Storage forum: External USB hard drive not recognized

Oops, sorry, I forgot to mention that yes, it is plugged into the USB1.1 port, I don't have a USB2.0 card yet.
Any suggestions on how I could get it to work using USB1.1?

Thanks!

Ok, I went to Fry's and got a USB2.0 card, installed the drivers, plugged in the external HD ... still is not recognized. I didn't find anything that could help on USBman.com, my motherboard(Supermicro 370SSM) drivers seem to be current. This is getting frustrating. Any other suggestions folks?

(Thanks for your help so far Bob)

The drive usually needs partitioning and formatting. This is not automatic and with external USB units, the procedure varies too much for me to tell you how they implemented it.

As to motherboard drivers, they MUST be current and you can't use that "Update Driver" button. You didn't write how you know such are current.

I'm having the same problem only with Win XP... after researching it just on google, it seems to be a common occurance, and yet I can't find an answer. My problem is exactly the same as yours, but I don't know how to map mine, please help.

The reason I used the term map was because it had been used in an earlier post to explain what I was trying to find out. But I figured out the problem. I had to change the default setting (optimize for quick removal) to the other option (optimize for performance) before there was even an option to format the disk. So I simply changed it and formatted, and it worked fine.

After trying everything I could think of or read about to get my cptr to re-recognize an external UBS Maxtor One-Touch-II 200GB, password protected, hard drive, I tried to erase the inacessible data files and old home videos with an old AC electromaget I bought years ago to mass-erase old VHS cassettes. Not only were the files not erased, but - voila! - the hard drive was rendered recognizable again on my Dimension XPS Dell Cptr running on Win XP. Thus, I was able to save all 100+ GB of nearly-lost files and home movies on to another HD and DVDs! Can anyone explain how the 60 cps electromagnet Rx was able to fix the problem that all other efforts failed to correct??

Very Curious.

the problem was the FORMAT of the hard drive. I had formatted it in NTFS under WinXP. WinME does NOT recognize NTFS. it only supports FAT. so you can
1. reformat it to FAT which works with everything or
2. buy software that will act with a connection between your WinXP and your external HD.

I suggest the first method.

~I got mine external enclosure from WhoSave.com.

You added your reply in the middle of a discussion and apparently did not read the entire discussion.

This is evident by you leaving out the details that we already went through.

Bob

I am having this same problem. I have read this whole thread and don't see a solution.

I have a western digital drive in a penr35 enclosure that is usb connected. I just changed computers. The drive works fine under Win XP SP2 on the old computer. It showed up a couple of times on the new computer (WIN XP SP2) and then disappeared.

I'm at my wits end.

;-Dolla

Had same problem in computer A - connect USB hard drive - USB connection tone and "safely remove hardware" icon would appear in system tray - but no drive/letter would appear in my computer or windows explorer. Solved problem by restarting computer with USB connected. It acted like a non USB device - no hot booting. In computer B had same problem but the restart solution wouldn't work. Tried the disk manager set to auto suggestion in this thread - no help. Knew it wasn't a problem with the hard drive as it worked on another computer. Also, wasn't interested in reformatting it and losing the data. Tried a flash drive in the same USB socket and it was recognized (WIN XP/SP 1). For some reason this "reset" the system and now the original USB hard drive works normally. So try a different USB storage device, it may "reset" your system.

Please guide me. The details are :
Hitachi Travelstar
Model No. HTS541040G9AT00 5400RPM
P/N: 0A25392 S/N: X2D804M CT:*2896C023VS64Z9 MCL:DA1175
IEC: S/N: 2C9803JCS6VVB SPS: 380107-001 AS# :372774-001 Rev 8.03

I am try to diagonise this via Seatools too in XP 2, but nothing has turned furitful.

Email ID: gurjeetsinghkaloti@rocketmail.com
Mobile ; 9001740878

Hello,
Just a thought as I had a similiar problem and I changed the USB wire with a another from some other equopment and WALA! Everthing Worked!

I found a note about this on a website in the final closing sentence.

Sometimes we make issues too complex when the solution is simple. KISS principal!

I hope this helps!
Take care,
Jasper

I'm having the same problem. A USB hard drive is not being recognized. However, other USB hardware is performing OK. I defragmented the drive earlier (via Smart Defrag). However, I've done that before and never had this happen. I've ran System Mechanic and severl other (so called) repair programs at no avail.

Hey,

I am having, and have been having, trouble with my New 320GB External Hard drive. I have read this entire documentation and have found no solution.

My Hard drive is a Verbatim 320GB, Model : 62872. It is only 3 months old and has worked before.

The problem is that when i plug the hard drive into my 2.0 USB Port, it does all the "Right" Things. A Green light flashes on the drive itself but it doesn't show in : "My Computer" , "Disk Management" or any of the other ways listed above. Again, it has worked before and it does occasionally show up in the explorer. It does not have an external power source and it was an auto install drive.Seconond to this it does occasionally give a series of loud "Beeps", when it does it will not works.

Any help on the topic will be of great help.

Thanks Dlock55a