No detection with external hard drive SP-U35/500

For Windows XP and later, or Mac's OS9 and later, it should auto detect when it's plugged into a USB port. Large drives can sometimes take a little while to be detected, shouldn't take longer then 45-60 seconds, unless you're having other problems with the USB port. If it doesn't work in the first USB, try a different one, preferably on the back of the computer (some computers have front USB ports that aren't the same quality, power, and speed as the rear ports). If it doesn't work in a second port, try it on a different device that can read from the USB (another desktop or laptop, and some tablets and phones can do this).

USB hard drive is a portable external storage device that works just like a conventional hard drive. The device is simply plugged into a USB port on your computer as you would connect a flash drive. Unlike a flash drive, however, a USB hard drive can store a much larger amount of data. If your computer will not recognize your USB hard drive, you can try troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

Plug one end of the USB cable into the port on your hard drive and plug the other end into the USB port of your computer. Ensure that both ends of the cable are connected securely. Open "My Computer" (Windows XP) or "Computer" (Windows Vista/7). The USB device should be listed as "removable disk" once it is plugged into the computer. If it is not listed among the available drives on your computer, proceed to the next step. Ensure that the data cable is working properly. Try another USB cable if you have one available. Disconnect all other USB devices from the computer as they may interfere with the operating system detecting the external hard drive. Reboot the computer if the USB hard drive is still not recognized. Plug the USB cable into another USB port and check to see if the device is detected. If you are using a USB hub, remove the device and plug the external hard drive directly into a USB port. If the computer still fails to recognize the device, the external hard drive itself may be experiencing a hardware problem. Check the status of the hard drive in the "Device Manager" window. Under Windows XP, right click "My Computer" and select "Device Manager." For Windows Vista and Windows 7, click the "Windows" button in the lower left corner of the screen, then type "Computer Management" in the search bar and press "Enter." Select "Device Manager" in the "Computer Management" window. In the Device Manager window, click the "+" sign that appears beside "Disk Drives." If the external drive is not listed, click "Other Devices" in the Device Manager window and see if an "Unknown Device" appears. The external hard drive may have been detected but the device is not working properly. If it is still under warranty, take the device to the computer store where it was purchased to have it repaired or replaced. Hope this helps.

b>

A USB hard drive is a portable external storage device that works just like a conventional hard drive.

The device is simply plugged into a USB port on your computer as you would connect a flash drive.

Unlike a flash drive, however, a USB hard drive can store a much larger amount of data.

If your computer will not recognize your USB hard drive, you can try troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

Plug one end of the USB cable into the port on your hard drive and plug the other end into the USB port of your computer. Ensure that both ends of the cable are connected securely.

Open "My Computer" (Windows XP) or "Computer" (Windows Vista/7).

The USB device should be listed as "removable disk" once it is plugged into the computer.

If it is not listed among the available drives on your computer, proceed to the next step.

Ensure that the data cable is working properly.

Try another USB cable if you have one available.

Disconnect all other USB devices from the computer as they may interfere with the operating system detecting the external hard drive.

Reboot the computer if the USB hard drive is still not recognized.

Plug the USB cable into another USB port and check to see if the device is detected.

If you are using a USB hub, remove the device and plug the external hard drive directly into a USB port.

If the computer still fails to recognize the device, the external hard drive itself may be experiencing a hardware problem.

Check the status of the hard drive in the "Device Manager" window. Under Windows XP, right click "My Computer" and select "Device Manager."

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, click the "Windows" button in the lower left corner of the screen, then type "Computer Management" in the search bar and press "Enter."

Select "Device Manager" in the "Computer Management" window. In the Device Manager window, click the "+" sign that appears beside "Disk Drives."

If the external drive is not listed, click "Other Devices" in the Device Manager window and see if an "Unknown Device" appears.

The external hard drive may have been detected but the device is not working properly.

If it is still under warranty, take the device to the computer store where it was purchased to have it repaired or replaced.

Hope this helps

I would recommend trying the fix on this page if you are running Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196

Your USB ports may be version 1.1

You need a USB "Y" cable.
The USB Y cable uses two USB ports on your laptop and the third plugs into the external HDD.

Check RadioShack or maybe the vendor has a USB Y cable.

This will work!

My External HDD of Western Digital (500 GB) not detecting by Win-XP SP-2. But at the same machine another External HDD of Western Digital (160 GB) is detecting and functioning well.
What is the problem? & what to do to get back my necessary files stored in the 500 GB HDD.
Can any one help me, please? URGENT.My External HDD of Western Digital (500 GB) not detecting by Win-XP SP-2. But at the same machine another External HDD of Western Digital (160 GB) is detecting and functioning well.
What is the problem? & what to do to get back my necessary files stored in the 500 GB HDD.
Can any one help me, please? URGENT.

XP install is not detecting any hard disk.
No jumpers are required for laptops, can only have one hard drive in a laptop.
Check the BIOS for the hard disk configuration, make sure that it is set on Auto (detect).
You may have a faulty hard disk, you can check it by booting up with a floppy DOS boot disk, run fdisk to see if it detects the hard disk, OR connect this hard drive to a USB hard disk adapter and connect it to a working computer's USB port and if it detects it as an external drive the it is OK.

If you are running Windows ME, or Windows 2000, or Windows NT, or Windows XP or Windows Vista you do not need any drivers, Windows will detect any USB devices provided the USB device does not draw more power that the USB port can provide.
Your Maxtor external drive shoud have a power adapter connected to it before you insert it into the USB port.
If the Maxtor drive has not been partitioned and formated then you cannot use or see it until you do so.
Your manual should give you instructions to do so.
Basically you need to go into the Control Panel, then Administrative Tools, Then Computer Management, then Disk Management to create a partition and format the drive in NTFS file format if you are using Windows NT, XP or Vista.

Hello,

First I would verify that USB ports are functioning properly by plugging another device into the port and verifying that it works. If it does, then you can try restarting the computer - as sometimes the computer will detect an external drive on startup. You should also make sure that the software provided by the manufacture is correctly installed.

Hello maris12345

You shouldn't need drivers for your USB mass storage device on Windows XP. It should be "plug-n-play".

Is yours an older computer? If the computer's USB interface (hardware) is not at least USB ver 1.1 then that may be the problem. (I assume your external hard drive isn't being detected, yes?)

Can you run other USB devices on the same port(s) OK?

BJ