Wd My Passport New Cable

[ilovebrie]

I hope someone can help. My external hard drive was erratic, and I bought a new cable (2.0) as a replacement.
My PC (Windows 10) does not recognise the WD, although the light on it is now constant.
The USB ports on the PC are working fine with pen drives.
Has anyone any suggestions that would help?
Thanks

[Gizmonster]

Try this:

control panel > system > device manager

Are there any yellow question marks next to anything??
I'm guessing there might be a fault in the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers". If there is, then uninstall whichever one has a fault next to it. Once uninstalled, right click on any of the devices in the list, (or in the Actions menu above) select scan for hardware changes and it'll hopefully find it ..... maybe :)

[ilovebrie]

Gizmonster
Thank you.
It looks as if the 'new' cable is transmitting power but not data. I need a reliable 'male to mini cable' (2.0 ??3.0) What I have found seem to be only for cameras, etc. or for Mac. I need it for a WD My Passport Essential (PC).
The WD site is no use whatsoever, so I wonder if anyone seeing this could suggest where I should look.

[Gizmonster]

Any good ?? .....

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[ilovebrie]

Sorry, Gizmonster,
It's not the right one, but thanks for your input - the connection to the HD is different, hence the 'micro', I think.
I have managed to get the product code for another, but have no idea how to search for it on Amazon UK. Any ideas?
Thanks a lot.

[bhg481]

I think you need this type of cable;
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
I have a WD passport disc and find that with the normal USB to USB mini cable there is not enough power available through the single USB socket on the computer to power the disc properly. The Y type cable takes power from two USB ports on your computer and feeds to the single mini USB socket on your passport drive.
It sounds like your drive is not spinning up properly, due to the lack of power, so the computer will not recognise it.

[Gizmonster]

I've got a My Passport Ultra and the part number on the lead is 4064-705107-000.
A quick search finds:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Or also on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=4064-705107-000&_sacat=0

[bhg481]

You need to tell us whether your Passport is USB 2.0 or USB 3.0. Mine is a 2.0 and I am recommending USB 2.0 cables to you; Giz is recommending USB 3.0 cables, so his Passport ULTRA (is that a clue) must be USB 3.0. The computer end of the cable looks the same, except USB 3.0 cables normally have a blue insert, but the device end is completely different.
I have also had problems with an old device where the socket on the device has become damaged and theUSB 3.0 device would only work when plugged into a USB 2.0 socket on the computer; plugging in to a USB 3.0 port gave similar symptoms to yours ie, light on but not recognised.

[ilovebrie]

Thanks, bhg.
My device is WD My Passport essential 2.0.

[bhg481]

You seem to have the same device as me ilovebrie. I always use mine with one of those "Y" cables that I recommended. It came with a different external disc, I think, but if I connect with a normal (single) USB cable a find the disc makes clicking noises and can't be used. It's certainly worth trying one of those since they don't cost a fortune.
With small extenal discs the power to drive them only comes through the USB port ie, there's no external power supply as there is with large external discs. Some computer USB ports don't supply enough power for this, so using a "Y" lead enables the disc to take power from two USB ports and work properly.
If you are trying to use the disc via an external USB hub you might also encounter problems unless the hub has its own power supply.

[ilovebrie]

I forgot to say 'Thank you' to everyone who gave me advice.
You've been very helpful.
ilb