WD External Hard drive keeps connecting and disconnecting

kieron22

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9
My WD External Hard drive keeps connecting and disconnecting every second or so. I already went into power settings and disabled the USB selective suspend settings but that didnt solve the problem. I also went into the device manager and unchecked the option to allow the computer to turn of this device to save power option but no luck there either.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 635 Processor
    Motherboard
    MSI 990FXA-GD65 (MS-7640)
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    (1) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (2) NVIDIA High Definitio
    Hard Drives
    ST31000528AS ATA Device
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 334 NVIDIA Edition Black
Hello kieron22!


I'm sorry for your problem with a WD external! :(


Which model is it, a My Passport (which one?), a My Book?


You could try using a different USB cable, a new one, then on every port – USB 3.0 and 2.0, then on another system. Does the same issue occur everywhere? Doyou hear clicking from the drive or any other unusual sounds? Any error messages? How is the drive's performance? Please use the WD Data Lifeguard software (Support Answers) and check the drive's SMART values, post the results here. Please, be careful not to post the drive's serial number, too!


CK_WD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows
Hello kieron22!


I'm sorry for your problem with a WD external! :(


Which model is it, a My Passport (which one?), a My Book?


You could try using a different USB cable, a new one, then on every port – USB 3.0 and 2.0, then on another system. Does the same issue occur everywhere? Doyou hear clicking from the drive or any other unusual sounds? Any error messages? How is the drive's performance? Please use the WD Data Lifeguard software (Support Answers) and check the drive's SMART values, post the results here. Please, be careful not to post the drive's serial number, too!


CK_WD

Hi thanks for the reply.
Its a My passport Ultra and I tried using a different cable and on all the other ports on my desktop. When that didnt work I tried it on my laptop which also has windows 8.1 and it works fine. So that leaves me to think that its something with my desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 635 Processor
    Motherboard
    MSI 990FXA-GD65 (MS-7640)
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    (1) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (2) NVIDIA High Definitio
    Hard Drives
    ST31000528AS ATA Device
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 334 NVIDIA Edition Black
There is a problem with some USB chipsets that causes this. I have this issue on my Toshiba laptop an its caused by the specific Intel USB chipset that it uses. Unfortunately, it is a driver issue however Intel knows about it and does not plan on releasing a fix from what I understand.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 @ 3.3-3.7 Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77-G41
    Memory
    16 GB Kingston HyperX Beast DDR3-1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GT 730
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 20 Inch Dell
    Screen Resolution
    1680*1050
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB
    Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB
    PSU
    Thermaltake 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred Two
    Cooling
    Arctic Freezer i30 CO
    Keyboard
    Logitech K330
    Mouse
    Logitech M215
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps
    Browser
    Comodo Chromodo
    Antivirus
    Comodo Internet Security Premium
I'm sorry, but it does seem like the issue is in the specific connection between the external and the desktop. :/


You could try to update the drivers, or directly reinstall them. If the problem continues, try repairing the system which could reset the drivers. If not, may be a professional should check the USB ports and the motherboard.


Good luck! :)


CK_WD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows
I know this was a main issue with windows 8 some time ago
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 635 Processor
    Motherboard
    MSI 990FXA-GD65 (MS-7640)
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    (1) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (2) NVIDIA High Definitio
    Hard Drives
    ST31000528AS ATA Device
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 334 NVIDIA Edition Black
This is a long shot, maybe, possibly the solution is an AC-powered 4-usb-port hub. After I purchased one of those, my two ext usb Seagates and WDs no longer act up, they consistently remain accessible. I may be wrong, keep your receipt until proven yea/nay.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Try different USB ports & cables - it sounds like a hardware connection problem. Also, check the mains connection if your disk is mains powered.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Intel i3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-77X-UD5H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9 280X Toxic
    Sound Card
    Realtek on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VP2770
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Intel 520 180GB SSD
    Seagate 2T HDD
    Seagate external 1T USB HDD
    PSU
    XFX 850W
    Case
    Nanoxia Deep Silence 1
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
Have you updated the firmware?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
WD external drive issue of disconnect and reconnect is hardware, not software.

Shortly after I bought my WD external drive, it began the disconnect/reconnect. Very annoying but it was still usable.
I tried various cables but it persisted.

Recently I began to think it was the connector on the drive so I was thinking of checking if i could replace the power supply board. I took it apart (very easy, does not damage the drive).

I discovered that the power supply board is not attached to the drive. It sets in a channel. The connectors touch but not firmly. How much would it cost WD to solder the pieces together?

My solution? Rubber bands on each end of the power supply and drive to hold them firmly together.
I have had one (1) disconnect reconnect beep in the past six (6) months.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 build 1903
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
My WD External Hard drive keeps connecting and disconnecting every second or so. I already went into power settings and disabled the USB selective suspend settings but that didnt solve the problem. I also went into the device manager and unchecked the option to allow the computer to turn of this device to save power option but no luck there either.
If it was moved recently from another PC, it may be because it was encrypted with Windows Bitlocker. Reconnect it to the old PC and run the decryption of the drive
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
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