Power Mac can not "see" this new drive. As a test, I installed this drive in my Intel Mac Pro and it works perfectly.
On the back of the drive their Pins where one can install a jumper. Western Digital provided no jumpers.
Suggestions appreciated.

It's the SATA speed, G5's only deal with Sata I/1.5GB/s, try a jumper on pins 5 & 6 to slow it down... and if you made it GUID on the Mac Pro the G5 won't see it on the Desktop, but Disk Utility might see it & let you Partition it APM.
But I still don't know if the SATA 6.0Gb/s drive will slow to only SATA2, or what, at one time OWC had a warning that the 64MB Caxhe WD models wouldn't work on G5s, but I no longer find that...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western%20Digital/WD2002FAEX/
This drive is SATA 6G (3G/1.5G Compatible) ...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Hitachi/0F12115/
But may depend on the Mac's HW/SW to detect/tell the drive what speed it can handle.

Why won't my Western Digital (2TB) My Book for Mac backup to time Machine?

This past fall (2012) I was notified by apple that the hard drive on my 2010 iMac might need to be replaced due to issues. Before doing so I was prompted to back up all of my data with an external hard drive using Time Machine. I purchased a Western Digital 2TB external hard drive and set it up easily. The setup parameters were such that the thing should backup my iMac to Time Machine on the hour every hour. This worked well and also allowed me to restore my user preferences for nearly everything when I got my computer back with its new hard drive. This was around October.
Recently (mid-March), my WD My Book no longer backs up to Time Machine. The computer recognizes the drive, allows me to access it, but will not backup to Time Machine. I have no hypotheses as to why this has started happening, but it just did. I have tried shutting Time Machine off and turning it back on to the particular external hard drive. This has not worked. I have tried to prompt a manual backup, but the computer gets stuck when preparing to back the drive up. It never actually commences the backup.
I understand that just like anything else that things fail. I also understand that sometimes things fail within the first few months of purchase (half a year-ish in my case). I just cannot understand what might be causing it. Any speculation?
Here are some screenshots associated with my current problems:

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message. Clear the text field and scroll back in the log to that time. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

Western Digital USB External Drive

I am using Windows 7 and just bought Western Digital My Book Essential 3.0 external drive. My computer will not boot up with the drive connected. If I disconnect the drive it will boot up. When I reconnect the drive after boot up, it works fine.
Is there a change in the bios required?

Yes there is a setting for that in the BIOS.
Look for it in boot devices and remove USB boot option.
If you ever need to boot to a USB device you can re-enable it.

Western Digital Passport and itunes.

I recently got a Western Digital Passport external hard drive in order to put my itunes music onto it, so it would not take up so much space on my macbook. I found it relatively easy to move all my files the first time, but then as soon as I downloaded something from the itunes store, it put it onto my computer. Since the artist was the same as some music I already had, it did not recognize that I did not already have it, so I could not simply move the new music onto the Passport.
I was wondering if there was some kind of sync feature for the Passport to macs, because I know there is for windows. All I want is for my music to continually go to my Passport, and not take up space on my laptop.
Thanks!

If the WD drive isn't plugged in, iTunes doesn't know where your library is, and hence can't properly add the new music files where they should go. The passport MUST be plugged in to the mac before you start iTunes or a new library will be created and your new music files will go in to THAT library.
The simple way to correct this is to take the files you added that did not go where you wanted them and put them on your desktop from the folder they are residing in (if you're not sure where they are, just click 'Get Info' on the tracks in iTunes and it will tell you where the real files are). From there, close iTunes and plug in your WD drive.
Reopen iTunes now and make sure in your preferences that the music folder on the WD drive is selected as your music library location. Then make sure 'Copy files to iTunes Music Folder' is checked. Now drag your music files on your desktop in to the iTunes window. iTunes will then copy those files over to the WD drive music folder and add them to the iTunes database.

Mac mini win7 western digital passport

Hi,
I have a Mac mini recently (4day) and I installed Win7 ultimate 64 on one partition. So far all OK.
I attached a Western Digital Passport external HD 1T; FireWare 800.
Win7 connection driver instaled OK.
I see the HD in the "Printer and device" menu.
With Win7 Explorer i cant find it.
Have a suggestion?
Tank you.

