#Should i install wd drive utilities how to#
#Should i install wd drive utilities drivers#
#Should i install wd drive utilities portable#
#Should i install wd drive utilities pro#
#Should i install wd drive utilities software#

It depends on the scenario - and since my brother's case has been at a stalemate for a few months I assume WD has deemed this not important enough to release the codes.

#Should i install wd drive utilities software#

You may use below link to check the functions of WD software: WD Software List of all WD firmware and software available for download. Apparently, due to some legal issues with data security, they don't always give those codes out to everyone. WD tools or software enables to create backup, check the health of drive and encrypt drive for data access which enhances the drive experience.

After sending the drive to a company called Data Mechanix (which is ironically right down the road from WD) it sounded like they would be able to preserve the data! But they need a special 'reserve area' code from western digital in order to access the data. Unfortunately the drive became corrupted before the files could be moved to a computer or cloud.

My Brother got married this summer, and his wedding video/photo footage was stored on a 4TB WD external hard drive (as most photographers do with their massive amounts of footage). I wouldn't post if I wasn't absolutely desperate but at this point all I can do is warn others from making the same mistake. Thanks everybody for participating in discussion.TL DR - If you use a WD external hard drive and it gets corrupted in any way, you're gonna have a bad time. Please read other comments as well because you may find the surprised solution just for you. I am not sure how long the method will last.įor future visitors: Looks like the post had helped some people having the same issue. If this “Halfway-in-USB“ trick is for you, backup your data after you have access to the hard drive. When prompted, type the computer logon password and click OK to continue During the configuration change, the software displays a status bar to show the progress of the conversion, clears and redisplays the Finder listing and desktop icon display to support the new device mode.

#Should i install wd drive utilities drivers#

As some visitors commented it worked, you are welcome to try. Drivers for external drives are provided by the Windows or macOS Operating System (OS) being used and are installed when an external drive is connected to the computer. Click Configure to begin the configuration change. The solution may not work for you depending on your situations (For example, different Operating Systems). It still acts in the 'bizarre way”.įor Windows machines, first push USB half way through a USB port just tight enough for successful connection (you’ll hear the classic Windows sound effect), then push it down completely. Thus, I can tell it's not a USB cable issue.Īlso, I have tried to reformat the 2TB WD based on GPT or MBR partition tables. The 2TB WD still behaves in the 'bizarre way'. Since my 1TB WD is working properly, I try to switch the USB cables between them.

#Should i install wd drive utilities pro#

That particular 2TB WD behaves in the 'bizarre way' on all usb ports of my Win 8.1 desktop and my Win 10 Surface Pro 3. The difference is that the successful connection of the 2TB WD happens when the USB cable is half way into the USB port. Finally, I can push the USB completely into the USB port. Then, wait for the drive to show up in explorer.

In order to make the 2TB WD to show, I have to process the following steps every time I connect this 2TB external hard drive: First, plug in the USB cable halfway through any one of my desktop computer's USB ports.

#Should i install wd drive utilities how to#

If I connect it in the 'normal way', it will not show up in explorer, Diskpart, or Disk management no matter how long I wait. How to Install and Use WD Drive Utilities Features Guided Assist Answer ID 50392: WD Drive Utilities External Drive Management Guided Assist WD Drive Utilities WD Drive Utilities allows the user to register the drive, set the sleep timer, run diagnostics and perform a drive erase. Nothing weird! Once I connect it, the LED blinks for a few times for successful connection. I have another 1TB WD (same model as my 2TB WD) which behaves in a 'normal way'. I realizes there were threads related to the same issue, but it's not what I am looking for. I have to connect it through a 'bizarre way' to make it show up in explorer.

#Should i install wd drive utilities portable#

The software has software tools to manage your My Passport portable hard drive. My WD Passport Ultra 2TB external hard drive is not showing up in explorer when I plug it into the USB port in a 'normal way'. You install it from your WD Passport drive and run it on your computer.