WD My Passport not working

Gobyerno2012 · 27 Jul 2015

Hi everyone... I have a WD My Passport WD5000BMVW
I plugged it in the computer but it does show up in my computer explorer, the hard drive lights up and you can hear the disk spin but the computer does not read it. If you go to device manage its listed I tried to uninstall it and scan for hardware changes but still won't work...

It is visible in Disk Management but when i try to initialize it, it has a pop up window " The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error" it says...

I tried PW9 but it cannot detect my External HD... I tried different cable and also plugged it to different computer but still not working....

HELP PLEASE!!... thank you....

Hacb · 27 Jul 2015

here are some possible causes of this error:
Causes of an IO Device Error

I/O error issues might occur for any of the following reasons:

Causes of an IO Device Error

I/O error issues might occur for any of the following reasons:

Windows is trying to use a transfer mode that the hardware device cannot use.
The hardware device that you are trying to access is damaged or defective.
The hardware drivers are damaged or incompatible.
There is a connection problem, such as a bad cable.
The CD or DVD disk that you are trying to access is dirty or damaged.

since it didn't work on another computer i'm thinking that the drive is faulty and needs replacing.

Gobyerno2012 · 27 Jul 2015

OMG!!!....
I really need the files inside it... any possible way for me to even revive it or for me to be able to get my files in it?...
thank you....

Hacb · 27 Jul 2015

I know how you feel, I lost 2 USBs fulll of data earlier this year, it SUCKS! here, this might help if you're willing to get inside that drive and poke around.
Recover files from a dead external drive | PCWorld

Gobyerno2012 · 27 Jul 2015

Thank you Hacb... yeah.. I am really feeling down right now... anyway thanks... will definitely check out the link... thank you....

GokAy · 27 Jul 2015

That drive should have encyrption so removing the drive won't help I believe.

jumanji · 27 Jul 2015

I don't think your drive is dead - atleast not yet. The Device Manager shows there is some problem with the SES driver ( as indicated by the exclamation mark). Just right click on it and check the properties to get to know the problem. Post a screenshot. Your attempt should be to install the SES driver properly, I presume and then check whether you are out of the woods.. Since I don't know much about the WD drive's SES driver, wait for CKWD, the WD man here, to check on it and advise you.

Also indicate whether you have installed Smartware and how you have configured it. Password protected? CKWD also may require more information on it and whether the drive was functioning OK before.

Just for your info: What is the SES driver, why is it needed, and how to get the driver popup to stop

Don't do anything yourself on your own until CKWD sees the screenshot and advises you.

( If he doesn't come in within the next 24 hours, I shall send a pm to him to look into this.)

CKWD · 27 Jul 2015

Hello Gobyerno2012!

This is too bad that has happened. :/

First of all, I would suspect this is the My Passport Essential, is this so? Please post the exact model (this is partial you have given), also – the capacity. Additionally, please post a screenshot of Device Manager's Disk drives submenu. How long have you been using this drive with Windows 7? What occurred as actions prior to the drive disappearing?

Do as Jumanji proposed, see if you can update the driver from the Device Manager, if not check out this article from the WD KB which is about downloading and installing the WD SES driver for both x32 and x64 systems, do it manually.

WD SES driver download and instructions for recovering the WD SmartWare installer
Support Answers

Additionally, this WD KB article explains on how to update drivers for a WD product, and below there is even a link to an article from the Support page of Microsoft, on how to install updates with drivers.

Where to find a driver for a WD product or the operating system (OS) fails to recognize a WD drive
Support Answers

This article may also help you.

What is the SES driver, why is it needed, and how to get the driver popup to stop:
Support Answers

If you can't update, reinstall this driver by clicking Uninstall and then install it manually. (use the links, read them carefully!)

Then do the usual, by changing the cable, the port and trying on another PC. Post back! :)

CK_WD

GokAy · 27 Jul 2015

@CKWD:

The links don't work for me, neither with IE nor Firefox (with ZenMate - browser VPN). I get a blank page.
Something on my end?

jumanji · 27 Jul 2015

The three links CKWD has given in post #8 are valid. The actual URLs and the topics below. (as accessed by the links in CKWD's post)

WD SES driver download and instructions for recovering the WD SmartWare installer WD SES driver download and instructions for recovering the WD SmartWare installer

Where to find a driver for a WD product or the operating system (OS) fails to recognize a WD drive Where to find a driver for a WD product or the operating system (OS) fails to recognize a WD drive

What is the SES driver, why is it needed, and how to get the driver popup to stop What is the SES driver, why is it needed, and how to get the driver popup to stop

Good work by CKWD.Let me take a backseat again.