Trouble installing USB2 external hard drive

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Guest

I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
oliver said:
I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Seagate support can be right sometimes?

--PA
 
Yes, I formatted the drive from Disk Management originally.
No, there are no updated USB drivers. According to Seagate, Windows XP SP2
should recognize the drive without drivers. I updated to the latest MS
Windows version including the altest drivers.
I'll try the diagnostic tool.

Thanks for your help.
 
What do you mean? Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the
registry. I tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any
suggestions?
Thanks.
 
I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)
 
oliver said:
What do you mean? Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the
registry. I tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any
suggestions?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Since the disk works well in other computer, most likely it is good,
so the Seagate folks can wash their hands.

The problem sits somewhere in your computer. Now, there are nasty
stubborn Windows problems that are just impossible to fix with a reasonable effort
and in reasonable time. You tried... it didn't help... this just happens. :(

--PA
 
Thanks for your help. I guess there isn't much I can do about it except to
re-install windows XP on my computer.
 
oliver said:
Yes, I formatted the drive from Disk Management originally.
No, there are no updated USB drivers. According to Seagate, Windows XP
SP2
should recognize the drive without drivers. I updated to the latest MS
Windows version including the altest drivers.
I'll try the diagnostic tool.

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

While Seagate may be right in that WINXP should have native drivers for
their USB devices there are at least three chipsets commonly found in USB
devices namely, NEC, ALi and VIA; there may be more. You must have an
appropriate driver for the chipset on your device and I am not sure WINXP
has drivers for all chipsets. I know the NEC driver is native but am not
sure about VIA and ALi, it is worth checking. I can't check on my machine
as I have specifically installed all three drivers.
 
Use TweakUI to UNhide "G"
I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)



:

Oliver,
Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
OEM's web site..?
A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
j;-j

:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I'm sorry. All of the drive letters are "unhidden" with TweakUI and it
(drive g) still doesn't come up on my computer. BTW, I'm able to hide/unhide
drive f without any difficulty.
 
After scanning over the provided report, I recommend you add more memory,
256mb is just not enough.. I also noticed there is a newer bios version on
the Intel site for your mobo, as well as other driver updates that you may
have overlooked..
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=610
If you built the computer yourself, just using the Intel setup disk for the
mobo without updating USB 2.0 drivers, chipset drivers, etc.. from the Intel
site originally, I might recommend you do so.. I can't guarantee that it will
solve this particular problem your having but it may be worth a shot, your
call..
Hope this can help..
j;-j


oliver said:
I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)



Jaymon said:
Oliver,
Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
OEM's web site..?
A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
j;-j
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi Bob I,
Installed TweakUI. There are no unhidden drives.

Oliver

Bob I said:
Use TweakUI to UNhide "G"
I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)



:

Oliver,
Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
OEM's web site..?
A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
j;-j

:


I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Dear Edward,
I downloaded the drivers for the 2 othe chipsets. Already have NEC driver.
No luck.

Oliver
 
Huh?!? You mean ALL the drives are hidden? UNhide them. After you UNhide
them it should show up, unless you have set something else to use that
drive letter.

You could issue at a command prompt

NET USE

to see what is mapped.

NET USE * /D

will wipe all mapping.
Hi Bob I,
Installed TweakUI. There are no unhidden drives.

Oliver

:

Use TweakUI to UNhide "G"

oliver wrote:

I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)



:



Oliver,
Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
OEM's web site..?
A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
j;-j

:



I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
He later adds...
Yes, I formatted the drive from Disk Management originally.
No, there are no updated USB drivers. According to Seagate, Windows XP SP2
should recognize the drive without drivers. I updated to the latest MS
Windows version including the altest drivers.
I'll try the diagnostic tool.

Thanks for your help.


And still later Oliver adds...
What do you mean? (Oliver referring to a poster's comments that Seagate may
be right). Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the registry. I
tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any suggestions?
Thanks.


Oliver:
You've stated that you're able to assign a drive letter to your USBEHD and
you can "access its contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on
My Computer." Are you able to accomplish this through Windows Explorer? Are
you indicating that the drive is fully functional with the exception that
it's simply not listed in My Computer? How do you access its contents? How,
for example, are you able (assuming you *are* able) to copy, move, delete,
etc. files between your internal HD and the USBEHD?

You've also stated that (apparently responding to a Seagate suggestion) "I
tried (to) cleaning out the registry without any success." Whenever I hear
statements about "cleaning out the registry" it sends chills up & down my
spine. I wonder whether that might have exacerbated the problem.

I'm just wondering whether at this point a Repair install of the XP OS
should be undertaken, especially in view of the "registry cleaning"
situation.

Perhaps you could respond to the above and we can go on from there.
Anna
 
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