XP doesn't see my USB hard drive

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G

Guest

Actually, device maneger sees it but My Computer and Windows Explorere don't.
Before anyone aks, yes, the drive works when it's installed internally, just
not in a USB enclosure. Yes, the USB port works since Device Manager sees
it. I've tried rescanning the drives under drive management with no success.

What's the trick to get XP to see a plug-and-play drive? Rosewill, the
enclosure manufacturer says it's a problem in XP's security and other than
rescanning drives, has no solution.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
Greg said:
Actually, device maneger sees it but My Computer and Windows Explorere
don't.
Before anyone aks, yes, the drive works when it's installed internally,
just
not in a USB enclosure. Yes, the USB port works since Device Manager sees
it. I've tried rescanning the drives under drive management with no
success.

What's the trick to get XP to see a plug-and-play drive? Rosewill, the
enclosure manufacturer says it's a problem in XP's security and other than
rescanning drives, has no solution.
Click to expand...
That's a common problem. Use TweakUI to assign the external drive a
permanent letter way down the alphabet away from what confuses windows up
front. Microsoft's fix is useless and so are all the others unless you come
upon a lucky one that works for you. The brand doesn't matter. After
assigning a drive letter it still may only be recognized on a cold boot the
first time you turn it on.

If you search on Google you will find various solutions. Most or all of them
don't work except in an odd situation.
 
Thanks. I downloaded TweakUI but can't find where to make the change you
suggest. Under My Computer\Drives it shows the in use and available drive
letters but I don't know how to assign an unused letter to the drive. All
the leters have check marks in their boxes.

Since you mention cold boot, my PC (and my work PC) refuse to boot with the
drive attached. Shutdown takes a long time as well.

Sheesh, I hate it when I can't type! "aks"?!?
 
Greg said:
Thanks. I downloaded TweakUI but can't find where to make the change you
suggest. Under My Computer\Drives it shows the in use and available drive
letters but I don't know how to assign an unused letter to the drive. All
the leters have check marks in their boxes.

Since you mention cold boot, my PC (and my work PC) refuse to boot with
the
drive attached. Shutdown takes a long time as well.
Click to expand...
I don't know that the slow shutdown is related. XP is slow at startup &
shutdown anyhow. You can get a free app like Super Fast Shutdown to be able
to shutdown or reboot faster than Windows.

Cold boot without any of your problem devices attached. When you're up and
running, attach them one at a time (only one, and it may require a new cold
boot for each one). Go tot TweakUI and uncheck all the boxes except for your
fixed drives, CD/DVD etc., and the letter S or V (whatever) then plug-in
your device. See if it appears in TweakUI and click to apply.

I really forget how this is supposed to be done, but I've got you on the
right track or close.
 
I sent the device back for replacement but if the new one behaves the same
I'll try your suggestions.

Since I rebuilt my XP system, startup and shutdown are actually pretty fats.
When the hard drive case was attached it would not boot at all (neither
would my work PC) and shutdown was painfully slow.

Thank you for your help!
 
Greg said:
I sent the device back for replacement but if the new one behaves the same
I'll try your suggestions.

Since I rebuilt my XP system, startup and shutdown are actually pretty
fats.
When the hard drive case was attached it would not boot at all (neither
would my work PC) and shutdown was painfully slow.

Thank you for your help!
Click to expand...

---

You're welcome and good luck!!!

I understand your frustration and hope the change works out for you.

Microsoft has admitted this is a problem with XP & USB devices., and most
often it's the external hard drive, regardless of brand. But it happens with
readers and I've noticed it's gotten to the point it will happen with nearly
anything (USB camera has been least likely so far).

I read in another post and wish I could quote the person because it makes
sense. They said to the effect M$ used to put out an OS often and XP has
been out for 5 years. It's too antiquated to handle all the various USB
devices.

As usual M$ mucked things up... the article I read years ago said M$ was
disappointed with sales of Win2000 (and soon after that, XP possibly before
it even came out it was doomed) and blamed it on people sticking with Win98.
They went to hardware mfrs. and promised if they would stop making drivers
for their hardware to work with Win98, in turn M$ would write software that
would force users to buy new hardware.

The consumer loses again. And so are the hardware mfrs. now because M$ is
lousy at writing decent OS software (and maybe any software). There's too
many people like you burdening hard drive and other USB type hardware
providers by returning their stuff because it won't work with XP. M$ says
that's all cleared up in Vista. Yeah, like all the other bugs since Windows
95. As reluctant as we all are, we've got to switch to Linux or MAC, or
something which doesn't have the ever surmounting problems that occur with
going along with Microsoft.
 
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