If the device fails, can I plug a hard drive directly into a PC and still read the files? Does it store them in a proprietary format?
1638752
According to Western Digital support, you can mount these disks in your Linux operating system. But you can not mount if you are using iSCSI
1638753
You can read drives by hooking them into your desktop computer, but to WD documentation the format is native to Linux OS, not Microsoft Windows or Mac OS.
42496
Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking? If hard drives fail due to power issues..? If so, it's possible.
355110
the hard drive start working but mi computer can´t read it, I think theres a problem with some conector. The thing is that I can´t rescue my files.
1687481
I put in a drive with data on it and windows wouldn't recognize it unless I formatted it first. Works fine after formatting, but I had to backup all of my data before using the drive.
1577969
Well, a USB back up? SO you have turned it into a external hard drive? If so it most likley just needs to be configured into what you want it to do. Odd though, never had this problem with any hard drive I have ever worked with or bought.
2191291
This is a data cable, works like a external HD enclosure. If the HD is broken, it is not likely helpful to retrieve any data. Unless what broken is the enclosure of your external HD, not the HD.
2191294
It worked to allow me to retrieve the data on my hard drive. But my hard drive was not damaged. The problem was my motherboard. If your hard drive doesn't work, the data may be lost forever.
2046249
Just plug it in - I backed up my entire hard drive. If you have issues - contact their 800 tech desk.
1107642
As long as your computer equipment has the appropriate usb driver program installed (most do) it should work. A more pressing concern might be whether or not you choose to password protect or encrypt the files to prevent loss of privacy in the event the drive is lost or stolen. I haven't personally explored this function on the drive.
961045
The end that plugs into the hard drive is mini USB. Do not use third party USB cables with this hard drive, the mini USB plug on those adapters is too loose.
2071389
I just got one that uses a different chipset than typical USB drives, which registers it as a local disk rather than removable media as part of Win8 certification. You'd need third party software to load ISO images onto the drive.
1242819
Backing you your computer should be done BEFORE there is a problem. Not after. As long as the hard drive still functions you should be able to place it in the enclosure and plug it into a computer and read your data that way.
2253067
sorry, I haven`t tested that. I will have a USB3 portable hd soon. I'll check it out.
1951096
If you've got the requisite port, there shouldn't be a problem. There's no drivers to play around with, it behaves like a traditional HDD: plug and play.
632287
I have heard of this issue in ASUS laptops, but have not experienced any kind of Drive failures in mine. Though Ive only had mine for a little over a year now. Sorry to hear about that, hopefully you can recover the data.
364524
If your drive has an mSATA, then it's OK. You can also get a SATA to USB adapter to get the data out.
946578
This unit has a USB port which can be used to display your photos/movies, provided they are in a format compatible with the WD player . It won't read any other external storage device such as a hard drive on your PC. If you are watching photos/movies using the USB port, you don't have to be connected to the internet.