WD 320GB Passport woes...

AstaLaVista · Mar 25, 2009

So I got a WD 320GB passport at a very good price. The thing comes with some programs that I have not wanted to install since I would only be using it as a regular jump drive.

It works extremly well on all my XP machines but, it does not want to work on my Vista x64 rig at home, which is primarily, why I bought it.

When I plugged the usb cable to my Vista PC it told me that it was installing the drivers for it, to which I didn't understand why installing drivers if this is just a regular thumb drive but I let it do so, all of a sudden I got the error that drivers for it were not found and it might not work well.

Sure enough it didn't since it doesn't find it and no matter what USB port I use, it does not want to make it work. I thought it could be that the USB ports I was using didn't have enough juice to make it work but, if my old XP laptop can find it and it works perfect, how can my potent Vista x64 rig not have the juice capable of finding the passport?

I went looking for drivers for it but to no avail. Is anybody else having issues with this? Google didn't give me anything positive either.

sygnus21 · Mar 26, 2009

That Passport will install drivers; even my SanDisk thumb drive installs drivers. It's probably something you never noticed before.

At any rate, check that the Drive or USB cable is servicable, also try switching USB ports.

I have a WD 160GB Passport and it has no issues under Vista Ultimate x64.

AstaLaVista · Mar 26, 2009

Well, I tried on both my front USB ports to no avail. The front USB ports are connected to the motherboard so I know they have enough juice (power) to make this work.

The WD320 passport works on all my XP machines except on the Vista PC at home... Wierd.

You are right about the installation of drivers, it is just that XP does it so fast that you don't even noticed it, Vista on the other hand, takes its sweet ole time doing so.

I'll try it from the back USB ports to see if that changes.

Thanks Sygnus21

pacinitaly · Mar 26, 2009

AstaLaVista said:
So I got a WD 320GB passport at a very good price. The thing comes with some programs that I have not wanted to install since I would only be using it as a regular jump drive.

It works extremly well on all my XP machines but, it does not want to work on my Vista x64 rig at home, which is primarily, why I bought it.

When I plugged the usb cable to my Vista PC it told me that it was installing the drivers for it, to which I didn't understand why installing drivers if this is just a regular thumb drive but I let it do so, all of a sudden I got the error that drivers for it were not found and it might not work well.

Sure enough it didn't since it doesn't find it and no matter what USB port I use, it does not want to make it work. I thought it could be that the USB ports I was using didn't have enough juice to make it work but, if my old XP laptop can find it and it works perfect, how can my potent Vista x64 rig not have the juice capable of finding the passport?

I went looking for drivers for it but to no avail. Is anybody else having issues with this? Google didn't give me anything positive either.

Not sure which one you have but:
WD Support > Downloads > My Passport

I have 2 IDE WD HDD 120gb/80gb and both click so much you think they are trying to talk to me via morse code :cry:

Now I only use Maxtor/Seagate
I have three of these:Maxtor - 320GB External USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive - Cobalt Blue/Silver - STM903203EBA101-RK

sygnus21 · Mar 26, 2009

pacinitaly said:
Not sure which one you have but:
WD Support > Downloads > My Passport

I have 2 IDE WD HDD 120gb/80gb and both click so much you think they are trying to talk to me via morse code

Now I only use Maxtor/Seagate
I have three of these:Maxtor - 320GB External USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive - Cobalt Blue/Silver - STM903203EBA101-RK

Its a WD Passport 320GB and there are drivers there to download. He also doesn't want the sync program.

We’re only talking USB here, which is what the Passports are.

AstaLaVista · Mar 27, 2009

Well, the model number on the back of the passport is # WD3200MEB-00 so I assume that going with the WD3200MEB is the way to go, problem there is that all the options are for the software and none for the drivers. Another problem I saw there is that for me to be able to download the Sync software (which I don't need or want), I have to register the thing. I hate registering, more so when I am not going to need their software but, something tells me that I am going to have to do it.

Well, I have downloaded the new Sync software and installed it on the passport using my Office XP PC, I am hoping that somehow, it also installed the new Vista x64 drivers. ONly time will tell.

dinesh · Mar 27, 2009

Hi, go to diskmgmt.msc and see if the external hard drive is detected. If yes, then right click on the external hard drive and click INITIALIZE.

AstaLaVista · Mar 28, 2009

dinesh said:
Hi, go to diskmgmt.msc and see if the external hard drive is detected. If yes, then right click on the external hard drive and click INITIALIZE.

That didn't work either... or so it seemed.

OK, this is weird, if I plug the passport on the front USB ports of the case, which by the way, are hooked up to the mobo, the passport is not recognized... any other usb device is though.

