WD external HD Driver

[CorNokZ]

I just bought a 500gb WD HD with the product number WD5000CO.. On the box it says Plug n' Play, so I thought "fair enuff, that sounds easy, even for a tit like me!"

Got home, plugged it in and the installation pops up.. Hmmz okay! I try to install it, but I'm in need of a cd with a driver on it! *Checks box.. No CD! Checks desk... No CD! Search internet.. Lots of drivers, but have no clue which one to use!*

I call upon thee Freddies to help out a silly foreigner!

I also went to Western Digitals homepage and found all these drivers and what not, but I have no idea which one to use!


Please help me out

 

[inactionman]

What operating system are you using? As any USB hard drive should really just work!

 

[CorNokZ]

I'm using Windows XP.. When I plug it in my USB it pops up with the install window

 

[Lazarus]

dont u get the option to automatially install - Windows may already have the drivers available and should install without a hitch

 

[Jonty]

Hi CorNokz

Please can you post the exact product number and the full name on the box? This will help to narrow things down.

However, as inactionman said, the drive really should just work. Does the drive appear in Windows Explorer (regardless of the install prompt)? Also, have you tried letting Windows install the drive automatically? Edit ~ ha, Laz beat me to it

Kind regards

Jonty

P.S. Please can you also confirm that this is the Windows installation prompt, not something for the pre-installed Western Digital software?

 

[Embattle]

Under Windows XP it should show up as a USB Mass Storage Device normally, externally sourced drivers are traditionally only required for 2k, ME, 98.

 

[CorNokZ]

The model number is WD5000CO35-000 and is called Elements

And no, it doesn't appear at all, besides the install pop-up and yeah I did try to let windows install it, but it just tells me that Windows couldn't find the necessary software for the installation

Thanks for the quick replies btw

 

[inactionman]

I'd take it back as faulty, and get a replacement.

 

[Jonty]

Hi again

Although this is an old model, you really shouldn't need to install it according to the manual (PDF). I would try another USB port, and if that doesn't work then I'd agree with inactionman and return it. Sorry you're having trouble!

Kind regards

Jonty

P.S. As evidence, there are no drivers for this product, just software utilities.

 

[CorNokZ]

Seems like it's not cooperating with my USB plugs, so I'll have to return it tomorrow and get a Packard Bell or something

Thanks a lot for the quick replies and all the help guys!


Cheers, Cornokz

 

[Embattle]

There are a few cases of this sort of issue, but certainly nothing that common, it is likely to be something minor that is causing an incompatability between the drive and your computer.

Do you know what Service Pack your copy of XP has?

 

[CorNokZ]

No sorry, can't remember

 

[nath]

Easily found out - right click on your My Computer, click on properties. The window that pops up will tell you.

That said, if you've ever noticed windows security centre pop up and bother you about something it means you're on SP2.

 

[Embattle]

Do this:

1. Click Start
2. Right Click - My Computer
3. Select - Properties

Another Window will appear and it'll show it at the bottom of the List under System, just above where it says 'Registed to:'.

Edit - As Nath says its unlikely you're on anything but SP2, but it's not impossible

 

[CorNokZ]

SP2 is what I am using

 

[Embattle]

Don't suppose you have access to someone elses computer you could give it a try on?

 

[CorNokZ]

I tried it on my dad's computer and it was the same result, so I'm pretty sure it's broken somehow

 

[Embattle]

Yeah the drive sounds like it has had it then, which judging by some Amazon comments isn't that uncommon....that being said people are more prone to post something bad than something good

 

[CorNokZ]

Guess I'll get that 500gb packard bell my big brother got about a month ago! Worked really well, was same price and it just plugged into my pc and worked straight away

 

[nath]

EEEwwwwwwww... packard bell :\

How much was it? It may well be worth just having the WD replaced as it sounds like it's faulty. I don't know about their external hard drives, but when it comes to internal drives, Western Digital make some solid kit. Don't rush to judge them based on one bad experience, you could have just gotten quite unlucky. Plus, all external drives should work like your brothers Packard Bell, so don't assume it's a special feature of that particular drive.

 

[inactionman]

Yeah, I just have a USB caddy which you can fit a IDE/SATA drive into. Works on pretty much anything with decent USB support.

 

[Embattle]

While I'm no PB fan you'll probably find it is another manufacturers Hard drive acutally inside the external casing, probably a Toshiba hard drive.

A recent Labs test PCPro did on some external Hard Drives can be found here.

 

[WPKenny]

CorNokz,

Have you tried just hitting cancel on the install. My Maxtor external drive asked for software the first time I plugged it in but it was actually to set it up as a backup solution and was nothing to do with the functionality of the drive as a simple USB based hard drive. Hitting cancel on that install let me just use it as a standard drive.

After hitting cancel check to see if the drive has appeared in My Computer. If not, right click on My Computer and select Manage. Then on the left hand side of the window that comes up select Disk Management and see if there's any black coloured drives in there that say they're uninitialised.

 

[CorNokZ]

I tried canceling the installation, but then nothing happens.. Doesn't appear anywhere and your little trick didn't help either, unfortunatly

 

[Jonty]

Hi CorNokZ

While I wouldn't recommend normally Packard Bell, Embattle is right that many generic brands use the same hard drives. That said, I would still recommend Western Digital (WD) as they hae a good reputation and good warranty (I have one of their external 'Passport' drives and it's very good).

Just out of interest, have you tried buying online? You can get some very good deals on WD's current generation 'My Book' drives. Alternatively, Seagate's Free Agent series has also had some good reviews.

Kind regards

 

[CorNokZ]

Exchanged my WD for a PB today.. Same price and same capacity! Only difference is that the PB works


Thanks for all the help guys! Cheers