If the same thing happened in vista too then this might be hardware error. My Ubuntu installation is on a WD Passport too and I don't have any problems with it. You don't have another USB HDD to test, do you?
If the same thing happened in vista too then this might be hardware error. My Ubuntu installation is on a WD Passport too and I don't have any problems with it. You don't have another USB HDD to test, do you?