CANNOT GET EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE TO WORK ON LABTOP IT WANT EVEN REGISTER ON MY COMPUTER THE NAME OF THE HARDDRIVE IS IOMEGA 320GB

The general directions is to plug the USB cable from the IOmega Prestige into any available (Open) USB port.

To open, (Access) the contents on the harddrive, double-click on the drive letter that corresponds with the IOmega.

In WinXP left-click on Start, then on My Computer.
In Win Vista and Win7 left-click on the Windows logo button, then on Computer.

You will see there are different drive letters;

Drive A: is reserved for a Floppy Drive. Older computers
Drive C: is for the Harddrive. (Hard Disk)
Drive D: is reserved for a recovery drive, or an optical drive (CD/DVD drive)
Drive E: is reserved for an optical drive, usually.

Drive letters beyond these are usually under the heading, Devices with Removable Storage

One of these drive letters should correspond with the IOmega.

Suggest, IOmega not plugged in, go to My Computer, or Computer, and look at the devices connected to the various drive letters.

Now plug the IOmega in, and see if it shows up next to a drive letter.
(Give the computer BIOS a few seconds)

Where there was NO device shown BEFORE, there should now be a device shown.
{No device shown before, but now there is. May not state IOmega, just external storage, or similar}

DOUBLE-click on the device shown.

For example:

I have drive letters C: D: E: F: G: H: I: J: and K:

Drive letter C: is for my harddrive.
Drive letter D: is for a recovery drive. (Partition in harddrive reserved for recovery)
Drive letter E: is for an optical drive (CD/DVD drive)

Drive letters F through K are reserved for an external storage device.
Whether it be an external harddrive, or flashdrive, or what have you.

IF you find the drive letter that corresponds with the IOmega DOUBLE-click right on it.
If nothing happens, or if there is no device shown when the IOmega is plugged in, there is a problem with the IOmega.

Hard to believe IOmega is still having problems with their external harddrives.

In the past they were having problems with a small circuit board located inside the IOmega's case.

[ A circuit board is a PCB.
Printed Circuit Board

For example a computer mouse has a small PCB in it,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mouse_printed_circuit_board_both_sides_IMG_0959a.JPG ]

The small circuit board is an Interface Board.

It connects the harddrive inside the IOmega's plastic case, to a USB cable, and this allows the harddrive inside to be plugged into a USB port on a computer.

As mentioned inside the plastic outer case (External enclosure) of the IOmega is a harddrive.
(Hard Disk drive; proper speak)

Harddrives are measure across their Width. There are two current types used;
A laptop size harddrive, and a desktop size harddrive.

A Laptop size harddrive is 2.5 inches across in width. (2 and a half inches, or 6.4cm)
A Desktop size harddrive is 3.5 inches across in width. (Or 8.9cm)

There are two technologies used;
IDE (PATA) or SATA

I'm sure the harddrive inside susanbrenton is a SATA unit.
I BELIEVE, it is a laptop size harddrive (2.5)

Point?

If there is data (Information) on the IOmega that you must have, you may wish to buy an inexpensive external enclosure, remove the harddrive from the IOmega, and install it into the external enclosure.

The external enclosure has a plastic case (Enclosure), and a small circuit board inside. It has a USB cable, or connector, just like the IOmega does.

Once you install the IOmega harddrive inside the case, the case is closed, and it's USB cable is plugged into a computer.
(Just like the IOmega. You are just replacing the small circuit board essentially)

Once you have the IOmega's case open, and can view the internal harddrive, measure the width of the harddrive.
Buy the appropriate external enclosure.

This is one example of an external enclosure for a 2.5 SATA harddrive,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3195233&CatId=2783

This is one example of a external enclosure for a 3.5 SATA harddrive,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

Basic instructions on how to open an IOmega Prestige external enclosure (Case):

1) There are two Philips head screws on the Back of the case.
These are removed.
Once removed a the oblong panel on the end comes off.

2) You can now see the harddrive inside. Pull from the Front, and remove the harddrive out of the case.

3) The harddrive is attached with screws to a metal carrier. (Bracket, essentially)
Remove the screws, remove the harddrive.

Basic example, the harddrive will look like this,

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=0A26923-NDW-R&cat=HDD


For additional questions please post in a Comment, (Believe upper right of your page)

Regards,
joecoolvette

You could try using another USB port on your computer. Perhaps that USB port you have the IOmega external harddrive plugged into is bad.