If I plug it into the back USB ports, then inmediately after, Vista recognizes the device as a Passport... freaky.

Is there a logical reason for this? As far as I know, the front usb ports are getting the same juice as the rear ones... or am I missing something here?

The reason why I did not test this before is because the case is placed in a way that, getting to the back of it, is a major pain in the butt.

Also, if I am going to have to do this everytime I want to use the passport, it is going to be a drag. I would think that being able to utilize this on the front usb ports is the way to go.

kanehi · May 2, 2009

Could be the said USB port is not powered?

AstaLaVista · May 4, 2009

kanehi said:
Could be the said USB port is not powered?

I did fix the issue but I am still not happy with the solution so I'll respond.

I am using the front USB ports that comes with the case and they plugged into the Motherboard. Seeing as to how the back USB ports are also plugged into the motherboard, I would have to assumed that YES, they both have to be powered by the Mobo.

Only thing I can think of is that I am using to many plugs for 1 rail and I don't have enough juice for it, other than that... I am stumped.

What I did was I used a usb extension that I use every time I want to use the passport, this way, I don't have to bother having to go to the back of the case every time but, it pains me not knowing what is causing this issue as any other USB device works perfect with the front port. Heck, even my old 160GB external drive works a treat.

archie123 · May 4, 2009

your back usb ports are "hard wired" into your mobo , your front ones are usually connected by either a ribbon cable or most likely single stranded cables with little plugs on the end (itll all become very clear if you have a look

) So the issue could well be just with your front ports , rip the side off and make sure all is well with connections , plugged in/secure etc and most importantly connected correctly (the only way to be sure is with your mobo manual)

however with other drives working fine a could only asume its a power issue , but thats just a guess

AstaLaVista · May 4, 2009

archie123 said:
your back usb ports are "hard wired" into your mobo , your front ones are usually connected by either a ribbon cable or most likely single stranded cables with little plugs on the end (itll all become very clear if you have a look ) So the issue could well be just with your front ports , rip the side off and make sure all is well with connections , plugged in/secure etc and most importantly connected correctly (the only way to be sure is with your mobo manual)

Yes, this is true and this is exactly how mine is as well.

archie123 said:
however with other drives working fine a could only asume its a power issue , but thats just a guess

Therein lies the problem, other Devices work fine here. Sure the 160GB external is a powered external drive and the other devices are thumb drives (1Gb & 8GB) so the passport may need more juice to work correctly.

I just don't know where else I could plug it in order for it to gain the necessary power that it needs.

inc2000 · May 4, 2009

theres low power USB and mid power USB . they look the same but the ones in the back a closer to the power supply -so u can used those..the ones in the front may be used for pdas ipods and some low power devices and many printers since they have plugs.

archie123 · May 5, 2009

inc2000 said:
theres low power USB and mid power USB . they look the same but the ones in the back a closer to the power supply -so u can used those..the ones in the front may be used for pdas ipods and some low power devices and many printers since they have plugs.

there are low power and high power devices mate yes but that doesnt mean there are low power and high power USB ports , they are all the same , all it means is that a high power device will come with its own power supply , the distance to the PSU isnt an issue as its so small anyway and the hard wired and front wired ports may connect in a differant place but they will be powered from the same bus.

That said it doesnt eliminate a power issue , especially if the psu is struggling to cope , some devices will hapilly work/charge in any usb hub , some however (ive found in the past) are very picky and unless the voltage is absolutely bang on they wont work/charge properly or sometimes at all.

to clarify (this is from memory so feel free to shout if its a bit out

) anything up to and including 100mA is considered low power and will run hapilly off of any external USB port anything ove 100mA will normally come with a transformer type plug to seperately power the device (i hope i got this right ha ha )

AstaLaVista · May 5, 2009

I am going to have to go check this when I get home (even though I have bigger issues at the moment with the puter). As far as I can remember though, there is a plug that goes directly into the mobo, close to the 2nd PCIe slot. This is where the front 2 USB ports, 1 SATA port & Audio devices get their juice from.

Now, I could be mistaken and it came in in a form of a regular IDE plug, if so, I plugged a bunch of fans with this to a single PSU rail, hence, why I might be loosing some of the power needed to make the 320GB passport move.

Truth be told, I almost don't mind it anymore since the USB extension I plugged in the back of the PC now sits a hand-move form the keyboard anyways... this is no longer a bother for me.

archie123 · May 5, 2009

well i suppose if you have alot of stuff runningoff the same rail it could be an issue , but i doubt it

Is it really worth the hassle now your sorted??

LOVNTREE · Aug 24, 2009

at first my computer did see it so i tried a 4" wire and now it works.
so it needs a short wire might be not enough power for long wires

WD 320GB Passport woes...

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