Faulty External HDD?? How do I test if it is working??

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mojouk

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I've had this hard drive for a few months and only used it once to back up work.

I've just gone to hook it up to my PC again, and it just doesn't come up in the 'My Computer' window.

It powers up and when I connect the USB to my PC I get a noise to tell me it's connected (the usual noise Windows gives when a new device is detected), but then I get the same noise straight away to tell me its disconnected.

Plus, I don't get any message saying 'new device' detected. I tested it on another computer, and this time the Windows message says 'new device' detected, but I can't find it on the PC. It should come up in the 'My Computer' window! (and when I diconnected it and connected it again no device was detected). so it's very unreliable

How can I test if it's working? I'd like to know for sure before I request a replacement from the manufacturers. Is there another way I could access this hard drive on my PC, apart from in the My Computer window?
 
The easiest way is to try the USB HDD on another PC, is that possible at all?
 
I tried it on my brothers PC, and this time the Windows message says 'new device' detected, but still......I can't find it in the 'My Computer' window.

And it's very unpredictable, because to test it again and again I took the HDD's USB out and put it in again, and the PC didn't detect it at all.

Strange! I use it to back up all my work and it's a bit nerve wracking if it's going to be working on and off......maybe I should just request a replacement!
 
Get an external "Powered HighSpeed USB Hub" about £15-20 ... or get a new motherboard.

;)
 
All my USB HUBS are HI SPEED. Would a Firewire connection be more powerful? It's a 200GB external HDD.

Also, I checked in Disc Management - by right clicking 'My Computer', then 'Manage', then 'Disc Management' - and no external HDD is detected.

When I try to connect it to my PC I occasionally get the message 'Hard drive Detected', but then it says something like 'This device will not work properly'.

I'm not sure why since it should plug into any PC without any problems........
 
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