More than likely not, though.

The problem is usually inside the IOmega's case. (External enclosure)

Inside that IOmega external harddrive's case is a regular harddrive as used in a desktop, or laptop computer.
To explain;

Harddrives are physically rated in width, as well as type, and size.
A laptop harddrive is 2.5 inches across in width. (2 and a half inches)
A desktop harddrive is 3.5 inches.

The larger desktop harddrives are usually used in external harddrives that are 500GB, and larger.
(Not always the case when it comes to the 500GB size)

Harddrives have two technologies, or types.
IDE (PATA) or SATA.

You didn't state the Model Number so I can't even hazard a guess at this point.

The harddrive inside the case plugs into an Interface.
The Interface may be separate, and connected via a cable to a small circuit board, or the Interface may be soldered directly to the small circuit board.

It is this Interface, and circuit board which go bad.
The solution is to remove the harddrive inside, purchase an inexpensive external enclosure, and install the harddrive into it.

The external enclosure has a USB cable just like the IOmega external harddrive did.

As stated the harddrive inside is just a normal harddrive. Made by a harddrive manufacturer.
Could be a Western Digital, or Seagate, or Hitachi, or Maxtor, or Fujitsu, or IBM, just to name a few.
(Seagate bought out Maxtor)

On the harddrive will be a decal with it's specifications.
You will also be able to physically measure the width.

This external hookup will support harddrives that are 2.5, or 3.5 inches in width, (And 5.25), plus will support both IDE (PATA) or SATA harddrives,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7220658&CatId=3770

This external enclosure is for a desktop sized harddrive, 3.5 inches, and will support either IDE (PATA) or SATA harddrives,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1951866&CatId=2780

This external enclosure example is for laptop sized harddrives, 2.5 inches, and will support either IDE, (PATA), or SATA harddrives,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7041055&CatId=2783

Just one example of how to disassemble an IOmega Select Portable harddrive,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvUvz5Qb4vw

Other styles are listed in the Suggestions column down on the right.
Not a good source for information on disassembling an IOmega external harddrive, but there is very little info available.

(It isn't that tough for any external harddrive enclosure. The screws are usually hidden under labels, and the case pops apart in two halves. Just a little different design here, and there)

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

There is no internal power supply. The unit gets it's power from the computer. A USB port has 5 Volts DC.

Inside that external enclosure of the IOmega external harddrive is just an ordinary harddrive as used in a desktop computer. A SATA harddrive.

The harddrive plugs into a small circuit board with an interface on it, or there are cables, (wires), which come from the circuit board, and plug into the back of the harddrive.

It is this small circuit board that is usually the problem.
The solution to this problem is to simply just buy an economical external enclosure, and install the harddrive out of the IOmega into it.

Just one example from a quick search for an economical SATA 3.5 external enclosure,
(Note*
A laptop harddrive is 2.5 inches across in width. 2 and 1/2 inches.
A desktop harddrive is 3.5),

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

Have additional questions or need clarification to what I have stated, please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

Your Imega external enclosure has malfunctioned. If you can, you need to take the enclosure apart and take the harddrive out and test it with a computer desktop that has sata connectable, if your computer is able to read, then your iomega harddrive enclose suffer malfuction, if the computer isn't able to read the harddrive through the sata connection, then your harddrive is bad.

iomega website download the driver there or

you may try control panel /add remove hardware /
it may have retained the driver in c drive

http://go.iomega.com/en-us/?partner=4760

first things you have to do is that test the external drive with another system if it works then reload your system i.e format your harddisk and reload it with your operating system.

You really need to provide more info. Basic Troubleshooting:

-Check all connections (Ethernet, Power, USB, etc)
-Install the appropriate driver for the device, usually included on a CD
-Double Check compatibility with your system (system requirements usually on packaging of product)
-If you haven't rebooted since you set it up, then reboot, this fixes a lot of things
-Try the product on another computer
-Try different cables/ports on the comptuer.

If nothing works, then send it in if it's under warranty or contact a professional service.

I have the SAME problem. I've tried all sorts of things and can't get mine to work either! Have you found a solution? All my information is stored on here from my old laptop and I need to use it asap!

you need to make sure the device is compatiable with your laptop.

Iomega which is now a thing of the past were renowned for their fragility It may well have died