windows doesn't recognise my external HDD after i formatted it???

Question

recently formatted an old laptop HDD (fijitsu) that i now use as external storage. its obviously in a 2.5" HDD enclosure with a usb connection but since the format on 'my computer' window, it doesnt show the drive anymore but the light on the enclosure still comes on. am i missing a driver?

Answer 1

Siobhan,

I have seen similar problems with external drives, in most cases after a format. The problem that I would run into is that once the drive is formated in the external enclosure it would not setup a partition table, my guess would be that most older external enclsures don't have support for some of the ata-5 and ata-6 commands. The fix, go to start and then control panel. click on Administrative Tools and then computer manegment. In computer management click on the disk management under the storage tree, you should see several partitions in the top right window, in the bottom window scroll down to the device that does not have a partition or is all free space, if you have doubts of whitch drive it is don't proceed any farther, right click on the drive in the bottom window and create a partition. once the partition is created and formated then go back to my computer and see if the drive has an icon now

Answer 2

hi siobhan

this sounds like a common issue with all kinds of external hard drives and for the life of me i cant find the reasons(or the solution) for it

i had a freecom 80gb external drive which stopped working one morning,and since that its never worked again,i did everything,formatted it,i even opened the caddy and replaced the drive with a new 120gb drive and still windows refuses to recognize the drive and the device manager just gives a "code 10" error

code 10 is a error code specific to usb devices like hard drives and memory sticks,it states you need to uninstall the device and reboot windows so windows can re-recognize the device and reinstall the appropriate drivers and firmware

and as usb devices in windows xp dont require specific drivers you cant download any other drivers

there is one option open to you,theres a website called "live update" that will update the firmware to dvdrw/cdrw drives,no you may be able to find a solution there such as a update for your external drive,its a long shot buts anythings worth a go

go to the manufacturers website for your drive and see if they run a live update

hope this helps,any problems let me know

good luck siobhan !

Answer 3

You need to mount it as a partition. Go into Manage (rt click my computer) and mount it. You dont need a driver for USB on XP onwards. Its unusual though if it worked before. Check the cables and ensure USB is enabled.

Answer 4

You forgot to point your homestead windows and Mac OS variations. My answer is for homestead windows XP SP2 or later and Mac OS 10.2 or later. homestead windows can't use the Mac format. you have 3 suggestions: -- purchase and deploy MacDrive in homestead windows to enable homestead windows to apply the Mac formattedpersistent. -- format thepersistent fat-32 to apply it in the two homestead windows and OS X. -- format thepersistent NTFS and deploy NTFS-3G (loose) in OS X. it rather is a study-write motive force; the Apple NTFS motive force is study-in basic terms. considering fat-32 is an historical record equipment it rather is inefficient and obstacles each record to 4GB or much less, I advise NTFS. To format the Macpersistent as NTFS, connect it to the computing device: initiate > courses > Administrative equipment > laptop administration > storage > Disk administration (nearby) elect the Mac disk quantity (interior the blue stripe section). circulate to "action" > All projects > format. (in case you do no longer see "Administrative equipment" interior the commencing up menu, top-click initiate > properties > personalize. positioned a verify to "reveal Administrative equipment".) Theoretically, after setting up NTFS-3G, you may desire to have the skill to format thepersistent at a similar time as linked to the Mac through utilising Disk utility in OS 10.5 or later, yet I honestly have not had as lots fulfillment with that as I honestly have utilising homestead windows XP and seven. Formatting with NTFS For Mac has been suitable so some distance for my structures. For all my structures, I now use NTFS for exterior drives and "NTFS For Mac" (US$40). i ought to apply NTFS-3G, yet for twin booting homestead windows, i admire the equipment suggestions pane that NTFS For Mac installs to enable me elect homestead windows till now I restart out of OS X. NTSF-3G would not have that characteristic, and the Apple "Startup Disk" pane would not see the NTFS partition except it rather is fastened with the Apple motive force. you are able to apply the alternative key restart, yet that demands sitting on the laptop with your finger on the foremost for 20 seconds. besides, it constantly yields suitable consequences formatting NTFS.