Having Problems reading a MyBook External Drive: I have an External MyBook drive that I am trying to read. I plugged it into my laptop this morning and after a while, the drive shows...

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I have an External MyBook drive that I am trying to read. I plugged it into my laptop this morning and after a while, the drive shows up, but when I try to access it, after a while it says, that it won't open because of an incorrect parameter. Then after a few minutes, that msg goes away and another msg appears telling me that I need to Format the disk in Drive D before I can use it. Formatting that disk will delete all my images on that drive!
Anybody with computer knowledge know what's going on and how I can fix it? This has never happened before. I am running Windows 7 Ultimate on this laptop.

Jackel Loc: California

Your Windows 7 OS may be the problem. Perhaps the MyBook drive is incompatible with your older Win 7 OS.

If the MyBook program is relatively new, compatibility might be a real problem. Look at any text info about the MyBook program and see if it says it's compatible with older drives.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I don't think that's the problem because I have used this drive in the past with this laptop. It just didn't work today when I hooked it up.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I don't think that's the problem because I have used this drive in the past with this laptop. It just didn't work today when I hooked it up.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

If the contents on this external are not backed up somewhere else - proceed with caution. If possible, get a copy of the contents of this external (to a new external drive) and then you can do some more troubleshooting. The drive may be going bad. Formatting will destroy your data and you might not want to trust this drive in the future except as one of multiple identical backups.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Try using it on a different computer, this would help to see what was faulty, the hdd or the PC.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I've tried it on three different computer with the same results. I think most likely it's the drive. Now, if I can just get all those images off of it somehow without breaking the bank.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I've tried it on three different computer with the same results. I think most likely it's the drive. Now, if I can just get all those images off of it somehow without breaking the bank.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

MichaelH wrote:

If the contents on this external are not backed up somewhere else - proceed with caution. If possible, get a copy of the contents of this external (to a new external drive) and then you can do some more troubleshooting. The drive may be going bad. Formatting will destroy your data and you might not want to trust this drive in the future except as one of multiple identical backups.

I agree with you, Western Digital went through a bad time a year or so ago, all my exertnal drives are WD so I expect a failure any day, not all at once I hope. I must buy a different manufacturer soon but I can't decide which one.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Fstop12 wrote:

I have an External MyBook drive that I am trying t... (show quote)

I hate those useless messages. Even worse is something like "Error 672975432." Can you connect it to another computer? I hope you backed up that drive.

Can you click on This PC (or whatever you have on your Desktop) and see it there? That's how I always get to drives.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

johneccles wrote:

I agree with you, Western Digital went through a bad time a year or so ago, all my exertnal drives are WD so I expect a failure any day, not all at once I hope. I must buy a different manufacturer soon but I can't decide which one.

The trouble with enclosed external drives is you don't know what's inside that pretty designer box. I prefer to buy drives and enclosures separately. I recently bought an 8TB My Book that supposedly has a WD Red inside. It was on sale for about $160.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Fstop12 wrote:

I have an External MyBook drive that I am trying t... (show quote)

I have a similar issue with my WD passport USB3 drive on my main desktop. It appears fine on the laptop but the desktop and provide a drive letter for it but can't open the drive. I'm running Windows 10 64bit and suspect that the issue is my USB drivers or the USB port on the desktop. The data appears to be fine on the drive.

However, the issue is consistent on all of the USB ports on my desktop so I'm suspecting driver/Windows 10 issues.
It worked fine prior to a couple of the Windows 10 updates...

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Jerry, Yes, Once I hook it up, the Drive letter eventually appears after awhile, It just won't open.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Fstop12 wrote:

I have an External MyBook drive that I am trying t... (show quote)

You could try the My PC management console:

Right click on My PC (or This PC)
Left click on "Manage" on the next window click on "Disc management"
After a few seconds you should see a list of all the storage devices on or connected to your PC.
If you External drive doesn't appear try unplugging it and plug back in, that might help.
I have a WD drive that acted up like yours so I tried several USB leads and eventually it fired up.
Finally one last thing to do is, when it's plugged in place the drive next to your ear and you should hear it spinning (or not).

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Have you tried rebooting the computer?