problems making 3TB WD Green drive work on different SATA Ports.

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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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Hi Everyone. I have a rather strange problem that I just don't understand, and would like to fix somehow. Here's the problem.

I have two working WD 3TB Green Drives WD30EZRX
One is a WD30EZRX - 00MMMB0 the other is WD30EZRX - 00DC0B0
both drives work.

The problem is that I can't get them to work in such a way that I can install them in my desktop - either of them. The machine is a 4Ghz i7 (5th gen) using an MSI Gaming 5 mainboard. In an Corsair Obsidian 650D case (yes, this is relevent, bear with me)

In SATA Port 1, I have my Crucial SSD (512 Gb).
I want to install the Drive into SATA Port 2.

Simple plug in Job, Boot to Windows 8.1 open disk management and I can see the disk is present. So, I tried to create a guid partiton and format it as ntfs, but this failed!

There's no error as such, it just failed.
I tried the using DiskPart and no joy there either. I get an error saying "The Parameter is incorrect"

I've tried this with Both of the drives - which work fine in an external caddy connected to my MacBook Pro.... AND... And here comes the killer.

They both also work fine when plugged into the drive caddy that is built into the top of the Obsidian case!

I've tried several SATA Cables, I've tried different power connecters. Also tried plugging the cable into the SATA Port that I had the drive caddy plugged into.

I've also now tried this using a 2TB Drive - Model WD20EARX - 00PASB0

None of it makes any difference.

Is there something that I'm missing? This is really confusing me like crazy.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Hey, Colin!

I'm very sorry to see you struggle with this annoying issue with the WD Green drives. :(
I'd suggest to try plugging the HDDs on another computer via SATA and see how they will be recognized there.
Another thing you should do is test the drives' health and S.M.A.R.T. status using WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics tool.
Make sure they pass the extended test as well as the quick test. Here's a link to the utility: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=HjgaQR
How to test them: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=OqJ53S

Keep me posted with the results! Hopefully we'll be able to get to the bottom of this! :)
SuperSoph_WD
 
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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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This is where things are really nuts. Two of the three drives have been successfully plugged into and work on other computers - one of the 3TB drives was in a caddy that I used with my MacBook Pro. The 2TB Drive was plugged into a desktop running Windows XP.

I've also just tried plugging a Samsung 1.5Tb drive into the Sata port that I want to use, and it fired straight in without issues!

All the WD Green drives work fine in the PC with plugged in via the drive caddy built into the top of the case - but that's simply a pass through connector for the power and data.


I'm wondering if there is a compatibility issue between an MSI mainboard and a WD Green drive. This is really weird
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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I highly doubt that this is a compatibility issue but you can put the theory to the test using this article from the WD knowledge base: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=FKPjjF
BTW, have you managed to test the drives with Data LifeGuard yet? It might take some time but I strongly recommend to do that soon and see what is the SMART status of the Greens.
Another thing you could try with the drives on a system they are recognized with or while connected through the caddy, to partition and format them. Then use CMD (run as Administrator) and type this command: chkdsik /f /r /x Z: (where Z is the drive letter assigned to the drive you want to check). Here's a link you could use to check your drives (it is for Win 7, but should work the same way in Win 8.1): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Let me know how it goes!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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I'm trying the Lifeguard diagnostics now.

Currently I have my newest 3TB drive plugged into the drive caddy built into the top of the case.

On loading the SMART Status is a pass.
Running a quick test the result is also a pass.

Going to retry with the other 3TB drive (it's empty) connected to the internal sata port where I currently have the Samsung drive.

update:

immediate response after the program starts is a SMART PASS
result of the quick test is also a pass
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hi again, Colin!

It's good that it passes the quick test, but the HDD passing the other test is more important. Can you please make sure you pass the EXTENDED test from the utility as well? I'd also suggest you to share a screenshot of the S.M.A.R.T. status from it as well. This way we will be able to see and analyze the SMART data.
Keep in mind that this test might take a bit longer than the quick one, so be patient.

Let me know how it goes afterwards!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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Here's the results both the quick and extended tests on the 2TB drive, when plugged into the caddy

Western Digital Logo

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCAZAC689607
Firmware Number: 51.0AB51
Capacity: 2000.40 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 17:39:40, March 12, 2015

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCAZAC689607
Firmware Number: 51.0AB51
Capacity: 2000.40 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 17:42:07, March 12, 2015


 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Okay, let's try something else then.
I'd suggest to check your motherboard manufacturer's website for any firmware, SATA driver or BIOS updates.
Another thing worth trying is resetting BIOS by re-seating the CMOS battery or use any other method listed here: http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS
This will get your BIOS settings back to default.

Hopefully this will get the Greens detected properly. Keep me posted! :)
SuperSoph_WD
 
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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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I've already checked the MSI website for my Gaming 5 mainboard. Also, my board has software that auto checks for updates. There are no BIOS updates available - there were, and I've already applied them. I've also reset the CMOS in the hopes that fixed something, but it's had no effect.

As I said, this is a really strange problem. They work, when plugged in using the caddy in the top of the case, but not when plugged in using a normal Sata cable. My Samsung Spinpoint F1 however, fired up straight away without any issues.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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This must frustrating! :( Do you have access to another PC rig, where you can test the connection of the Green drives via SATA?
I'd suggest to try this and if they are not detected by the other PC computer via SATA, I'd recommend you to contact our tech support for assistance and explain in details what the issue is. They might be able to give you further instructions how to troubleshoot this or even RMA if needed.
Tech Support Contacts: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=4Ww03V

Still let me know! Hope I was helpful though.
SuperSoph_WD

 
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Colin Dawson

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Mar 10, 2015
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I just tried performing a complete BOIS reset. End result, no change.
I've now given up trying to make a WD Green disk work as an internal drive on my MSI Gaming 5 board. As I said already my Samsung Spinpoint F1 drive is working perfectly, and that will suffice for my needs - actually, I think it's a better option than a WD Green drive as a desktop drive. The Greens I can use with my Mac, and as offline storage for archiving purposes. So the drives won't go to waste. Shame they would not work as internal storage, but sometimes you can't have everything.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hi again, Colin!

I'm very sorry about your bad experience with the WD Green drive. :(
Well, they are basically designed to be used as a secondary storage for your massive data, whether as an internal or an external backup drive. If you suspect any failure on the drive whatsoever, I strongly recommend getting in touch with our tech support and let them know about it. Here's another helpful link with details on how to RMA your product under warranty: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=zR5M2w

Good luck! Hope I was helpful though!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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