Hello, what Format is the external drive?
Does OSX see the drive fine?

Western Digital Passport 250Gb external drive and MacBook Pro

Hello,
Has anyone with the 15" 2.2ghz 120Gb hd MacBook Pro able to connect this Western Digital Passport 250 GB external drive to only 1 USB port and has it working?
I intend to buy both of these hardwares, but was told that I may need to get the extra Y-cable that can connect to 2 USB ports of the MacBook Pro since only 1 USB port may not have enough power to work the WD external drive? The WD drive comes with only 1 "standard" USB cable.
Thanks.

I've got the 120GB passport and it's worked when I plugged it into the right-side port. But I prefer my connections on the left (to keep room for my mouse) so I got a powered Kensington Dome hub that I run thru my left USB port and have plugged the HD into the hub and that also works.

Western Digital Passport 320 GB on macbook

Does anyone have any experience in using a Western Digital Passport _320 GB_ model as an external HD with an intel macbook?
Do you power it with 1 or both usb ports?
Had any problems with it?
Would you recommend?
Thanks, .B.

I have the 160 GB model, and it works fine. I only use 1 port to plug it in. I have two partitions- one for data, and one for Time Machine.
Steve

Western Digital Passport not mounting

I have a western digital passport that I have used a couple of times. Today I was transferring my music and it said there were corrupted files in my music, and all of a sudden the drive will not be recognized anymore. I don't know what to do? I have been reading everything online. I have tried checking disk utility and it does not appear. Tried checking the hard drive on another computer and it didn't pop up. Please all suggestions are helpful.

The Western Digital Passport drives have a reputation for being power hogs. Your Macbook USB port might not be providing enough power to run the drive. This especially might be the case if you are running off of the battery only. Your PC ports might be giving slightly more power that is enough to run the drive.
I have a portable Simpletech drive (120Gb) that actually comes with a Y cable that plugs into two USB ports on my Macbook. This provides enough power to run the drive without needing a separate power adapter. The Western Digitals typically don't come with this Y cable, but one is offered. You can buy one off their website for about $20 that should allow you to use the drive with your Laptop. It's lame that everyone else provides such a cable for free while WD charges, but that's the way it is.
good luck with getting it to work.

T41 not recognised USB Western Digital Passport 2.5" Ext HDD

My T41 used to worked fine with my WD 2.5" ext HDD. For the past 3 months, do not know what happen every time i plug my ext HDD it just not recognised. When i plug this ext HDD to other computers, it just work absolutely fine.
Can anybody help, please.

I had same issue with same type of pc and USB Western Digital Passport. Problems was on laptop usb ports that had gone broken. Laptop didnt have warraty anymore so i had to connect USB-DISK to docking stations usb port that is still working.
Other solution is to buy usb2 PCMCIA adapter.
Mouse worked on laptop port but no harddrive so i think its was some power issue that laptop usb cannot give enoght power to run harddrive.
Message Edited by outouser on 04-03-2009 12:04 PM

Why won't photos from external drive stay on my computer (iPhoto) once I disconnect the external drive?

I'm trying to move photos from my external drive to my new computer. When I connect the external drive, I'm able to view all the photos in iPhoto, and I'm able to drag photos to a desktop folder and/or directly into iPhoto. But, when I disconnect the external drive, I no longer have access to the photos on my computer. I'm sure there's a step I may be overlooking but I'm using the same process I've used in the past and cannot determine next steps.

Thanks so far.
I'm currently working on a 2012 MacBook Air 13", running OSX 10.8.
Upon opening my external drive, I've dragged the iPhoto Library to my computer's desktop. When I've opened iPhoto and tried to import the library (from external drive and/or from the desktop), I'm unable to do so, i.e., the library is not highlighted (it won't allow me to click on it).
I can open and view the library from my external drive in iPhoto when the external drive is connected to the computer. But, once the external drive is disconnected from the computer, I'm unable to view the library
I've tried all of the aforementioned when the "Copy Imported Item(s) to the iPhoto Library" is checked.

