This forum requires Javascript to be enabled for posting content
Log In
Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Register Lost password?
Extenal drive does not show
carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
1
November 3, 2011 - 8:59 pm

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

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
2
November 3, 2011 - 11:00 pm

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

Jim Hillier
2701 Posts
(Offline)
3
November 4, 2011 - 12:56 am

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

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
4
November 4, 2011 - 1:26 am

OZ,
Both !!!
thanks

Jim Hillier
2701 Posts
(Offline)
5
November 4, 2011 - 3:24 am

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?

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
6
November 4, 2011 - 9:23 pm

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

Jim Hillier
2701 Posts
(Offline)
7
November 4, 2011 - 9:50 pm

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.

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
8
November 4, 2011 - 11:06 pm

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.

Jim Hillier
2701 Posts
(Offline)
9
November 4, 2011 - 11:43 pm

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??

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
10
November 5, 2011 - 12:26 am

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

Jim Hillier
2701 Posts
(Offline)
11
November 5, 2011 - 12:54 am

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.

Flying Dutchman
278 Posts
(Offline)
12
November 5, 2011 - 11:54 am

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

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
13
November 5, 2011 - 4:38 pm

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

Flying Dutchman
278 Posts
(Offline)
14
November 7, 2011 - 3:42 pm

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

carbonterry2
356 Posts
(Offline)
15
November 7, 2011 - 10:35 pm

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

Forum Timezone: America/Indiana/Indianapolis
All RSSShow Stats
Administrators:
Jim Hillier
Richard Pedersen
David Hartsock
Moderators:
Carol Bratt
dandl
Jason Shuffield
Jim Canfield
Terry Hollett
Stuart Berg
John Durso
Top Posters:
Chad Johnson: 867
Mindblower: 666
carbonterry2: 356
Flying Dutchman: 278
grr: 211
Newest Members:
Jeff Coder
anhd389
blutsband
cyberguy
JudeLandry
Forum Stats:
Groups: 8
Forums: 20
Topics: 1942
Posts: 13524

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 11
Members: 3181
Moderators: 7
Admins: 3
Most Users Ever Online: 2303
Currently Online: MeheakKunar
Guest(s) 28
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Exit mobile version

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!