WD My Book seems reset (data seems lost)

If your WD My Book external hard drive suddenly appears empty or seems to have reset itself, it can be deeply unsettling—especially if it contained years’ worth of important data. Many users report that their My Book drive shows up normally in File Explorer or Disk Utility, but all data appears to be gone, file structures have vanished, or the drive has reverted to factory-like settings. Before assuming your files are permanently lost, it’s important to understand what may have happened and what recovery steps you can take.

What Causes the “Reset” Behavior?

There are several common reasons your WD My Book might appear to have reset:

1. Accidental Formatting or Repartitioning

In some cases, clicking the wrong button during drive setup or OS prompts may result in the drive being reformatted, which removes visible data but not necessarily deletes it permanently.

2. Corrupted File System

A sudden power failure, unsafe removal, or malware infection can corrupt the file system. When this happens, the operating system may not recognize the original volume and display it as empty or unallocated.

3. Firmware or Software Glitch

My Book drives that use WD Discovery, WD Backup, or WD SmartWare may encounter software issues or failed updates that cause incorrect volume mounting or indexing.

4. Drive Encryption or Security Lock

If you previously used WD Security to password-protect your drive, it might appear empty until unlocked using the correct password. A reset could also erase the encryption key if mishandled.

What to Do First – Don’t Write New Data

If your My Book appears reset or blank:

Do not format it again

Avoid copying any files to it

Stop using it immediately

Every action risks overwriting the original data, reducing recovery chances.

How to Recover Lost Data from My Book

✅ 1. Use Data Recovery Software

Install reliable recovery tools like:

Recuva

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

R-Studio

Disk Drill

Scan the My Book drive for lost partitions or RAW data. These tools can often locate deleted files or file systems.

✅ 2. Try Drive on Another System

Sometimes, mounting issues are OS-related. Connect the drive to a different computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) to see if the original volume is detected.

✅ 3. Use Disk Management or Disk Utility

On Windows:

Press Win + R > type diskmgmt.msc

Check if your WD My Book shows an unallocated partition or RAW format

On macOS:

Open Disk Utility and inspect partitions and mounting status

✅ 4. Seek Professional Data Recovery Help

If the drive is physically damaged or recovery tools fail, contact a professional recovery service. WD partners with companies like Ontrack and DriveSavers who specialize in recovering lost data from external drives.

Conclusion

A WD My Book that appears to reset or lose data can be alarming, but it doesn’t always mean permanent loss. It may be due to file system corruption, software conflicts, or accidental formatting. By stopping further use and using recovery tools or professional services, you stand a strong chance of recovering your valuable files. Always keep a secondary backup to avoid such data loss in the future.