Hi,
I want to explain how I solve this issue, because I took me few hours. From the beginning…
I have a WD external HD: My Passport Essential (EDBAAA50000AWT). I saw an update, of the SmarWare and of the firmware in the website, so I decided to update both. I´m running a Mac, so I followed the instructions in the website.
Only after I have ended the process I realize that in the bottom part of the web, after all the links, there is and advice: “This information is applicable only to this drive model, manufactured after June 15, 2010.”. So, because my WD is older, the result was a brick. (It´s a bit hidden, and also there is no notification in the updater. I think this is why a lot of people are with this issue. Also because in the web, in the part of how to remove the Virtual CD (VCD) Manager there are not a warning or similar)
I was reading few other post in this website, but no one with a clear solution for me. I tried to connect the drive in Mac and Windows, without result: NO DETECTED. I thought in open the HD, and connect it directly trough a SATA connexion.
Finally I manage to download an older version (PC - Windows) of the updater, so I took another computer and I had run the firmware updater. It´s the v2.003(1.0.8.0). I took it from UserDrivers (sorry if it´s not allow to put references to other websites, but I was looking a way to find older firmwares in the WD website, but I did´t manage).
It was a perfect solution, no the HD is working again, without any apparent damage to the information inside the HD.
I hope this will help to other people with the same problem. And I hope also from the people of WD a dramatic change in the firmware installer, and in the warnings of the website. Also a database of older firmwares could be nice.
Regards.
