WD 2TB My Passport 2.5" - Connect to PC

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jonathon 12

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Aug 9, 2013
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Hello

I recently purchased a WD 2TB My Passport 2.5 inch. I got it home, plugged it in and it worked for about 10 minutes, just long enough to get some data on there. Now it is not recognized by my computer and basically freezes it every time I plug it in. I have read on the internet that the USB connection is stuffed and that I need to connect the drive directly to my computer.

I have searched the internet but cannot find any tutorial / video of how to connect this particular drive to my computer. Thus far I have managed to remove the case, and have in front of me 7x2 pins, the USB connect and 2 horizontal pins.

Any step by step help on how I connect this drive to my computer would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.
 
Solution
Shaun o
I have to say when it comes to the WD 2.5 passport drive it`s a pain.
Because the usb controller is part of the main board of the drive it`s self.

Where as in other external hard drive solutions a Sata to usb interface is used.
So if anything goes wrong with the sata to usb interface and it fails you can connect the drive to a sata cable and power feed from the motherboard of your system.

I would make sure the problem is not down to one of your Usb ports on the system. Also be aware that the drive may require you to plug it in to a USB 2.0 spec port, and may not be picked up if you have it plugged into a 1.0 usb port or 3.0 usb port on your system.
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navalweaponsofficer

navalweaponsofficer

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Not sure I know what you mean by the port is stuffed, but it is unlikely that you can connect that hard drive directly to your computer in the way it seems that you want to. Most WD2.5” external hard drives do not have a SATA connector and can only be hooked up using USB. Now that you have taken it apart it is no longer under warranty and likely can’t be returned either. What you were seeing I guess regarding hooking it directly to the computer was that it needed to be connected to a USB port on the computer so that it was not going through a hub. Before you disassembled it did you try it on another computer? Do you have a powered USB HUB? If the hard drive does not have a SATA connector on it put it back together. Do you still have the files that you saved to it? or did you delete them?
 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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I have to say when it comes to the WD 2.5 passport drive it`s a pain.
Because the usb controller is part of the main board of the drive it`s self.

Where as in other external hard drive solutions a Sata to usb interface is used.
So if anything goes wrong with the sata to usb interface and it fails you can connect the drive to a sata cable and power feed from the motherboard of your system.

I would make sure the problem is not down to one of your Usb ports on the system. Also be aware that the drive may require you to plug it in to a USB 2.0 spec port, and may not be picked up if you have it plugged into a 1.0 usb port or 3.0 usb port on your system.
 
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jonathon 12

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Thank you for the responses.

naval - It appears the USB controller board is dead is what I mean. I still have the files so no worries there. I just need to format this drive before returning it to my friendly retailer....

I do not have a powered USB hub. Should I try one of those? Also will buying a USB enclosure for the drive work? What is the 7x2 pin array for? Thanks again.

If you do have any more ideas on how I may get the data off that would be greatly appreciated, otherwise I think I just blew $150 and see how it well it performs when launched off the top of my building.... Back to Seagate me thinks...
 
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jonathon 12

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Thanks Shaun 0 - I have tried it on a number of computers and on USB 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 ports. I'm really out of ideas at the moment. WD told me buy a USB enclosure and that should work? Any thoughts?

Thanks again



 
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navalweaponsofficer

navalweaponsofficer

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Since you have tried it in multiple computers and it still will not work there will be no way to get the files off before returning it. WD gave you bad information you cannot put that disk into a USB enclosure because it has no SATA connector none of there 2.5" external disks do anymore. The interconnect board goes directly to USB. If you have not already opened the WD hard drive enclosure do not open it and just return the drive. If you open the enclosure it is unlikely that the retailer will return the disk. There is nothing you can do that will allow you to format that disk.

I only asked about an external USB hub because the disk may have been trying to pull more current than was available on the port you were using.

As for the 7x2 pin array I hate to say it but I am not sure what you are talking about. Can you provide more information about it? I have searched the internet on it and have comeback with nothing.

EDIT
After reviewing a couple you tube videos I see that the passports have two rows of 6 pins on the interconnect board of the hard drive once the drive is taken out of the case but the ones that I saw were two rows of 6 pins not 7, is this what you are referring to? If so I do not think you will be able to do anything with those pins.
 
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jonathon 12

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Yes you are correct, after putting my glasses on, 6 x 2. For my own benefit, what do they do? So basically there's nothing I can do. Gee, frustrating. Many thanks for taking the time to respond, it's been very helpful and saved me heading out to buy the USB enclosure. What would you recommend as a large 2.5 inch that has a SATA connector? I would buy Seagate, but I don't seem to be able to locate a 2TB 2.5 inch. Cheers again for all your help.
 
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navalweaponsofficer

navalweaponsofficer

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Toshiba makes a 2TB 2.5" HDD $130- $150 at Newegg and from everything I have seen they still use a standard SATA hard drive with an add on USB interface board. That way if the Toshiba enclosure fails you can just buy a new enclosure or hook it up to a SATA port. the 6 X 2 interface pins are for the factory the install the firmware and test it things like that. I have many Toshiba laptops and hard drives and have never had any issues with their hardware so I personally would not hesitate to buy another Toshiba external disk.
 
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jonathon 12

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Aug 9, 2013
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Many thanks again NWO, a great help.

Cheers

John
 
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