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    External HD not recognised in My Computer

    Discussion in 'Packard Bell' started by SimonJones, Feb 26, 2013.

  1. SimonJones

    SimonJones Newbie

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    Problem: External HD not recognised

    OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
    Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.73GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 8
    Processor Count: 1
    RAM: 2038 Mb
    Graphics Card: Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family, 128 Mb
    Hard Drives: C: Total - 71735 MB, Free - 22930 MB; F: Total - 42735 MB, Free - 19535 MB;
    Motherboard: QUANTA, ED2
    Antivirus: Microsoft Security Essentials, Updated: Yes, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled

    Packard Bell A8
    Hitachi/Touro 1TB external HD
    The Touro drive isn't recognised in My Computer when I plug it into any USB port, though it powers up and a USB hardware icon appears in the system tray. In this state, I can't find a way of reading and writing to the drive. It appears as an odd, unlabelled volume in the Computer Management window, as I hope you can see from the JPEG screenshot I have attempted to attach to this, my first post (please let me know if the screenshot hasn't uploaded for some reason). However, very occasiionally, when I plug the Touro in, the little Autoplay window opens and the Touro does appear in My Computer.

    When I restart the computer with the Touro drive plugged in, it does appear in my computer and I can us it normally.

    I think the problem is within the computer because I have another Packard Bell A8 which I bought cheaply for spares and experimenation, though it appears to be working perfectly [I have found it incredibly useful to have 2 identical computers to compare!] The Touro drive appears straight away in My Computer when I plug it into the USB port on this second A8.

    [Just clutching at straws here, but I wonder if the problem might have somthing to do with the creation of a partition on the internal HD a clever friend made so I could try out Windows 7/8 - this is 'Volume F' on the list of drives. I know the software he used to make the partiton is still on the computer.]

    Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Many Thanks!
     

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    SimonJones, Feb 26, 2013
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  2. zhasouris

    zhasouris Newbie

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    I would think this to be a good guess. I have seen this issue with newer Windows Systems. I believe you can find the option 'Assign a Drive Letter' by right clicking the partition. This should let the OS mount the partition correctly and give you a browseable drive in your My Computer folder.

    Please backup your data on another system if you can though. If you erase your disk and ceiling falls in please dont blame me.
     
    zhasouris, Feb 26, 2013
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