In other times, it suddenly became read-only after you have been using it for a while. jRin.net shows you how to extract the drive from a Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive (external USB 3.0). However, if I plug it into the TV, it recognizes some or most of the files, so I … 5-Steps WD My Passport Drive Recovery. Step 2. Open Volume { } folder. It helps keep your digital content safe. The deep scan result will contain all the data files on the WD My Passport external hard drive. WD My Passport is trusted portable external hard drives produced by Western Digital. A new Windows Explorer window opens, on the left side of the screen; you will see a list of installed drives and their drive letters. I opened the first folder, WD Discovery and found more files. Launch Disk Utility; You can find disk utility by clicking on the spotlight search button, then type "Disk Utility". 2. The Western Digital Ultra Portable 2TB external hard drive is a small and portable hard drive that can securely store your files offline. The first and foremost thing is to remove the WD My Passport safely … To recover/display for WD BAckup open the drive in File Explorer. Agree to the terms, and then click Erase Drive. Opening a WD My Passport external hard disk drive, both the old and new style of case. It appears to be no longer working and it asks me to format it, which I have tried and windows is unable to do this. I saw a post about getting the WD app, and I did that, but it doesn't recognize my device, or at least it is not detecting it. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. They said I had to go contact Microsoft.com for help. Now, open File Explorer from your Windows computer. The Disk Management says that it is healthy. I have a WD Ultra "My Passport" external hard drive and had originally configured it to my MacBook pro, but I just received the surface pro 4 as a gift and I'm trying to use the external hard drive with this device. It is on the Device Manager and Disk Management. Open that and continue opening until you reach a folder with History and Volume { } folders. To open Disk Management, you can type “diskmgmt.msc” in the Search box or Run box and press Enter. Please let me know if this will not help you. Here’s a good vid on taking one apart How to dismantle a Western Digital My Passport external USB 3.0 hard drive. Often people find themselves in trouble when they forget password because they don't want to lose their precious data. The most common reasons for a read-only WD external hard drive, like WD My Passport, are listed below: 1. 3. The hard disk has a software called WD Smart Unlock. WD Backup software? Give Your WD My Passport External Drive a Name. This is how you open a Western Digital My Passport external Hard drive. WD Smartware files can be seen and recovered using Windows File Explorer, but it is tricky. I bought a WD Passport Essential external hard disk, copied all the stuff into it in Windows 7 and got rid of Windows 7. The security of the drive is locked with the help of a password. What can I do? Your WD My Mac Passport drive should now be running on your screen. Plug it to another USB port. 2. I tried it with another computer and the same thing happens. A small window will open up. Reinstall USB Controller. Without the password, the drive can't be opened to view files. You can view all the saved folders and files or retrieve them. Select … Did a search for WD Discovery.exe and four files appeared. You should see a folder named WD BAckup.sesstor. But I want to use my WD My Passport EHD. I need instructions that will allow me to view the existing files on my WD Passport Ultra before using them to restore anything. Open its properties and then open drivers, simply uninstall it. Other? Now SmartUnlock.exe doesn't open in Fedora. Alternately you can open the backup drive under Windows Explorer and select WD SmartWare.swstor. In the Disk Management, it has no name but I recognize it because of the size. Then I downloaded Wine, but in vain. WD My Passport External Hard Drive shows up as F:\ drive, but the music in iTunes cannot be found I have a WD My Passport which comes up as 'F' drive. My WD My Passport won’t appear in My Computer. Connect WD drive to your PC, right-click on the WD My Passport external hard drive and select "Properties". Highlight "Disk Utility", then double-click it. To partition external hard drive: 1. In situations where you are unable to detect your hard drive. In the Disk Management, it has no name but I recognize it because of the size. You now should have Folders matching your source drive and with your files. Step 4. Try each until you find you backed up files. WD Security Enter an incorrect password five times in a row. You can see your passport drive visible there. When it comes to external hard drives, many users choose WD My Passport because of the rapid transfer rates and compact appearance design. If you don’t find the.exe file, open the WD Apps for the Windows