HDD not detected on laptop and light just glowing.

[sktzx]

My WD My Passport Ultra external HDD is going through a problem. Whenever I plug it in when my laptop is on, it won’t show up. the HDD keeps spinning but the light doesn't blink just glows. To make it work I have to turn off my laptop, and boot it up with the HDD connected. If I disconnect it later, laptop won’t read it.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

I presume this a 2.5" drive with no external power supply

Often the usb cable has a Y shape with two usb connectors so more than 0.5 amps at 5 volts can be provided

Often laptop USB ports cant provide 0.5 amp needed by external 2.5" drives

Does the laptop have a USB 3.0 port which should provide more power

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[smorizio]

also make sure the chipset drivers for the laptop are updated. also have damaged usb hub chipset driver.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there sktzx,

I would agree with mbarnes86. This sounds like a power related issue.

See if the issue persists with one of these Y type of USB cables. Have you tried the other USB ports as well?

I believe it would not hurt to try the drive on another laptop/desktop machine. If the issue persists, then you will need to back up the data stored on it.
If the drive behaves in a normal way, then it's your laptop.

Testing the drive may be a good idea as well (both short and extended tests): http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=8q3Xmj

Cheers,
D_Know_WD