Connected external usb drive to my computer which runs windows xp. Computer says drive is working properly, but drive does not appear on windows explorer. Also cannot assign drive letter, so cannot transfer files. How do I get my computer to recognize the drive?

Primary or external ???.....
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.
Or even get a usb 3 lead.
USB 3 card will provide more power when needed to the device to gain maximum throughput and conserve power when the device is connected but is idling
http://blog.premiumusb.com/2010/09/usb-2-0-vs-usb-3-0/
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.
Sometimes they become faulty due to overstretching age or heavy objects sitting on top of them.
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.
Windows 7
First, please disconnect all USB devices and then perform the following steps:
Click "Start" button, type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) in the "Search" bar and press "Enter". Click "Continue" if necessary.
In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the Host Controller, click "Uninstall" and click "OK".
Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

Then, restart your computer and Windows 7 will reinstall all USB controllers automatically.
If the hard drive that has failed is the same one that you are trying to recover from might the reason that you are getting this error.
This could be an issue where the part of the hard drive you are trying to access is corrupt and not accessible which would explain the reason that it would let you access the other partition.
Now I have seen cases where Malware can break the link of a Hard Drive.
So let's try a couple of steps.
Let's go back in to "Disk Management"
Lets right click on the partition that you are not able to access and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths"
Now try selecting a new Drive Letter.
This will restore the path if it has been broken.
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.

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.

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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. Sometimes they become faulty due to overstretching age or heavy objects sitting on top of them. 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. Windows 7 First, please disconnect all USB devices and then perform the following steps:

Click "Start" button, type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) in the "Search" bar and press "Enter". Click "Continue" if necessary.

In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the Host Controller, click "Uninstall" and click "OK".

Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".


Then, restart your computer and Windows 7 will reinstall all USB controllers automatically. If the hard drive that has failed is the same one that you are trying to recover from might the reason that you are getting this error. This could be an issue where the part of the hard drive you are trying to access is corrupt and not accessible which would explain the reason that it would let you access the other partition. Now I have seen cases where Malware can break the link of a Hard Drive. So let's try a couple of steps. Let's go back in to "Disk Management" Lets right click on the partition that you are not able to access and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths" Now try selecting a new Drive Letter. This will restore the path if it has been broken. 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.

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

Hi,

As you have described that your Memorex Ultra Traveldrive re-appears repeatedly, indicates that the communication between your computer and your external hard drive is intermittent. The FAT32 format does not produce these types of issues. What we can do first is identify what causes the problem.

Assuming that the hard drive in your Memorex Ultra Traveldrive is in good shape:

Troubleshooting Method #1. Try connecting your Memorex Ultra Traveldrive into another USB port. If the problem persists, use another USB cable for your external hard drive. If the problem still persists, you will have to replace the external casing of your external hard drive. If your external hard drive works with the other USB port perfectly, most likely, the USB port where you originally plug into of your Windows XP machine needs to be checked. That USB port might need some repairing.

Troubleshooting Method #2. Try connecting the external hard drive into another computer and perform the same troubleshooting as Method #1. If your external hard drive works with other computers perfectly, most likely, the USB port where you originally plug into of your Windows XP machine needs to be checked. The USB port might need some repairing.

If the problem only occurs with your Windows XP machine, assuming all USB ports are in good shape, your Windows XP needs to be checked for some software issues.


I hope this works for you. Kindly reply/comment for further assistance. Good Luck!


Thanks for using Fixya!

Mongkey
DELL Tech ID #456563
TIPS: Is your computer slow? This might help
http://www.fixya.com/support/r8158906-diy_manual_pc_tune_up
(for Windows only)

Hi sir, Fewer Portable HDD's wont support Front side USB port so choose different USB port sure it wil work i prefer BACKSIDE of your system :)

yah you must buy a Y-USB cable for your external hardisk. this is connection both ends are one is for hardisk and the other two cable is for USB slot of computer. why it two wires connection to usb because one wire is for Data and the other is for Power. If doesn't work..it might be a problem in your Operating system. i recommend to you to reinstall your Windows OS.. theres a 4 reasons why it happen appear the error... deffective USB cable..corrupted driver of USB device for seagate, virus infected of your systems..and maybe your hardive is deffective. Please rate if this is HELPFUL..thanks

Have you tried changing the USB cable or connecting it to a different USB port on the computer?

Yes, the external floppy drive must be connected directly to a USB port on the computer instead of to a USB hub.The PC can't see the drive thru the USB hub. Applies to both 32 and 64 bit.

Good morning! first, make sure your external hard drive is properly connected to the USB port, then try to start / restart your computer again, automatically the computer should recognized the attached external HDD. best regards.