Vista - Can't Access My BooK

Noticed that this happened after a failed System Restore. I remember System Restore saying something about the HDD not being restored because it was not plugged in. I continued with the restore but it failed. I tried 3 times and the restore failed every time. Finally a restore in Safe Mode Worked.

Now, when I plug in My Book Western Digital 500GB External HDD, Vista says that a driver could not be found. Even manually pointing to the System32 folder didn't work. I went to the WD website and no driver...just diagnostics and a control GUI or something.

Since Vista can 'SEE' the HDD but can't 'OPEN THE DOOR', is there an alternate solution? I even ReInstalled the OS thinking that would somehow fix the problem. (I also had SP1).

I need to be able to access this drive to recover Picture of my New Born baby Girl. Thanks!

Hi, SiNJiN, and welcome to the forums.

When you say "reinstalled" Vista, did you format and start all over? Because if you did, then it should see the drive right away upon connecting it....

Thanks Johngalt. Yup...I formatted the HDD and reinstalled vista. I have no idea why it's not working. The WD HDD lights up and everything. When I plug it back it, I get the same message...Vista is searching for drivers...then it says that it didn't find any.

Do you think that maybe when the System Restore failed...and I plugged the HDD back in, it sort of - somehow corrupted the drive?

Best way to tell that would be to connect it to a different computer - if it works, then no - if it doesn't then *possibly*.

Well, I guess I'm gonna have to lug out my OLD 600mhz (top of the line back then) Desktop once more. (It's come in handy many times!)

Holy Moley! I guess the HDD needed some time off! I had it unplugged (power) for a couple of days and then decided to try once more just now...and it miraculously connected and Vista found the drivers for it and installed it! WoW!