The Dreaded: Unrecognized USB device...

[nitelife]

Okay everyone im going absolutely crazy here and feeling like maybe i should have bought a MAC even though I hate them but I can't believe one of the biggest and most industry supported devices known as a External Harddrive...does not work on Windows 7! Are you kidding me?

Senario:
I own a Western Digital Passport...I also own 4 Computers....3 - Laptops & 1 Desktop...1 of the Laptops & Desktop are running XP...another Laptop is running Vista and the current laptop I'm writing to you on is running Windows 7.

I have been using my Digital Passport for over a year now on every single computer in my household including my work computers successfully. I recently bought a Toshiba F60 Qosmio Laptop w/ Windows 7 and while trying to transfer important files from my other computers though a Western Digital Passport...Windows 7 keeps giving me the Unrecognized USB Device.... Now please I've tried all the different attemps as listed on google including but not limited too...

Unplugging the Power Cable for Time to let the motherboard lose its charge
Unintall and reinstall the drivers
Adjust the Registry Files

You name it ive probably tried it and Im getting sooo frustraded as I didn't spend the money on this laptop for half the user ability....can somone please just help me out and give me a suggestion on what will actually work to get this thing working? I'm ready to return this thing 2 the store....I've been a windows user all my life but im considering a mac which I hate using in the first place.... please help!!!!

 

[Fumz]

Have you tried updating the drive's firmware, aka smartware?
WD Product Update

btw, I'd do this on another machine. There's nothing at all on the W.D. site to suggest your drive won't work with 7; in fact, it says it works with 7 just fine.
Windows fails to recognize my drive or locate drivers for my hard drive or SSD

IMPORTANT: The following precautions should be taken before installing the firmware update.

• Before updating the firmware on your My Book or My Passport drive, make sure you have an additional copy of your important information.
• Do not disconnect your My Book or My Passport drive during the firmware update process, as this could potentially render the drive unusable.
• All AntiVirus software MUST be disabled.
• All Anti-Spyware software MUST be disabled.
• ANY and ALL programs that would require drive access during the update MUST be disabled .

 

[Aphelion]

Okay everyone im going absolutely crazy here and feeling like maybe i should have bought a MAC even though I hate them but I can't believe one of the biggest and most industry supported devices known as a External Harddrive...does not work on Windows 7! Are you kidding me?

Jeeze... stop with the Mac threats. I will say this, Win-7 has recognized every external device I've plugged into it, even a couple that used to need drivers on XP.

Could you have an underpowered USB port?

The other thought is... a third party program or background process is blocking the drive. What virus/malware software is running.

Ap

 

[Aphelion]

Might want to read this thread.

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/9755-external-hard-drive-not-detected.html


Ap