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Thread ID: 76407 2007-01-31 09:20:00 External HDD question johcar (6283) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
521085 2007-01-31 09:20:00 Just bought a 2.5" 120GB HDD to use as an external storage medium. A "new" enclosure (courtesy TradeMe) arrived today.

When installed in the enclosure and plugged into the lappie via USB, I get an 'Unknown device' error and no drive appears in Explorer.

Does a HDD used in this way have to be configured as a Slave?

If so, where can I get a jumper from - none apparently supplied with the HDD...

Cheers.
johcar (6283)
521086 2007-01-31 09:42:00 What OS? Does the external drive appear under Disk Management? Jen (38)
521087 2007-01-31 10:47:00 What OS? Does the external drive appear under Disk Management?Sorry - I always forget that! :) XP Pro, and only as an "Unknown Device" in the USB controllers section of Device Manager... johcar (6283)
521088 2007-01-31 14:28:00 Just sounds like the drive isn't setup and formatted.

If you have a maxtor drive on your system you can use Maxblast 4, which makes it easy, and there are other similar programs available if you don't.

I also recommend formatting as NTFS unless you're using a disk recovery program that requires fat32.
RealBigDog (11623)
521089 2007-01-31 18:46:00 It's a Seagate Momentus. How do I format the drive if I can't 'see' it from my laptop? johcar (6283)
521090 2007-01-31 20:05:00 Try just unplugging it and using a different USB port - this will force XP to rescan the devices on the USB bus, and hopefully get the correct driver this time.

You say it's a notebook drive in a caddy - is it getting enough power? Many notebook drives need more power than one USB port can deliver, hence the weird 3-end USB cables that often come with them.
Erayd (23)
521091 2007-01-31 20:37:00 Install SP1 or SP2.

If neither are installed. If one of them is installed, delete that unknown device and reboot.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
521092 2007-01-31 21:01:00 Try just unplugging it and using a different USB port - this will force XP to rescan the devices on the USB bus, and hopefully get the correct driver this time.

You say it's a notebook drive in a caddy - is it getting enough power? Many notebook drives need more power than one USB port can deliver, hence the weird 3-end USB cables that often come with them.Tried all 4 USB ports, plugged into the mains and not - same result. See screenshot here (Attached file: USB11170276669.jpg (18 KB)), here (Attached file: USB.jpg (36 KB)) and here (Attached file: USB1170276755.jpg (36 KB)).


Install SP1 or SP2.

If neither are installed. If one of them is installed, delete that unknown device and reboot.SP2 is installed. Tried the suggestion of deleting the unknown device and rebooting - still not recognised. :help: :badpc:
johcar (6283)
521093 2007-01-31 21:15:00 Does anything else in device manager say unknown?

Or is there anything in device manager with a ? beside it?

And I take it anything else thats USB and plugged in works?

BTW none of the links to the pics you posted work.

You didn't format this laptop recently did u?
Speedy Gonzales (78)
521094 2007-01-31 21:16:00 Try just unplugging it and using a different USB port - this will force XP to rescan the devices on the USB bus, and hopefully get the correct driver this time .

You say it's a notebook drive in a caddy - is it getting enough power? Many notebook drives need more power than one USB port can deliver, hence the weird 3-end USB cables that often come with them . Tried all 4 USB ports, plugged into the mains and not - same result . See screenshot here ( . imagef1 . net . nz/files/USB11170276669 . jpg" target="_blank">www . imagef1 . net . nz), here ( . imagef1 . net . nz/files/USB2 . jpg" target="_blank">www . imagef1 . net . nz) and here ( . imagef1 . net . nz/files/USB1170276755 . jpg" target="_blank">www . imagef1 . net . nz) .


Install SP1 or SP2 .

If neither are installed . If one of them is installed, delete that unknown device and reboot . SP2 is installed . Tried the suggestion of deleting the unknown device and rebooting - still not recognised . :help: :badpc:
johcar (6283)
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