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Laptop can't 'see' external USB HDD

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8 replies

by weroona

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Hi all, this is probably a lame question, so bare with me. I just bought a generic USB external HDD enclosure and have a 40GB laptop HDD in it. Its USB 2.0 and works with my new laptop just fine. When I plug it into an old laptop however (with only USB 1.0 ports) it installs OK and is showing as working OK in the Device Manager, but the drive isn't listed in My Computer. There seems to be no way to access the drive. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling - works fine every time but I still can't see it.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Louise.

8 replies

by hal 9000

Most External USB Caddies come with 2 USB Plugs you may need to use both plugs to get enough power to run the drive properly.

Col

by weroona

Worked within seconds - thanks a million!
(And I was wondering why they sent this funny looking plug with the thing).

by mcleelee

Hello, I have the same problem as weroona. The only problem is that I have plugged in both the usb's and still I get nothing. I can hear the hdd spinning but xp (sp2) still doesn't recognize it. I am on the second of both the hdd and the exclosure (2.5"). I RMA'd the first two thinking it was just DOA. I've tried to make the external a slave, but that didn't go to well with the external case. I've even swapped the one in my laptop with the external. Same issue. Any thoughts? Thanks.

by hal 9000

That I've ever used I have had to remove the Jumper all together for the enclosure to work.

This only applies to IDE Drives but on every occasion if the drive has been set to anything no matter the brand they don't work with the Jumper fitted once it's removed it works.

Col

by einszett_orders

i have a laptop connected to a usb 3.5" enclosure, can access the slave drive but not the primary? ( two drives are the same )laptop beeps when usb device is added for both drive - just cant see/access the primary drive. any ideas?

by jameskellett

I have bought an external hdd and my computer goes through the exercise of installing the hdd and says it it working properly but it will not show itself in my computer please help.

by hal 9000

If this is a new HDD you need to run the Format option on it before you can see it in anything as there is nothing currently on the drive.

Without knowing your OS I can not tell you what to do to Format the Drive but if you are running some form of Windows you will need to go into Computer Management to get to the Format Option.

Col

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