Can't access external HDD?!

that didn't work either.

I ran into a similar problem with my WD 2TB external HD. I frequently used the drive between systems running XP SP3 and Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. My son used my HD on his netbook while visiting. Afterwards, it would not work on either previous system.

I spent weeks trying different techniques and tricks. I had the drive for about 2 years and never registered the drive with WD (never had problems with any previous drives from them). I never even installed any of the recommended programs they had on there. So, my drive had never been backed up online or anything...

I downloaded a "WinDlg_124" program from their site based on the research for the problems I had. Tried running the tool to not much success after many hours of scanning. My system kept going into power down, sleep, or energy saver mode, thus giving me failed readings (which they said mean the drive was bad). So I tried running it in Safe Mode. After a few days of that, it finally gave me all the results I had been praying for. The drive wasn't bad at all... and my files were still on drive J:\.

The problem remained that Windows couldn't access the drive. In Safe Mode, I could transfer the files, but my internal HD couldn't store any more. And transferring all the important data to my 3TB external drive through USB 2.0 would take years.

I was able to straighten out the directory files using cmd.exe and running "CHKDSK J: /F" and "CHKDSK J: /R" but only while in Safe Mode. You may also want to verify your drive's designation through regedit but ONLY if you know how to do that properly.

Still am having problems with the driver installation disk on drive I:\ which hopefully lies somewhere on my HD drive. I think when uninstalling the device I accidentally uninstalled the drivers.

When last checked (a few days ago), my WD HD still won't allow me access in Windows 7. I've tried to download the drivers from WD, but one must register their drive to do so. I tried, and the site simply said I could not because my device is no longer under any warranty. Thank you very little WD support! However, I discovered today that my drive is fully functional in XP SP3!!! (Although no installer disk drive I:/ shows up at all)...

I wish you all success.