Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_topic_old
Extenal drive does not show
Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 3, 2011 - 8:59 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

My wife used a 200gb external for a back up of a back up. Suddenly windows says there's a problem (didnt write it down). No problem...I needed a larger HD for my back ups. Got the new HD and copied stuff over and then wiped the HD.
Hooked up the old HD to my wife's machine. Hmmmm..can't find it either.
I dug out the wife's old HD and hooked it up to my machine. Hmmm...it works just fine...
Thoughts?
XP Pro

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 3, 2011 - 11:00 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I hate making spelling errors...
EXTERNAL !!!!!

Avatar
Jim Hillier
Admin
November 4, 2011 - 12:56 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2701
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Terry, when you say "can't find it", is that looking under 'My computer', or in 'Disk Management', or both?

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 4, 2011 - 1:26 am
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

OZ,
Both !!!
thanks

Avatar
Jim Hillier
Admin
November 4, 2011 - 3:24 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2701
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Okay. Then I would be checking the USB cables (try swapping them around - if possible), and also trying different USB ports.

Are the external drives 2.5" USB powered or 3.5" self powered? If USB powered, is the LED light glowing when connected to USB port? If self powered, is the LED light glowing when connected to mains power and switched on?

I guess you would have tried re-booting the machine and then connecting the external drive?

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 4, 2011 - 9:23 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

3.5 self powered. switched cables and ports.........:<
The original drive works on my computer.............:&
rebooted.........

Avatar
Jim Hillier
Admin
November 4, 2011 - 9:50 pm
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2701
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

The thing that's throwing me is the drive works when connected to one machine but not when connected to the other. Seems to indicate there is a problem with the host machine, rather than with the drive itself.

Next step I would be trying is taking the drive out of its enclosure and connecting it direct into the machine; that is provided there is enough room and a spare connection on the mobo.

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 4, 2011 - 11:06 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I took another drive (J) and cords that are working with my machine and installed to the problem machine. My wife's machine does not see the J drive. Tried different ports also.

Avatar
Jim Hillier
Admin
November 4, 2011 - 11:43 pm
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2701
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Sounds as though the USB ports on the wife's machine are not working. Is anything else connected to that machine via USB; printer, mouse, keyboard??

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 5, 2011 - 12:26 am
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Mouse, keyboard and printer are all USB. Have switched cords, ports, etc.
No joy................

Avatar
Jim Hillier
Admin
November 5, 2011 - 12:54 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2701
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Okay. A couple more things to try.

What are you plugging the external drive's power supply into, a surge protected power board or directly into a wall socket? Is it the same for both machines? If, on the errant machine, the drive is being plugged into a surge protected power board, try connecting directly to a wall socket and see if that works.

On the errant machine; go to Start>Control Panel>Network Connections (or whatever it is called in XP) - is there anything in there about Firewire, 1384 or both? If so, disable that and reboot - then try the external drive again.

Avatar
Flying Dutchman
Member
Members
November 5, 2011 - 11:54 am
Member Since: September 2, 2010
Forum Posts: 278
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi,

Here's an [url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196:385ttlq5]MS article[/url:385ttlq5] that might help you.
Another thing you might want to try is to uninstall all USB drivers on your wife's system (USB hoot hubs + controllers) along with any drivers related to the specific HDD. With the external HDD unpluged, reboot - Windows will rebuild all USB settings and connections. Try the HDD again.

Is it possible that the initial error message you got from Windows had something to do with the drive not being formatted? If yes, it could be due to related registry entries being corrupted.

And two questions:
When you plug in the HDD, does the "Remove Safely" icon show up in the system tray?
When you say you "can't find it" in 'Disk Management, do you mean it doesn't show up at all or is there something without a letter assigned to it?

Please, report back.

I am human

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 5, 2011 - 4:38 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Tried the MS article with negative result.
No replies about formatting.
Bear in mind that this problem is with ANY/ALL external drives.
Remove safely does not appear.
Cannot find in "My Computer" or Disk "Management"

How to uninstall USB Drivers?

Thanks everyone

Avatar
Flying Dutchman
Member
Members
November 7, 2011 - 3:42 pm
Member Since: September 2, 2010
Forum Posts: 278
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi Terry and sorry for the late reply.

Before trying to remove the USB drivers, please check the following:
Connect the HDD before booting the system.
At the post screen it would say something about mass storage devices, if the BIOS can see the disk.

One more question, does
[quote:8lfqxrk6]this problem is with ANY/ALL external drives[/quote:8lfqxrk6]
icnlude flash drives as well?

Please, report back.

I am human

Avatar
carbonterry2
Member
Members
November 7, 2011 - 10:35 pm
Member Since: February 17, 2010
Forum Posts: 356
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Flash drives show ok. The external hd does not show in the BIOS.

Forum Timezone: America/Indiana/Indianapolis
Most Users Ever Online: 2303
Currently Online: MeheakKunar
Guest(s) 22
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Chad Johnson: 867
Mindblower: 666
carbonterry2: 356
Flying Dutchman: 278
grr: 211
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 11
Members: 3189
Moderators: 7
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 8
Forums: 20
Topics: 1944
Posts: 13526
Newest Members:
vit, gclef, tyarb, thomasneri, imshrawan
Moderators: Carol Bratt: 67, dandl: 740, Jason Shuffield: 1, Jim Canfield: 8, Terry Hollett: 0, Stuart Berg: 0, John Durso: 0
Administrators: Jim Hillier: 2701, Richard Pedersen: 204, David Hartsock: 1117
Scroll to Top

WHY NOT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER?

Get great content like this delivered to your inbox!

It's free, convenient, and delivered right to your inbox! We do not spam and we will not share your address. Period!