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My computer cannot read my ext harddisk

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  • jasmine17
    jasmine17's Avatar
    4,403 posts since Feb '03
    • 22 Jan `08, 3:12PM

      when i plug in the ext harddisk via usb, the drive does not appear in my computer.

      but when i go control panel, system, device manager, it appears under harddrive.

      How to solve this problem

      OS: Win XP pro/ Vista home premium

  • allentyb_v2.01
    allentyb_v2.01's Avatar
    512 posts since Nov '07
    • 22 Jan `08, 3:23PM

      Maybe something wrong with your USB cable, i have this problem also but somehow after a while, it will be able to read the portable hard disk already

  • CyanSupra
    CyanSupra's Avatar
    4,005 posts since Jun '04
    • 22 Jan `08, 3:36PM

      I'm not sure abt vista.
      But for xp , did u format the drive?

      Can u see ur drive in disk mangement?

  • manyu882
    manyu882's Avatar
    1,825 posts since Jun '05
    • 22 Jan `08, 4:54PM
      Originally posted by jasmine17:
      when i plug in the ext harddisk via usb, the drive does not appear in my computer.

      but when i go control panel, system, device manager, it appears under harddrive.

      How to solve this problem

      OS: Win XP pro/ Vista home premium

      the one u see in your device manager is the USB to IDE bridge for hard drive. even if you dont have hdd, but u plugin an empty case, it will still show there.

  • thoreldan
    thoreldan's Avatar
    3,818 posts since Jun '03
    • 22 Jan `08, 7:09PM
      Originally posted by CyanSupra:
      I'm not sure abt vista.
      But for xp , did u format the drive?

      Can u see ur drive in disk mangement?

      yeah...pls check in disk management

      i got a feeling that the USB is not drawing enough power from the motherboard to power up the HDD

      have you tried the HDD in other PCs or other USB ports in the same PC?

  • jasmine17
    jasmine17's Avatar
    4,403 posts since Feb '03
    • 22 Jan `08, 9:44PM

      what is disk management? my lappie and desktop both cannot read the drive.
      I used low level format to format the HDD

  • Moderator
    ndmmxiaomayi
    ndmmxiaomayi's Avatar
    53,021 posts since Aug '05
    • 22 Jan `08, 9:47PM

      Despite all the warnings not to do low level format without guidance, people still do it.

      Low level format can damage a hard disk if not done properly. If that's the case, pray hard that it's still workable.

      As for accessing Disk Management, do this

      XP

      Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management

      Vista

      Classic Start Menu

      Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management

      Vista Start Menu

      Start > Search for Control Panel

      Double click on Administrative Tools > Computer Management

  • ismail
    ismail's Avatar
    108 posts since Apr '07
  • twiggies
    twiggies's Avatar
    1,160 posts since Dec '05
  • Moderator
    kenn3th
    kenn3th's Avatar
    14,584 posts since Nov '06
    • 22 Jan `08, 11:20PM

      make sure that the usb cables are properly and firmly connected.
      then pluck into a new usb port.

      if there's a pop up saying it could not install hdd then it would mean that the drivers are not properly installed thus it could not be read.

  • jasmine17
    jasmine17's Avatar
    4,403 posts since Feb '03
    • 23 Jan `08, 7:39PM
      Originally posted by CyanSupra:
      I'm not sure abt vista.
      But for xp , did u format the drive?

      Can u see ur drive in disk mangement?

      yes and i just formatted it

      Edited by jasmine17 23 Jan `08, 7:46PM
  • jasmine17
    jasmine17's Avatar
    4,403 posts since Feb '03
  • jasmine17
    jasmine17's Avatar
    4,403 posts since Feb '03
    • 30 Jan `08, 5:08PM

      anyone can help? my current ext harddisk shows 18 GB instead of 40 GB. I remember i got around 22 GB of data.

       

       

      How come like this? is the data locked some where in the hard disk?

       

      any way to retrieve?

      confused.png

      Edited by jasmine17 02 Feb `08, 10:00PM
  • caleb_chiang
    caleb_chiang's Avatar
    6,850 posts since Jul '05
    • 30 Jan `08, 5:16PM

      hmmm… never heard of such things before. you sure you formatted or partition’ed?

  • Moderator
    ndmmxiaomayi
    ndmmxiaomayi's Avatar
    53,021 posts since Aug '05
    • 30 Jan `08, 7:39PM

      You didn't format correctly. Or rather, you didn't partition correctly.

      1. Delete partition

      2. Create partition

      3. Format partition

      Doing just Steps 2 and 3 will result in loss of hard disk space which you are experiencing.

      Open Disk Management and assign a drive letter to the old partition to see your data.

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