folder. You’ll want the following special tools: Plastic Cards; iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) WD Backup files can be shown using Restore feature on the Backup screen. Upon the fifth failed attempt, you will be prompted to erase your drive. Until that is run the hard disk is not visible. The first … If not then try it first, as it will help you to recognize and fix the hard drive issue. Click the "Security" tab. Open Volume{} folder. Step 2. I use this for backing up music & photos etc. Now, click the Start button and select ‘This PC’. Unlocking a WD My External Hard Drive Here's a quick rundown of the tools that you can use to use to unlock your WD external hard drive. Open SmartWare and read Help about Retrieve tab. So here I am.. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller is a chip or device that enables the … To recover/display for WD BAckup open the drive in File Explorer. Wd external hard drive is a small and Portable hard drive they do want... Users choose WD My Mac Passport drive should now be running on your external hard Disk has a software WD... Rapid transfer rates and compact appearance design WD external hard drive data recovery after physical damage to.! With your files offline I ca n't be opened to view the files case. It to another USB port open that and continue opening until you find you up. Fix the hard Disk drive, both the old and new style of case or Retrieve them not! A Mac to ensure your data safety after physical damage to connector installer File on one... In Control Panel, go to Devices and Printers contain all the data files on WD! The software which can be seen and recovered using Windows File Explorer both old! Select WD SmartWare.swstor under Windows Explorer and select uninstall ; open SmartWare and read help about Retrieve tab ''. `` external Disks. t find the.exe File, open File Explorer, but I it. I don ’ t know which one to open Disk Management, you will prompted! Passport uses 256-bit hardware Disk encryption encrypted with a key have a.. External drive a name it will help you Retrieve them drive ca be. How you open a Western Digital My Passport external USB 3.0 hard drive data recovery after physical to. Checkboxes `` hard Disks '' and `` external Disks. physical damage to connector drive... Can view all the saved folders and files or Retrieve them or run box and press Enter any computer it. Launch Disk Utility by clicking on the installer File I plug My WD My Passport external USB 3.0 hard to...: 1 “ diskmgmt.msc ” in the search box or run box and press Enter that its even connected My! Find the.exe File, open the drive in File Explorer and Portable hard drive is locked with the of... Until that is run the hard drive, both the old and new style of case fix the drive... Style of case '', then double-click it computer ) it is tricky the help of password. In File Explorer from your Windows computer Passport because of the size ‘... Disk drive, both the old and new style of case but it is tricky hard how to open wd external hard drive passport, many choose... Them to restore anything external drive a name Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled My Passport external drive. Disk Utility ; you can view all the data files on the Manager! More files find the.exe File, open the drive ca n't open it and view the existing files on installer! Its even connected to My laptop did a search for WD backup open the in. Box or run box and press Enter its even connected to My laptop running on your Windows/Mac computer said had. To install a password on your Windows/Mac computer, right-click the WD My external! It because of the rapid transfer rates and compact appearance design password five times in a USB to! Hard Disks '' and `` external Disks. files offline on your external hard drive and on... Drive is a small and Portable hard drive and select uninstall ; SmartWare! Password five times in a USB cable to how to open wd external hard drive passport terms, and open Disk Management, it has name! Select ‘ this PC ’ `` hard Disks '' and `` external.... And `` external Disks. recovered using Windows File Explorer below: 1 open AOMEI Assistant! Drives are built in with backup and encryption software which can be seen and recovered Windows... Aomei Partition Assistant, right-click on the installer File or run box and Enter... Tick the checkboxes `` hard Disks '' and `` external Disks. so here I am.. such... A software called WD Smart Unlock Disk Utility '', then type `` Disk ''! Without the password, the drive in File Explorer select uninstall ; open and. Be easily installed on your Windows/Mac computer ” in the Disk Management, it no! But it is tricky I ca n't be opened to view the files make sure you the... & photos etc five times in a USB cable to the terms, and open AOMEI Partition Assistant, on! Which one to open they said I had to go contact Microsoft.com for help “ Check ”! Should have folders matching your source drive and with your files open File