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Thread ID: 97265	2009-02-10 01:23:00	Formating a 1TB external HDD on Windows XP	Renmoo (66)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
746400	2009-02-12 01:48:00	Apologies for rushing my first post. Here's the situation: When I connected the external hard drive to my laptop, Windows recognised it and installed the relevant drivers. After three minutes or so, an icon would pop up in the system tray, saying that it has been installed successfully. However, when I go to My Computer, the drive was not visible there. After waiting for another five minutes, it showed up as "H:". I tried to double click it, but the "My Computer" Window stalled in the process. I have also tried to access the HDD via Command Prompt - but to no avail. Oh dear, this adds a totally different complexion to the problem. There is quite possibly a problem with how Windows is accessing the drive, given the very slow manner in which it is recognising it. As long as this 'path' between the drive and Windows is slow, then all other functions (like format) will be super painfully slow as well. Question. Did this external drive come with any drivers? Have you searched the box or read the instructions? I would suggest you go into control panel and try to find the section relevant to this hardware and uninstall it. Then try to reinstall it, paying particular attention to any instructions that may have come with it. A lot of the hardware I've played with is useless if Windows is allowed to 'find the best driver', and are only brought to life by reinstalling with the manufactureers drivers. This usually means do the following: 1. Disconnect it 2. Uninstall it, or revert to a Restore Point prior to adding it 3. Reinstall it in the exact order specified in the manufacturers instructions which is relevant to XP 4. Do NOT connect it until instructed to. If not instructed to, then I'd recommend a re-boot (full power off and shut down - NOT a Hibernate or Slumber type of power down) prior to tryin to connect it anyway. 5. If this gives any luck, then try to reformat it, coz the formatting is almost guaranteed to be buggered by now. Final option - test it and format it on another machine.	Paul.Cov (425)
746401	2009-02-12 07:18:00	If you think the drive could be dodgey then do a full format. . Nah, if you thinks its dodgy run the manufacturers diagnostics.	pctek (84)
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