Windows 7 External HHD not always recognized

[bimfi]

[FONT=&quot]I have been having an on-going issue for some time with my external WD My Book. There are times when it is not being recognized by Windows 7(pro). It has three interface options (fire wire, esata, and USB). I have tried all three at one time or another, finally settling on the eSATA interface. When it IS recognized, it runs smoothly, with no hiccups. But when I try to shut down the PC, sometimes it hangs up on the shut down screen for a long time (more than 15 minutes at times) until I actually press the on/off button on the My Book. When I do this, my PC immediately shuts down, but then, if I start up my PC, Windows does not see it again. I then have to power the My Book back on, then power up the PC and hope that it is recognized again. It’s not a big issue, because it is not frequently used, except for storing back-ups. It’s just something that is a nuisance. I’m not even sure that it is a Windows problem, because sometimes it is not detected in BIOS. Any suggestions as to why it is intermittently being detected and why it is hindering the shut-down process? [/FONT]

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're facing some intermittent issues with your WD My Book external drive on Windows 7. Here are some troubleshooting steps and suggestions to help resolve the problem:

1. Power Management Settings:​

• Disable USB selective suspend: In Windows, there is a power-saving feature called USB selective suspend. Disabling this feature can sometimes help with external drive recognition issues.
• Adjust power settings: Make sure that the power settings for USB ports are optimized for external drives. You can do this in the Device Manager.

  2. Driver and Firmware Updates:​

• Update WD My Book drivers: Ensure that you have the latest drivers for your WD My Book. Visit the WD website to download any necessary driver updates.
• Firmware update: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your WD My Book. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve compatibility issues.

  3. Check Hardware Connections:​

• Faulty cables: Ensure that the cables you are using are in good condition and not faulty. Try using different cables to see if that makes a difference.
• Check connections: Ensure that the connections between the WD My Book and your computer are secure and not loose.

  4. BIOS Settings:​

• Check BIOS settings: Since the drive is not always detected in BIOS, it could indicate a hardware issue. Make sure that the BIOS is set to recognize external drives correctly.

  5. Troubleshoot in Safe Mode:​

• Boot in Safe Mode: Try booting your computer into Safe Mode and see if the WD My Book is recognized without any issues. This can help determine if a third-party software is causing the problem.

  6. Test on Another Computer:​

• Test on another PC: Try connecting the WD My Book to another computer to see if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is specific to your Windows 7 setup.

  7. Data Backup:​

• Backup data: Since the drive is used for backups, ensure that you have a backup of the important data stored on the WD My Book in case any unforeseen issues arise. By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose the issue with your WD My Book external drive and hopefully resolve the intermittent detection and shutdown problems you are experiencing.