My laptop has stopped "seeing" my external harddrive when it's connected. I've tried rebooting the computer with and without the harddrive connected and have unplugged the harddrive and re-connected.
I know it's not the USB port but I do not know if (hopefully) the USB cord has gone bad.
It's a Western Digital 500GB of PJ I'm trying to save here, any ideas/help?

is the light of the ext. drive on?

Yep, ex drive has power and the light is on.
I never noticed much sound out of the thing before so I can't say it sounds any different.

sounds like it's the cord then indeed.

Don't tease me cono.

my WD500 came with a diagnostics kit. maybe you could try running that? if that doesn't work, just get a new cord. and it still won't work, you're probably fucked

Mine came 75% full from emanon. If there's a diagnostic kit I don't remember it. I'll check the box tonight. I know I didn't put anything on my laptop.
Thanks for the replys.
See ya in Columbia.
Cheers

This thread is now my HD blog.
Cord works.
cheers

Button doesn't work, green light stays on.
Something is spinning and won't stop unless unplugged, pea-green light goes out.
cheers
*drink more water*

and cheers

so this drive will end up getting plugged into another computer.

cheers

try another pc

Well I forgot to take it to my office to try on another PC.
It's not going to happend tomorrow now till at least Monday (I'm closing on my first new house and them moving all weekend).
Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

My e-sata cable seems to have died. Now I have to use a slow ass USB 2.0 connection.

I hope your drive works out okay.

i have this same problem. My laptop at home won't recognize my external HD, but when I connect it to my work comp it sees it just fine.
Could it be my antivirus program blocking it? I"m running NOD32.
I've got a small 2GB flash drive and my home laptop does see it, so I can't figure out why the 300GB drive won't come up.

Sorry I'm no help p911...
mine isn't recoginized on my computer at work either. I think mine is fucked. It's in a box for now, I don't really have the time or energy to worry about it right now. I think it might be easier to just sign up of another hard-drive b&p offer.

Well my company's IT sub-contractor took a look at my HD and said "it's trash".
Something about the drive spinning but not able to read/write, said I may be able to open it up and save some of the data (PJ).
Looks like I won't be seeding anything at youkanland for awhile.