Asilaj

Q: Need help with WD My Passport for Mac

Hello all,

 

I have a WD My Passport for Mac in 1TB and I believe it is USB 2.0. I am trying to use it on a Macbook Pro Retina 2015. Its about 2-3 years old.

 

Last night I updated it with everything from my designs, and projects and tried to do all my music. I have 14k songs and stopped it when I realized it was not loading after a few hours. I just plugged it out without ejecting. Today, I'm trying to use it and it will  not mount. It works. The light on the front flashes rapidly when I first plug it in and I can feel the hard drive moving. It then slows and the light stops flashing all together. Now, I'm at a very steady flash but still no mounting. It does not show up in Disk Utility. If anyone knows what I should do to be able to see the drive, or to get the items off the drive, please let me know.

 

I cannot reformat because you need to see the drive to do that and this was my way to back up things from smaller thumb drives which were full because of the items. Please help. Should I just plug it in and wait? My thumb drives work fine in both USB slots. I also tried to use the external hard drive on a Macbook Air and it did not mount there either. Any tips would be helpful.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), WD My Passport for Mac External

Posted on May 8, 2016 7:21 AM

Close

Q: Need help with WD My Passport for Mac

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by benwiggy,

    benwiggy benwiggy May 8, 2016 8:46 AM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,430 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 8, 2016 8:46 AM in response to Asilaj

    It doesn't sound good, certainly. If Disk Utility can't see it, then you need to try some other disk repair/recovery tool, like Disk Warrior, or Data Rescue.

     

    Do you have a backup for the files that were on this volume?

     

    WD drives have a bit of a reputation: it's not the drives themselves that a prone to failure, but rather the enclosure. So you might try unscrewing the box, getting the drive out and putting it in another USB enclosure. You can usually buy an external enclosure for very little.

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 4:12 PM in response to benwiggy
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 4:12 PM in response to benwiggy

    Hello Benwiggy,

     

    No. This was my back up drive. I hardly use it unless my thumb drives are full. The hard drive works because it lights up, and I have taken it out of the enclosure with no luck. I also tried to see it in Recovery Mode and it did not come up in Disk Utility. I took the case off but the USB slot where I plugged the USB into is still the same. I also tried a different cord. Am I only removing the Plastic Casing or the Silver piece attached to the drive?

     

    I tried to use a free recovery tool and the drives wont show up there either. I'm not sure what to do anymore.

  • by KimUserName,

    KimUserName KimUserName May 8, 2016 4:23 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 4:23 PM in response to Asilaj

    When you removed the enclosure of the WD drive, what did you put the drive into?

     

    Did you install it in an enclosure OWC external case .

     

    Screen Shot 2016-05-08 at 7.22.36 PM.png

    Obviously just because the light works, does not mean the hard drive works.

     

    Kim

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 4:30 PM in response to KimUserName
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 4:30 PM in response to KimUserName

    It works and it blinks, its spins, it clicks, everything is normal but it just wont mount. When I took it out, I didn't put it into anything. I thought I could use it alone with no casing? The USB Port, am I supposed to remove that or just the plastic casing? The USB port doesn't come off with the casing for the WD my Passport for Mac.

     

    I have this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computers-WDBLUZ0010BSL-EESN-Passport-Portable-External -Drive/dp/B00CUYONL6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&…

     

    It dropped this morning? Could that be causing all this mess??!! I need help, any help to get this fixed even if it just means I get my data from it and then its trashed.

  • by KimUserName,

    KimUserName KimUserName May 8, 2016 4:41 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 4:41 PM in response to Asilaj

    If you open you external hard drive and remove the 2.5" drive from the case. You should be able to put just the 2.5" hard drive into an external case.

    See the following link which might be helpful:

     

    This is what the 2.5" hard drive inside the case should look like http://www.amazon.com/Black-750GB-Performance-Mobile-Drive/dp/B00DSUTX3O/ref=sr_ 1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1462750810&sr=1-2&r…

     

    Apple Support Communities -Your dead external hard drive is likely fine! by PlotinusVeritas: Your dead external hard drive is likely fine!

     

    I suggest that you remove your external hard drive from its case and install it in an enclosure OWC external case or using a USB to SATA adapter USB to SATA adapter and connect it to your MBP via USB.

