External Hard Drive Not Seen By Computer

[ChiangMaiThai]

I've dug up an old 60GB hard drive I used to use. I don't have the same computer that I used to use it with. When I plug it into my new computer, it lights up, but when you click on My Computer, the drive is not there.

I have tried restarting with the USB cable plugged in, with no luck. I'm using the same version of Windows as the old computer (XP).

Any ideas?

[sgtpeppers]

maybe you have to format it

[webfact]

I've dug up an old 60GB hard drive I used to use. I don't have the same computer that I used to use it with. When I plug it into my new computer, it lights up, but when you click on My Computer, the drive is not there.

I have tried restarting with the USB cable plugged in, with no luck. I'm using the same version of Windows as the old computer (XP).

Any ideas?

THis link might help: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Windows-XP-3282...ard-drive-2.htm

[ChiangMaiThai]

I've dug up an old 60GB hard drive I used to use. I don't have the same computer that I used to use it with. When I plug it into my new computer, it lights up, but when you click on My Computer, the drive is not there.

I have tried restarting with the USB cable plugged in, with no luck. I'm using the same version of Windows as the old computer (XP).

Any ideas?

THis link might help: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Windows-XP-3282...ard-drive-2.htm

Thanks. The problem he his having is the same problem that I am having. I followed the advice without luck. But no driver came with the drive. You just plug it in and the computer sees it. Any other ideas?

[webfact]

I've dug up an old 60GB hard drive I used to use. I don't have the same computer that I used to use it with. When I plug it into my new computer, it lights up, but when you click on My Computer, the drive is not there.

I have tried restarting with the USB cable plugged in, with no luck. I'm using the same version of Windows as the old computer (XP).

Any ideas?

THis link might help: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Windows-XP-3282...ard-drive-2.htm

Thanks. The problem he his having is the same problem that I am having. I followed the advice without luck. But no driver came with the drive. You just plug it in and the computer sees it. Any other ideas?

Have you gone to DEVICE MANAGER to see if you have a conflict (exclamation point in a yellow, inverted triangle)? If there is a 'conflict' delete that USB driver for your external drive and then go to ADD HARDWARE and let your PC search and find this device. In doing this process it will add the driver back to this USB connection.

[Guest Reimar]

If connected to USB, set the Jumper to Master! If you use an Conductor 80 cable, set the jumper to CS (Cable Select) but keep in mind that the other HDD, if any, on the same cable need to be set to CS as well, otherwise set one to Master and the other to Slave.

If your comp didn't recognize the HDD on USB, connect directly first to check your comp can "see" the HDD then.

Cheers.

[ChiangMaiThai]

Have you gone to DEVICE MANAGER to see if you have a conflict (exclamation point in a yellow, inverted triangle)? If there is a 'conflict' delete that USB driver for your external drive and then go to ADD HARDWARE and let your PC search and find this device. In doing this process it will add the driver back to this USB connection.

We might be on to something. The inverted ! was there in yellow. I deleted it and then went to ADD HARDWARE to let my PC search for the device. It found a USB Mass storage device. Then I got the message in the lower right hand corner of the screen that there was a problem installing the device and so it may not work properly. The inverted ! is back and the drive can still not be seen.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[ChiangMaiThai]

If connected to USB, set the Jumper to Master! If you use an Conductor 80 cable, set the jumper to CS (Cable Select) but keep in mind that the other HDD, if any, on the same cable need to be set to CS as well, otherwise set one to Master and the other to Slave.

If your comp didn't recognize the HDD on USB, connect directly first to check your comp can "see" the HDD then.

Cheers.

How do you mean, set the Jumper to Master and how do I do this?

[Guest Reimar]

If connected to USB, set the Jumper to Master! If you use an Conductor 80 cable, set the jumper to CS (Cable Select) but keep in mind that the other HDD, if any, on the same cable need to be set to CS as well, otherwise set one to Master and the other to Slave.

If your comp didn't recognize the HDD on USB, connect directly first to check your comp can "see" the HDD then.

Cheers.

How do you mean, set the Jumper to Master and how do I do this?

Depend which brand your HDD is, the location pp. can differs. Here is a LINK to a Segate site with explanation for Seagate and Maxtor HDD's and THIS LINK for WD HDD's.

Cheers.

[webfact]

I would suggest you check it with another computer. If it works there, its not the HDD which might have a failure but a system (USB) related issue on the other PC.

Secondly don"t plug in at an USB hub but connect directly to a free front or back USB port on your PC. Do that after you have shut down and restarted your PC. Restart the System without the HDD connected to the USB port.

[kayo]

Not long ago I had this problem with my an external hard drive.

device manager would recognize the USB connection, but not the drive itself.

Eventually, the Tech guy at work suggested the safest thing would be to do a recovery of the drive data (which he performed for me, rather than spending lots on having it done) and purchase a new drive.

( 1TB now available for 89.99 at PC world)

[ChiangMaiThai]

I plugged the drive into another computer and it is seen no problem. So can anyone else advise as to what may be wrong with the settings on this particular computer that it sees there is a USB storage device, but can't actually see the drive? On the computer that worked, it was already running, I just plugged it into the front USB and presto, the drive was seen. When I do the same with this computer, the drive is not seen.

Thanks for any ideas!

[ChiangMaiThai]

I tried plugging it into each different USB slot. Eventually, one worked! So I don't know what the moral of the story is. On the slots that didn't work, other USB devices work just fine.

Thanks for the ideas!

[JimShortz]

Not long ago I had this problem with my an external hard drive.

device manager would recognize the USB connection, but not the drive itself.

Eventually, the Tech guy at work suggested the safest thing would be to do a recovery of the drive data (which he performed for me, rather than spending lots on having it done) and purchase a new drive.

( 1TB now available for 89.99 at PC world)

PC world is where? and 89.99 whats? baht?

Is this really true, or is someone posting UK stuff on Thai visa? duh....

[kayo]

^Where's the embarrassed smilie...

PCworld is in the UK, and yes it's Pound Sterling.