External drive not showing

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I have an external drive which used at work as well as at home. After used
it at work, found that can't be used at home. There are message came up to
say drive H not found which is a drive on my machine at work.

This external drive not showing in my computer, not in Disk Management or
window explorer. I am using window xp at work and home.

Any help appreciated
 
I can't help but I'm going to watch to see if anyone can. I'm having a
similar problem with a Maxtor OneTouch external hard drive which functioned
for a year thru USB with no problem, then suddenly would not work. I've
moved it to my laptop and it is ok there. Bought a new external drive,
another vendor, but the desktop computer will not recognize it. It also
works fine on my laptop. I have posted this on XP General, with couple of
responses but no success. There are enough similar posts (one every few
days) in XP General and other places that this is obviously a common problem
which someone must have solved, but no solution has surfaced yet.
 
Glad I am not the only one as it seems I always has funny problem. Well we
just have to watch this space.
 
Glad I am not the only one as it seems I always has funny problem. Well we
just have to watch this space.







- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Sounds like your external device may now be showing up as a "unknown"
device and you may have to clear it out from Device Manager and let XP
re-detect it.

Here is a "batch" file that lets you "activate" Device manager in a
mode to show "hidden" devices.
 
External HDD is not listed. I have had the same issue in just the last two
weeks, since the last update push. I have lost all reference to 2 maxtor
drives on 3 machines. I have been working with MS (as their issue) for over
15 hours. We don't have a fix yet. It has been escalated to senior technician.
I'll let you know if I learn anything. Maxtor is ready to check it too, but
is not guaranteeing my 300 G of data.

J
MCDBA
 
Is the drive listed in Disk Management?
(Start, Run, "DiskMgmt.msc")

If listed without a drive letter - import it. I've seen
this happen when moving external drives between
two or more systems.

If not, you may have a bad port or drive - try on a
2nd system.

Ed
 
Hi Ed,
When I go to Manage my computer, disk drives show under device manager and
the drive shows there. But not under the disk mgmt DiskMgmt.msc. All the USB
drives work on 3 machines, but all 3 cann't access the external hard drive.
They all could 3 weeks ago for 1 week straight. it was connected to my TV
programs and a small network.

tx jude
 
When I go to Manage my computer, disk drives show under device manager and
the drive shows there. But not under the disk mgmt DiskMgmt.msc.
Click to expand...

Jude -

Are you sure? DiskMgmt.msc has two areas - At top it lists
all drives assigned a drive letter & attached. Below, it list all
in two groups - fix & removeable disks (0,1,2,... etc); and
CD-ROM drives (0,1,. etc) - whether they have an assigned
drive letter or not.

I can format drives on any system (mainframe, mini, sun, etc)
and it should be listed at the bottom. Importing foreign disks
and getting Windows to assign a drive letter is another issue.

Ed
 
Hi Ed,
Yes, I am very sure. Now it is over 15 hours with MS. It shows at the top
but not the bottom. It does not show in my computer. It acknowledges the
connection and says it is installed, but it can't be accessed. This is only
with my 2 maxtor drives. Not my speedmetal external drive.

Today they decided it was the bios. or my network program. I have
uninstalled the networking program and I have flashed my bios. Nothing in "my
computer".

Do you work for MS? I can give you the case number . . . . just let me know
and I'll check with my senior technician.
 
Do you work for MS?

No. But I've been in computers since the beginning (1966),
IBMs, GE's, Honeywell and now PCs for nearly 30 years.

First of all, DO NOT do any rash if you value the 300GB
of data.

They are external drives, but how do they connect?
(eSata, USB, etc.)

Have you EVER assigned their drive letters manulally?
(vs letting Windows assign the next letter automatically)

Do they show up in your BIOS? (if SCSI, check SCSI
controller BIOS).

Has anything changed on the drives themselves? (for ex:
if they are IDE in a USB enclosure, the drive must be set
to MA ("master") not SL, or CS

How does the speedmetal drive connect?

What happens if you disconnect all external devices except
one of the maxtor's? (This includes your printer if it has a
flash reader. In fact, disconnect any and all flash readers,
internal or external).

If I had the drive here, I get down to basics: First, I'd remove
the drive from the ext enclosure & connect it directly to my
bench PC using the drive's native cable connectors. This
most of the potentially bad links from a chain where something
adverse is happening. If you are comfortable doing that, it's
probably the next best step.

If not, still disconnect all except one of the Maxtor's and if
not otherwise dangerous, restore your system back 3 or 4
weeks.

If you know how to email me directly, send me an email
with your number and a good time to call (I'm mst).

Ed
 
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