My external hdd from bytec is not recognized by my computer. What shall I do?

Maybe the external hard drive is to large to be recognized by your computer. Some computers won't recognize real large external drives.

Another problem could be that your external hard drive does not support Windows 7.

Probably not the right answer for your problem. Mine is an external 1 TB Simple Drive. Mine wouldn't respond at all. I unplugged the power cable from the back of the hard drive and replugged it in and instantly it worked. I had tried rebooting the computer, plugging/unplugging over and over into the computer and that didn't work.

> possibility that the HDD is already defective

first of all try to use the USB to any different port and then try to see if ur able to get it working.. second try to use any other device on the same port where ur trying to connect the USB of ur external HDD (this will confirm whether the USB ports are working fine or not) once done then click start - Start Search and type there Device Manager.. (if ur unable to do so then) the other way is to click start - then Right Click on My Computer or Computer.. then select Properties towards the very bottom.. on the next page.. towards the left hand side on the very top u shall see Device manager..
Under Device Manager search for USB tht should towards the very bottom of the page.. (remove the USB external HDD) click on the Plus sign there and under that u shall see a lot of USB options.. Delete all those One by One.. (dont worry nothing will go wrong) Once ur done with this.. then restart the computer.. All the USB devices shall be reinstalled on the computer again.. and then after that try to reinsert the USB for the external HDD.. if ur able to get the device detected great.. if not then u need to call Maxtor and get the external HDD replaced Let me know if this resolved ur query... regards, Guru

Check Following Instructions:
1. Check your USB cable properly connected to the computer.
2. Go to My computer - right click on property - Hardware - Devices Manager - in below - USB Mass storage device - right click on this - and Uninstall - then again right click - click on Scan - it should be reload your USB drivers
your External Hard Drive will be detected

If you installed a program with the drive, th edrive is functioning properly. If the program will not run, you need to check the program compatibility with vista or investigate any errors you are recieving.

check if your external hdd connect to the pc.. cables is important..

Since you have not given any specifications about model of your HDD hence I'd consider your HDD connects through USB. Your USB driver is old you shall consider upgradation.

this problem may be for your USB or HDD.

For USB check following: version, if any new windows hotfix installed, if USB port is working.

HDD,

Check if there is any sound in the HDD, no sound is better.
Try to enable USB HDD boot from bios setup and boot with the hdd, check if it recognizes the same

The most of problem's with external are that EXTERNAL are EVIL.Don't worry ur hdd is fine just buy new external and put hdd in new external!!!