An external storage-device has four major components:
* the USB cable
* the power-adapter
* the disk-drive inside the enclosure
* the USB-to-disk-drive adapter inside the enclosure.
One of these components has failed.
Try a different USB cable.
Try connecting to a different USB port on your computer.
Try connecting to a USB port on a different computer.
Take a "multi-meter" and measure both the voltage and amperage output from the AC adapter, and compare with the specifications on the label on the adapter.
Open the enclosure, and remove the disk-drive, and then connect it as a "slave" disk-drive in a desktop computer, to see if it works at all.
Purchase a new, compatible, disk-drive, and install it in the enclosure, to "revive" your external storage device.
Get the part-number and serial-number from the label on your disk-drive, and access the manufacturer's web-site, and use "check warranty status", to see if they will replace the device, at minimal cost to you.
SOURCE: I am plugging in my Maxtor 80GB external drive and
Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel. Once there, open Add Hardware. It will scan for any new hardware devices that have been plugged in, including through USB. If it fails to find your Hard Drive, don't despair, all you have to do is go through the list of devices it has listed. If your device isn't listed, chose the bottom choice, "add a new hardware device." First try to have it search for the hardware automatically. If that fails, install it automatically from a list. You might need drivers for the Hard Drive, so it would help to go to Maxtor's site before you begin and find the appropriate driver for your model of hard drive, so you'll have it on hand when and if it asks for it. Once that's done, your hard drive will be recognized and all of your data will be accessible. Best of luck, and if you need further assistance, just ask.
click start control panel administration tools computer management device manager look through all of your devices if you see a yellow question mark?or exclamation mark ! or red x
right click to reinstall drivers or
if you can see your usb but its not working
ports(com&lpt)right click update driver
if this fails to fix the problem
check usb leads for secure dust free seating
sometimes the wires inside the cable will be damaged due to bending or stretching or placing heavy equipment upon the cable
just replace the cable of the hard disk, when you plugged the external disk drive you got that windows could recognize the USB device change the cable everything should work fine again,
check the USB leads that attach to the motherboard usually red-white-green-black make sure they are securely seated and have no dust build up on them dust will cause static and a lot of unforeseen problems
hope this helps
if this fails to fix the problem
you might have to install a usb 2 or 3 card they are cheap and easy to install you can buy these on Ebay very cheap
hope this helps
click start control panel administrive tools ,computer management ,device manager look through all of your devices if you see a yellow question mark?or exclamation mark ! or red x
right click to reinstall drivers or
if you can see your usb but its not working
ports(com&lpt)right click update driver
sometimes the wires inside the cable will be damaged due to bending or stretching or placing heavy equipment upon the cable,
just replace the cable of the hard disk, when you plugged the external disk drive you got that windows could recognize the USB device change the cable everything should work fine again,
check the USB leads that attach to the motherboard usually red-white-green-black make sure they are securely seated and have no dust build up on them dust will cause static and a lot of unforeseen problems also make sure the computers Ram and Cmos battery are securely seated
if this fails to fix the problem
you might have to install a usb 2 or 3 card they are cheap and easy to install you can buy these on Ebay very cheap
hope this helps
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