Western Digital Elements 500 G External HD - how to use it

I posted this on the Hardware forum - my question here is, can I use this with Ubuntu? Will I have problems using this with Ubuntu? It does not seem to work.



I just purchased a WD Elements 500g External Hard drive and I do not know how to use it. I have been to WD website and I am not able to locate a user guide, install software or any instructions on how to get my files onto it.

It came with an install guide that tells me to plug the USB cord into the computer. When the WD icon comes up, I hit autorun but then nothing happens.

How does I work this drive to back up specific files on my computer, not just the entire drive? I cant get it work anyways...

Thanks for your help.
Reply With Quote

 

I use a WD Element 320GB external HDD with my Ubuntu 10.04 desktop with no problems. However, that said, I've always backed up my files/directories of choice manually.

Sounds like you're trying to use the built-in automotated software that ships with the drive. Unfortunately, this software is almost always Windows software that does NOT work with Linux systems. Autorun is a windows script, not a Linux script.

I prefer a manual backup system, but you should look into some of Linux's built-in backup tools like the *sync programs and UbuntuOne online services. I beleive they can be custom-configured to do what you want and will serve as suitable replacement for the windows-based software that came with your WD drive.

 

Have you tried this process? It is what I use to use a USB to IED cable with drives.

- Get the drive installed with power and USB
- reboot allowing the system to find the drive at boot
(unmount and disconnect before you shutdown or you will have issues)

 

AKLOGIC ------------- Buddy

Man, this is hell. You have been with me for weeks now trying to get this fixed. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME SO FAR MAN!!!! :wave
At this point I have both drives working, master and slave. I have nothing on the slave, formatted. The main drive, I installed Linux, Ubuntu because I could not boot XP in any way, shape or form. I tired the backup disc, that would not work and my old XP disc does not help either. The main hard driver runs great with Ubuntu but I really need windows as my main OS. I have an Vista Upgrade disc and I think to run this is my only option. There are multiple partition on the main HD, 250g WD. I have ran multiple diagnostic for the XP and main HD, XP is corrupted 2 the point of needing a clean and sweep install. Fine I can do this BUT on this main HD I have 40 gigs of pics and videos of the family and 100 gigs of music. All of this i of course need to keep. So, my plan was to back this up on an external HD, like the one I purchased, WD elements, 500g and wipe both drives clean, install brand new vista and life will be good.

Problem is that the WD elements does not seem to work with Ubuntu to back up my files in order to '' start over '. I know this is a windows thread and I want my machine to be windows. Just at this point, I am open to all ideas. I will post this with the Linux thread also.

Another question. If I do back up these files with Ubuntu Linux, can I restore this data onto Vista? We all know how Microsoft and Linux are mortal enemies.

Also, how the hell do I back these files up in Ubuntu to the external HD that has a script that is made for windows????

I would love to run Vista on the main HD, 250g and have Ubuntu on the slave and also have the slave for back up also. Seems like this is the idea that got me into this mess in the first place. Grub loader.

 

From what I have learned, the now slave drive, could be used as your XP if you have a disk, and COA to go with it (no matter what version, as long as the COA is for that one), you can disconnect the Ubunto hard drive, and set the 40gb as master, insert the XP disc, and then use the fixboot, and fixmr, and install XP on it. Then connect your new usb hard drive, and restart XP and it should find it o.k.
Then attatch the 250gb, but set it as slave, and you should be able to boot into XP, and copy the data from the corrupted XP partition, to the external new hard drive that you have

As suggested in the Linux thread, mounting and unmounting seem to be the problem- As I have little knowledge of Linux/ubunto , I can only lead you off site, which I do not like to do, but unless someone here at majorgeeks can help you further, I can offer the following, but- you must keep it in mind that I am very uninformed where Linux is concerned, I only knew there were problems with the grub loader, and as yet, I have not got around to trying it as a full blooded operating system. :-o

Copy corrupted XP with Ubunto

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=copy+files...wc6sePHbcTa0pH8jTALywyShOk=&tsp=1276767957104


XP after installing Linux

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=copy+files...D1An6xVPhlzac8BOB1PRHKzxP4=&tsp=1276767957104

Apparently you need to use extra 'tools, in Ubunto to mount the drive, to access the files in XP that you want - this means using commands as described .

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=copy+files...oiTjv9d4DICt/oFF+xRiXycFuA=&tsp=1276767957104