HELP! WD Passport External Drive stopped being recognized by my Mac

This happened out of the blue. It worked fine for 2 years. No problems. Then today when I plug it into my Mac, I hear it spin for about a minute but my Mac won't recognize it. The drive doesn't show up at all, anywhere, including the Disc Utility. The external drive also appears to be in fine working condition --- I have never seen it overheat, and I have never heard any noises coming form it.
The WD Passport External Drive uses a Firewire 800 port, and my Mac notebook is a late 2011 model, and it is running OS X 10.9.5.
The only thing that was oddly coincidental was that I noticed this after I installed an update for iTunes that looked like it involved more than just iTunes (I saw something about a "Safari patch" and other stuff in the bundle too). I'm thinking this was just a coincidence though, and I'm not even sure the external HD wasn't working even before that, but who knows.
Anyone have any ideas???

Some more information...
So I was able to test the external HD using the USB port (instead of the Firewire port), and also tested it on a separate computer, and I always experienced the same problem. The external HD starts trying to spin and connect to my Mac, but after trying unsuccessfully to do so after about 20 seconds it gives up and stops/powers-down.
Since I've tested it using different ports, different connecting wires, and different computers, I'm thinking chances are the problem is with the hardware of the external HD itself (i.e. worst case scenario).
Before shipping my external HD off to get repaired or to get the data recovered, can anyone think of any reason why it would be a software issue? I read something about updating the "firmware" but I have no idea what that is. I guess I'm still holding out hope that the drive isn't fried because when I plug it in it does try to spin and start up instead of just remaining dead.
Any ideas at all are welcome at this point.
Thanks

My iMac Seagate 1T hard drive crashed. I replaced it with a Western Digital 1T hard drive. Where can I get the Lion OS?

My iMac Seagate 1T hard drive crashed. I replaced it with a Western Digital 1T hard drive. Where can I get the Lion OS?
The iMac comes up with a ? in a folder, even after starting with Option/Command/R keys pressed.
Please help.

Call Apple to purchase replacement discs or order a copy of Snow Leopard from Apple's Online Store. Follow these instructions:
Drive Preparation and Install Snow Leopard
1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
7. When completed quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard. Once you boot from Snow Leopard you should open Software Update and install all the available updates required. After you complete this and restart the computer open the App Store application in the Dock or Applications folder.
8. Sign into the App Store with your Apple ID and password. Purchase and download Lion.
9. After Lion's installer downloads, install Lion.

WD Passport External Drive stopped being recognized by my Mac

This happened out of the blue. It worked fine for 2 years. No problems. Then today when I plug it into my Mac, I hear it spin for about a minute but my Mac won't recognize it. The drive doesn't show up at all, anywhere, including the Disc Utility. The external drive also appears to be in fine working condition --- I have never seen it overheat, and I have never heard any noises coming form it. I also tried a different Firewire, and the same thing happened, so that's not the problem.
The WD Passport External Drive uses a Firewire 800 port, and my Mac notebook is a late 2011 model, and it is running OS X 10.9.5.
The only thing that was oddly coincidental was that I noticed this after I installed an update for iTunes that looked like it involved more than just iTunes (I saw something about a "Safari patch" and other stuff in the bundle too). I'm thinking this was just a coincidence though, and I'm not even sure the external HD wasn't working even before that, but who knows.
Anyone have any ideas???

See Mount at bottom of 1st link.
Disk Unmount Using Terminal
Disk Utility – Force Mount Disk

Passport External Drive Issues

Love, love, love my new iMac BUT... I am having a problem using my Passport external drive with it. It recognizes it, but every few minutes it will lose the contact and then give me an error message about not having removed the device properly. (I did nothing) It is more than a tad annoying as I work mostly with Photoshop and I have been trying to work on on an image in camera raw, and just as I find the image I want the connection is lost. Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution please?

Hi KathrynG
Welcome to Apple Discussions
If your plugging it into the keyboard, try connecting it to a port on the back of the iMac for a couple of reasons. (1) The keyboard may not supply enough power and (2) The keyboard's bus speed is the slower USB 1.1 instead of High Speed USB 2.0
I also know that the passport's cord is short and stiff and about impossible to connect to a port on the back of the iMac. I easily connect mine to a powered hub sitting on my desk that has a port on the front. You might want to consider a USB hub, a USB extension cable or longer cable to use with the WD Passport.
Dennis

Why won't my Western Digital passport external drive work on my computer?

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