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    windows wont recognize ext. HDD

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by jaxxx, Feb 20, 2008.

  1. jaxxx

    jaxxx Notebook Consultant

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    well since my old laptop gave me the BSOD (unmountable-boot-volume), I bought an external HD enclosure to try to salvage the memory inside.

    well this worked great on my roomates macbook..HD showed up on desktop within 5 sec, but it wont show up on windows at all...

    whats wrong??? also anyway I can fix this old laptop??

    thanks
     
    jaxxx, Feb 20, 2008
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  2. frazell

    frazell Notebook Deity

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    Check your USB port by trying alternate ports...

    Also, put the drive to your ear and see if you can hear it spinning up and sustaining that spin up when you connect it to your computer. That should let you know if the problem is with your USB port (no power up) or possible drive failure (spins up, but doesn't show up in Windows still)...

    If it does spin up, but isn't detected try it in another computer to see if it is drive failure... Post more details here and you might be able to get some help.
     
    frazell, Feb 20, 2008
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  3. jaxxx

    jaxxx Notebook Consultant

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    ok the drive does spin...I tried it on diffrent usb and even a few different computers(all with windows) none can recognize it , but it just puzzles me the my roomates macbook will see it instantly.
     
    jaxxx, Feb 20, 2008
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  4. Doobi

    Doobi ToughBook DeityInTraining

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    Did the external drive come with a driver disk?
     
    Doobi, Feb 20, 2008
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  5. jaxxx

    jaxxx Notebook Consultant

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    yea but when i looked at it it looks like installs for windows 98..
     
    jaxxx, Feb 20, 2008
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  6. Doobi

    Doobi ToughBook DeityInTraining

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    I would still try to load them. WINXP does not always recognize how to use a USB device without the drivers. It may/may not see it there, but won't know really what it is without the driver. This happened with my external USB HDD. It actually showed up, and identified it, but I couldn't use/access it until I loaded the drivers. Hope this helps.
     
    Doobi, Feb 20, 2008
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