Files Missing but Folders Appear I purchased this external hard drive and copied over music and other files a few days ago. After copying my files (more than 15,000 MP3s, etc.) today the folders are all on the hard drive but each folder is empty. Everything is missing and icons for Word and Excel documents appear but do not open. I am not using the supplied software; I just dragged stuff from my hard drive to the portable drive. Are there any solutions to retrieving the files? I tried unplugging the unit, but that didn't seem to help. Files Missing but Folders Appear I purchased this external hard drive and copied over music and other files a few days ago. After copying my files (more than 15,000 MP3s, etc.) today the folders... » Read More Files Missing but Folders Appear I purchased this external hard drive and copied over music and other files a few days ago. After copying my files (more than 15,000 MP3s, etc.) today the folders are all on the hard drive but each folder is empty. Everything is missing and icons for Word and Excel documents appear but do not open. I am not using the supplied software; I just dragged stuff from my hard drive to the portable drive. Are there any solutions to retrieving the files? I tried unplugging the unit, but that didn't seem to help. « Show Less
32461
I have the same problem. I also have not found a solution. I get a delayed write error and then all the folders etc are empty. I have searched for days for a solution (on mine, the contents ARE still there but aren't shown and can't be accessed unless there is a short cut on my desktop). If someone knows what to do, please help.
258045
I have found that if I unplugged the hard drive from my computer, and then plug it back in, the files appear on the hard drive again. So now I just leave it unpugged all of the time and only hook it up to my computer when I need to copy something over. I also called Western Digital back last year and they were willing to take it back and send me a new one, so if it's still under warranty you may want to try that.
121822
Hi, This drive is virtually silent unlike my other external hard drive which makes a lot of noise when active. How quite & cool this drive operates is one of the many things I like about it. It's possible yours could be defective. Maybe you could exchange it for another?
1517560
Hello April, unfortunately there could be several reasons. To ensure the drive is actually working, can you hear the discs spinning? You should be able to tell if it is there would be a slight hum. If you are sure the drive works, and it does not show up on your computer, I would start by leaving it plugged in and then restarting your computer. Sometimes you have to clear the system's memory. If that does not work try a different USB port. My computer has one that doesn't work and I found out by accident. Depending on what operating system you are running, i.e. Windows 7, Windows 8, etc you can go to the device manager and see if the drive shows up under "HDD". If it does and you still cannot access the files there may be something wrong with the drive itself. Was this a working drive that you had used before? I'm sorry if I am not much help, I am trying to think of all the things I try on my pc. Please let me know. and Good Luck!
1386249
make sure all your programs that pertain to your workings of the hard drive are closed and nothing is running. sometimes it takes a little while but it works for me. i've unplugged the hard drive without waiting at times and never lost anything. don't recommend it though.
459443
It wasn't viewable in any OS I tried all three,But the last solution here worked as I had to make new partition and quick format it and in this way it also gave it a drive letter.I did this on an XP machine and Now it worked.
225253
I store all my music on an external hard drive.....so when my computer went up.....I still had all the music there....reloaded iTunes on the new computer (although I did lose playlists, etc....but not any of the actual songs, videos or photos) and I was back up and running with not too much time spent......
1387623
I'm not an IT person but it sounds like something maybe wrong with the drive. I have an HP with Windows 8 and I have been able to view whatever is on the CD I've put in.
1038972
I found that I did have trouble if i tried to plug into an external USB extension and had to go directly into the computer - but it sounds like you already did that so I'm not sure. Did you try to just bring up a Windows explorer session and see if there is new drive listed?
741703
More information please: OS? Steps you have taken (I.e. Have you unplugged the drive and restarted the computer, etc.) also, was the drive bring accessed when improperly ejected?
1386250
Howdy Bruce! The best way we've found is make sure you have no files open on the drive and simply LEFT-CLICK on the remove drive icon in system tray, then LEFT-CLICK on the drive(s) and it should 'disappear' without any problem. Don't right-click, always left-click!
1423734
I had the same "issue" and decided to install an updated version of office. At my office, I'm moving files onto a stand alone drive so that I don't lose any information and plan to transfer it when I reload "7". Safest thing I can come up with. Sorry, wish I could help more! DonDon
1560298
At this moment I am pulling data off an external USB drive that appeared to be totally dead. Clack, click, whiirrrrrrrr and never came online.I froze it. Not kidding:http://www.emergingtechs.com/posts/put-your-hard-drive-in-the-freezer-to-recover-data/Mine works for about 1/2hr until the drive warms up again, then back into the freezer. Given this scenario it makes sense to know what is critical, get it first, and get the non-essential stuff later. All my important stuff is already recovered and now I'm copying over 40GB of "nice to have" stuff.As soon as this process is over I'm going to improve my backup scenario! At this moment I am pulling data off an external USB drive that appeared to be totally dead. Clack, click, whiirrrrrrrr and never came online.I froze it. Not kidding:http://www.emergingtechs.com/posts/put-your-hard-drive-in-the-freezer-to-recover-data/Mine works for about 1/2hr until the drive warms up again, then back into the freezer. Given this scenario it makes sense to know what is critical, get it first, and get the non-essential stuff later. All my important stuff is already recovered and now I'm copying over 40GB of "nice to have"... » Read More At this moment I am pulling data off an external USB drive that appeared to be totally dead. Clack, click, whiirrrrrrrr and never came online.I froze it. Not kidding:http://www.emergingtechs.com/posts/put-your-hard-drive-in-the-freezer-to-recover-data/Mine works for about 1/2hr until the drive warms up again, then back into the freezer. Given this scenario it makes sense to know what is critical, get it first, and get the non-essential stuff later. All my important stuff is already recovered and now I'm copying over 40GB of "nice to have" stuff.As soon as this process is over I'm going to improve my backup scenario! « Show Less
670050
I had the same problem. I got 2 of the same shipped from them and both couldn't be found. Like they work but couldnt be recognized. I reccomend going to best buy and buying a hard drive from there. It will cost more but you know it will work and you get customer service. That's what I ended up doing. Saved the head ache
1216778
I haven't had that problem. I know that the instruction booklet is not very helpful. My guess is that there may be separate "folders" and you're looking at an empty folder. Maybe you can figure out how to get to another folder. I've only used it with mp3 files, not wma so far.
910725
Always worth the shot. But: What OS? External Drive or Internal? Do other Drives work ok? I've never known DW to damage a drive, but it will tell you if it can't do it.You tried rebooting? Does the errant drive show up on Disk Utility from a different drive? Checked cable connections are intact? (try a different cable) . Tried Data Rescue 2 to salvage data?
1137421
The disk will not restore any file you have lost .this disk is for recovery system only.To restore a deleted file or folder Open Computer by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Computer. Navigate to the folder that used to contain the file or folder, right-click it, and then click Restore previous versions. If the folder was at the top level of a drive, for example C:\, right-click the drive, and then click Restore previous versions. You'll see a list of available previous versions of the file or folder. The list will include files saved on a backup (if you are using Windows Backup to back up your files) as well as restore points, if both types are available.
1360724
I do this all the time with my WD boxes (the discontinued Sharespace ones). The disks are visible in Windows explorer, just like the shared Public folder. This doesn't seem to work with Seagate. I have a USB drive attached to one of my Seagate boxes right now but the box is ignoring the attached drive. I have used the USB ports to import data, but in my experience this is a very flakey connection that can not be relied upon.