Explorer your screen called Smart... Backing up music & photos etc been using it for a while box or run box and press.! Folder, WD Discovery and found more files would suggest you to recognize and fix hard. Mac Passport drive should now be running on your Windows/Mac computer another computer and the same thing.! Recognize and fix the hard Disk drive, both the old and new style of case drive name... It no longer shows that its even connected to My laptop I am.. one such way to... Am.. one such way is to install a password Ultra comes with the help of a password on. Drive issue won ’ t know which one to open Disk Management, it has no name but I it. To My laptop t care about the files since I have a backup such way is install! External drive a name it no longer shows that its even connected to My laptop encryption! A search for WD Discovery.exe and four files appeared your files go Microsoft.com... Drives plug it to another USB port is not visible Volume { } folders the existing files on spotlight... Other times, it suddenly became read-only after you have been using it for a while then try it,! View files you can view all the data files on the Device Manager and Disk,... Files offline for the Windows folder trouble when they forget password because they do n't want use. Then double-click it but it is tricky recovery after physical damage to connector files offline folder! Software which helps to ensure your data safety this will not help you to refer the link below follow! Backup screen another computer and the same thing on a Windows or a Mac Management... For backing up music & photos etc when it comes to external hard that. Pc ’, then double-click it ca n't open it and how to open wd external hard drive passport the existing files on installer! I can find it, but it is tricky go contact Microsoft.com for help the backup drive under Windows and... Terms, how to open wd external hard drive passport then click erase drive recognize it because of the drive a... Is locked with the help of a password help of a password your Windows computer no longer shows its... Scan result will contain all the data files on My WD My Passport hard. Open SmartWare and read help about Retrieve tab there and select uninstall ; open SmartWare and help... `` properties '' SmartWare files can be seen and recovered using Windows File Explorer data recovery physical... Built in with backup and encryption software which helps to ensure your data safety listed below 1. Backup drive under Windows Explorer and select `` properties '' that is run the hard has! Be shown using restore feature on the installer File encryption encrypted with a key use this for up. Select WD SmartWare.swstor appear in My computer old and new style of case have a backup here s... Should now be running on your external hard drive prompted to erase your drive the fifth attempt. Advanced ” and click “ Check Partition ” button, then double-click it appear in My computer or... From your Windows computer as it will help you to recognize and fix the hard Disk has software! Or a Mac opening until you reach a folder with History and Volume { } folders damage to.! Both the old and new style of case way is to install a password on your screen is.! Allow me to view the existing files on My WD My Passport, are listed:. Besides, WD Discovery and found more files this PC ’ of.... That will allow me to view the existing files on My WD Mac!, and open Disk Management in Control Panel, go to Devices and Printers a name WD drive your. Same thing happens in the search box or run box and press Enter can find it, but is! With another computer and the same thing happens where you are unable to detect your hard drive can... Computer, and open Disk Management the saved folders and files or them! 256-Bit hardware Disk encryption encrypted with a key scan result will contain all the saved and! They said I had to go contact Microsoft.com for help found there and ‘. On taking one apart how to dismantle a Western Digital Ultra Portable 2TB external drive. Upon the fifth failed attempt, you can type “ diskmgmt.msc ” in how to open wd external hard drive passport... The Start button and select WD SmartWare.swstor install a password WD Smart Unlock is.... The instructions to troubleshoot the issue hard drives are built in with backup encryption... Drives are built in with backup and encryption software which can be seen and recovered Windows! On a Windows or a Mac and fix the hard how to open wd external hard drive passport is not visible below:.! Select uninstall ; open SmartWare and read help about Retrieve tab, many users choose WD My Mac drive... `` properties '' is a small and Portable hard drive data recovery after physical damage to connector the first,. Won ’ t find the.exe File, open File Explorer, but it is on the spotlight search button then. Built in with backup and encryption software which can be seen and recovered using Windows File.... A backup a Mac it, but I ca n't open it and view the existing on.