     

     

    Kim

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 4:45 PM in response to KimUserName
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 4:45 PM in response to KimUserName

    Kim,

     

    yes it looks like that, but this part, the non-USB part is still attached to the hard drive. http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/6AsAAOxylpNTVnHw/$_35.JPG

    Does it matter?

     

    I will buy another case now for delivery tomorrow from Amazon. I will try anything!

  • by KimUserName,

    KimUserName KimUserName May 8, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Asilaj

    The cable that you show should plug into the drive as below:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-05-08 at 7.50.14 PM.png

    If the SATA to USB is not removable from the drive then you will not be able to install it into an external drive enclosure.

     

    Kim

  • by VasekBk,

    VasekBk VasekBk May 8, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Asilaj

    Do you have any other computers that you can try this hdd with? in what format u have it formatted ? If its suitable for windows (fat for example) I would try it in case of emergency, once similar situation happened to me also, and Windows via bootcamp were able to see the drive and acces the files. But personally Im seeing problem with the HDD, the fact that songs werent copying could signalize the failure of the drive. But dont worry, it would be recoverable,

    Based on my experience with WD Elements... by the way, do you hear the sound from the HDD as completely normal? or does it make sometimes little skip noise, like its turning constantly on and off?

    edit: If you dropped it this morning (that exactly happened to me also) then I would suggest as a emergency option when its on, try gently to move it...(rotate it, put it into standing position) that helped me in this case and hdd would eventually mount and I was able to quickly copy my data. But again, do it Gently

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 5:11 PM in response to KimUserName
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 5:11 PM in response to KimUserName

    unfortunately, mine is the non-removable one.

  • by KimUserName,

    KimUserName KimUserName May 8, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Asilaj

    Screen Shot 2016-05-08 at 8.14.04 PM.png

    You may be out of luck then.

     

    Kim

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 5:20 PM in response to VasekBk
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 5:20 PM in response to VasekBk

    VasekBK,

    Let me answer your questions.

     

    Do you have any other computers that you can try this hdd with?

    I have tried it on a Macbook Air and another Macbook Pro.


    in what format u have it formatted ? If its suitable for windows (fat for example) I would try it in case of emergency, once similar situation happened to me also, and Windows via bootcamp were able to see the drive and acces the files. But personally Im seeing problem with the HDD, the fact that songs werent copying could signalize the failure of the drive. But dont worry, it would be recoverable.


    It is formatted for Mac via FAT32 I believe. I formatted where I can switched as needed, but I believe it is Fat32, Unlocked. You believe that it failed during the transfer?

     

    Based on my experience with WD Elements... by the way, do you hear the sound from the HDD as completely normal? or does it make sometimes little skip noise, like its turning constantly on and off?

    It comes on, it flashes rapidly like it does normally. If I don't transfer anything, the light usually sits still and if I add something, it would flash rapidly again. This all happens normally. If I don't add anything, it doesnt spin or I dont hear it spin around.

     

    edit: If you dropped it this morning (that exactly happened to me also) then I would suggest as a emergency option when its on, try gently to move it...(rotate it, put it into standing position) that helped me in this case and hdd would eventually mount and I was able to quickly copy my data. But again, do it Gently

    What exactly am I twisting? I should not have it flat. Stand it up and may it will click on?

  • by KimUserName,

    KimUserName KimUserName May 8, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Asilaj
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Asilaj

    I found this video which may be of help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ-V7PfXiFo

    This is for windows, but they also have Mac drive utilities. http://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en

     

    Kim

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 5:59 PM in response to KimUserName
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 5:59 PM in response to KimUserName

    Hi Kim,

     

    I cannot erase my drive because I have my full portfolio in there. I'm a Master's Student and still in the course. I can't erase 7 months of work and files then to fail.

  • by Asilaj,

    Asilaj Asilaj May 8, 2016 6:00 PM in response to KimUserName
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 6:00 PM in response to KimUserName

    Also, on my WD Utilities. It finds the Passport and it says 1TB. When I try to select anything like 'Erase" "Diagnostics" or whatever, it doesnt let me click it. It is greyed and I cant select. I can select to erase but like I said, I cant erase it. So, I tried this but am not allowed to select a tool to check the health of the hard drive.

Page 1 Next