Hardware I am very disappointed. Wii U doesn't detect hard drive

[MisterPantsEyes]

I have an internal HDD from an old laptop, I bought an enclosure for it to use it as an external HDD. My computer detects it, I can read and write. My PS4 detects it too, but says I can't use it (probably because I'm not on 4.5?).

My Wii U doesn't detect anything, but the HDD LED is on when it's connected and it makes a clicking sound, which it doesn't make when it's connected with the PS4 or PC. What's wrong?

It's a Hitachi 320gb HDD and this is the enclosure: http://www.ebay.de/itm/CnMemory-Lee...id=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=122109103323

 

[PabloMK7]

The wii u USB ports are not powerful enough for hard drives, you either need a Y cable or a external powered HDD

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

The wii u USB ports are not powerful enough for hard drives, you either need a Y cable or a external powered HDD

Are you sure that it would work with a USB-Y cable? Then I'd buy this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-3-0-Micr...690180?hash=item4862c47f84:g:REgAAOSwDN1UR-9m

 

[Kameryn]

Had the same issue.

Like PabloMK7 says a Y cable is needed if the drive isn't externally powered.

I ended up using this: USB 2.0 Microusb Y connector and it worked like a charm (WiiU detected and formatted the drive right away); people even commented on amazon that they got it for their Wii U lol. or USB 3.0 Micro usb Y connector depending on what you have.

 

[CrashMidnick]

I tried many 2.5 HDD on my Wii U : without Y cable you will not have enough juice :

- HDD not recognized
- HDD will stop spinning and will unmount
- corrupt data in some rare cases

 

[godreborn]

rule of thumb with the wii u is to use a y cable if unpowered. u could kill the drive otherwise.

 

[duffmmann]

Getting a Y-Cable is almost always the key for hard drives not being read by the Wii U.

 

[Wuigi]

I think it is sometimes also related to how the drive is actually presented via USB.
I had a SATA to USB dock where the drive was behaving like an internal drive and this didn't work with my Wii U and PS3.
Then I had an adapter where it was presented like a mass storage device and there it worked fine.
Both had an external power supply, so there's that.

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

Okay what the fuck is happening here?

I've bough a y cable and my Wii U detects it now, I also formatted it. But when I try to install a game, this happens every time:

I've tried 2 different SD cards. Someone please help me, I'm crying. I'm poor and wasted so much money I just wanted to play some games.

Edit: Could it be that it's still not getting enough power? I think the HDD need 700 mA.

 

[nitrostemp]

try a usb charger like a iphone charger..

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

try a usb charger like a iphone charger..

Tried it, the Wii U doesn't detect it at all and the HDD makes clicking sounds again, like it did without the Y cable.

 

[Alanoide97]

Tried it, the Wii U doesn't detect it at all and the HDD makes clicking sounds again, like it did without the Y cable.

And HDD clicking means hardware damage, try it on a PC and check the SMART status there

 

[Captain_N]

And HDD clicking means hardware damage, try it on a PC and check the SMART status there

It might be damaged. he did saw it worked on pc. Id read the smart data see if its been reallocating sectors.
Not enough power will cause a clicking sound similar to head crash. some will beep when not enough power.
also the wii u does not like some cases. all the ones i have tried worked tho.. what case did you get?

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

Downloaded SeaTools and did two tests, both didn't report any problems. There was no option for a smart test though.

Maybe it's really not getting enough power? This is the case: http://www.ebay.de/itm/CnMemory-Lee...id=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=122109103323

 

[ScarletDreamz]

Poeple always state this, and i had 2 USB HDD connectedt to my Wii U without issues.

Both Seagates Slim 2TB external.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

This one to be exact :

 

[fatsquirrel]

Are you sure that it would work with a USB-Y cable? Then I'd buy this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-3-0-Micr...690180?hash=item4862c47f84:g:REgAAOSwDN1UR-9m

Stop buying computer parts from ebay before you fuck up everything.
In retail store such cable costs approx. 8€-10€. And yes its been said a gazillion times that it needs and works with Y cable.

Miserly always pays twice mate...

I will take a wild guess and assume that you bought those SDs off Ebay too?

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

Stop buying computer parts from ebay before you fuck up everything.
In retail store such cable costs approx. 8€-10€. And yes its been said a gazillion times that it needs and works with Y cable.

Miserly always pays twice mate...

I will take a wild guess and assume that you bought those SDs off Ebay too?

The cables are fine, and no, my SDs are not from ebay. I tried a SanDisk and a Lexar SD.


I bet you're not even from Japan.

 

[BIFFTAZ]

Can you copy anything from nand to USB in settings? I had some trouble installing games directly to newly formatted HDD with Wupinstaller while nothing was on the HDD. I installed a game to nand first with Wupinstaller, Then copied it to the HDD within settings, Tried Wupinstaller on the HDD again & it would install games just fine.

 

[MisterPantsEyes]

Can you copy anything from nand to USB in settings? I had some trouble installing games directly to newly formatted HDD with Wupinstaller while nothing was on the HDD. I installed a game to nand first with Wupinstaller, Then copied it to the HDD within settings, Tried Wupinstaller on the HDD again & it would install games just fine.

I tried to move Super Mario World, that worked, but it's a small game. Tried the same with Terraria and it gave me an error while moving. 150-3032

 

[BIFFTAZ]

I tried to move Super Mario World, that worked, but it's a small game. Tried the same with Terraria and it gave me an error while moving. 150-3032

Im really not sure then... Have you tried connecting the HDD to the back of the console? Thats how I have mine setup. The main data cable (Thickest cable) to the top USB port & the other power cable to the one underneath.