Full Version: USB Hard Drive problem
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#1]
22 Feb 2006
To: ALL
I had a computer crash and totally die, the motherboard totally drains the power supply and the fans will not run, even with a new power supply.
So I bought a USB2 hard drive case and plopped the disk in it to retrieve the files. WOW it works well.
Replaced that drive with an 80 GIG new drive and here is where the problem starts. It shows up in the system tray as a 'USB Mass Storage Device' with no drive letter. In the files menu it does not show either.
I checked the hardware profile and it is showing as a hard drive. Safely removed it and deleted the driver. Looked right. Plugged it in again and got the 'New Hardware Found' message and the installation message. Same thing-no disk drive letter. Using my flash drive in the same USB port gives me drive G and so did the 40 GIG drive. But nothing with the new 80 GIG drive. If it needs to be formatted, how can that be done without access?
It did again show up in the hardware profile as the proper 80 GIG drive.
I am completely puzzled. Help! :'-(
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#2]
22 Feb 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#1] 22 Feb 2006
Ship it to Puck.
Have him "Drop" ship it back to you. I'm sure that will fix it!
?
No instructions with the 80 Gig Drive. Is it a USB attached external drive or a conventional internal Hard Drive? IDE/ATA
1st / 2nd drive set to "slave" "master" or "CABLE SELECT" with the master drive as the last drive on the ribbon cable ?????
XP operating system ?? Fat16 format or NTFS Format. Was the drive pre-formatted?
EDITED: 22 Feb 2006 by PENINSULATROPHY
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3]
22 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#2] 22 Feb 2006
Conventional internal drive in the USB box. (My old drive was the same.)
1st / 2nd drive set to "slave" "master" or "CABLE SELECT" with the master drive as the last drive on the ribbon cable ?????
Set for automatic cable selection, same as the old drive.
XP operating system ?? Fat16 format or NTFS Format. Was the drive pre-formatted?
XP Pro, Fat32.
Doing other research seems to say it may have to be formatted. In the System Hardware listings it lists it as the WE80 Gig which is correct but shows a capacity of zero. (Probably unformatted.)
How do I format it without ripping open an existing computer and doing a temp install?
From: Upacreek [#4]
22 Feb 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3] 22 Feb 2006
Let me make sure I understand this. You are not trying to work on the "crashed computer" correct? You are trying to get a brand new drive to work on a different computer via the USB Drive case.
If so, you will need to format the new drive.
You want to get into "Computer Management" Either right-click on My Computer Icon then left-click Manage from your desktop or in your Start menu or Start, Programs, Administrative Tools, Computer Management.
Once in Computer Management, you will see a section called Storage. Under Storage there is Disk Management. You should see your new drive in there, waiting to be formatted.
Trying to do this from memory... you may just left-click on it once and a wizzard may automatically appear or you may need to right-click on it and select format.
Michel
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5]
22 Feb 2006
To: Upacreek [#4] 22 Feb 2006
Brand new drive in a new USB case.
Found the Computer Management and the cryptic way to do it. The drive is now flashing away being formatted.
WOW THANKS.
From: Paul (JACKPETTY) [#6]
22 Feb 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5] 23 Feb 2006
I wasn't able to get my thumb drive to work in certain computers until I used Disk Management and changed the drive letter associated with it. For some reason, Windows XP automatically goes to the next letter instead of asking you what you want to name (letter) it.
Sounds like you got it working now anyway.
From: Upacreek [#7]
22 Feb 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5] 23 Feb 2006
Good! Glad I could help.
Michel
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8]
23 Feb 2006
To: Upacreek [#7] 23 Feb 2006
All running normally finally.
Boy, Drive Image takes a long time. But I have a backup of C, now to do D.
Thanks again.
911 of engraving AND computers should be our slogan with people like you.
From: Upacreek [#9]
23 Feb 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8] 23 Feb 2006
I just wish my engraving knowledge was as vast as my computer knowledge! ;-)
I'm just glad I'm no longer solving computer problems in my sleep, but dreaming of things to create and engrave!
Michel
From: UncleSteve [#10]
23 Feb 2006
To: Upacreek [#9] 23 Feb 2006
I hooked it up, went to back up and at the 4 GB point it stops and tells me that it has only a 4 GB capacity unless formatted NTFS or the computer has a mass storage driver installed. DOH! Why not put that on the box instead of buried in the instruction sheet?
Anyway, since I am running XP Pro, I just re-formatted it using NTFS and restarted the backup...... worked like a charm including making a floppy with the restoration info.
From: Upacreek [#11]
23 Feb 2006
To: UncleSteve [#10] 23 Feb 2006
You know... gizmos like that ... I have such an incredible urge to take them apart and look inside ... B-)
As far as the formating, I haven't tried formatting a USB drive to FAT32, but technically you should be able to format up to 32MB with your XP. Anything over 32 MB will require NTFS formatting.
Welcome to the tech world of instructions. They assume you know the answers already and don't think about the non-techies trying to do installs. >.<
Michel
From: UncleSteve [#12]
23 Feb 2006
To: Upacreek [#11] 24 Feb 2006
Now to see if my laptop will backup to it..... something about "some" or "a few" laptops won't power the drive through the USB port and I would need a power supply "available separately from your WD dealer"...
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13]
24 Feb 2006
To: UncleSteve [#12] 24 Feb 2006
Mine came with a power supply, did not know that they did not.
You and I are having some computer issues aren't we?
From: Upacreek [#14]
24 Feb 2006
To: UncleSteve [#12] 24 Feb 2006
Come to think of it, even my little 256MB Jump Drive had FAT32 on it when I bought it years ago.
You are correct. Many of the laptops won't power the USB drive. I worked on a Lacie USB drive that would only work on the newest laptops without the power source plugged into to it. All the older laptops would work, as long as you plugged the Lacie in to a power supply.
Michel