Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Computers and Peripherals : USB External HDD not being recognized on Windows 7 laptop

[Mike - Limestone]

Here is the situation:

1. An external hard drive is not being recognized (at all) on my Windows 7 laptop. As in, when I plug the external HD into the Windows 7 laptop, it is not even being detected.
2. The external HDD works on my other laptops.
3. The Windows 7 laptop detects all my other USB devices normally.

Any thoughts?

-mike

[hekwu]

I've seen this a dozen or so times... not sure if your exact issue, but this is what I've done to correct it:

0. insert the hard drive
1. control panel
2. administrator tools
3. computer management
4. disk managment

Look for your disk...

Make sure it is formated

If you don't see it:

0. close open windows
1. go back to control panel
2. device manager
3. right click on your computer name (at top)
4. scan for hardware changes

It should find your hard drive... list it as "disk 1" or "disk 2".

[BurakUeda]

Also check your device manager in control panel if you have any exclamation marked USB devices.

[loveweb]

is your laptop has high-power USB ports? if not, buy a high-power USB hub to connect your external hard drive.

[plumsauce]

As in the above post, the problem with smaller laptops is often insufficient power from a single usb port. Some drives come with a cable that has two plugs at the laptop end to draw juice from two ports. If your drive came with one you might want to try it.

That's for 2.5 inch drives. A 3.5 inch unit will never get enough juice from the usb port itself.

[Mike - Limestone]

As a quick add-on to my original post, the external HDD is also plugged into an AC adapter (beyond the USB cable).

-mike

[bear]

Out of curiosity, have you tried it in a different USB port in that problematic laptop?

[PCTechMe]

I have a Maxtor drive that exhibits the same behavior when connected to my Precision 490 desktop. Will not recognize it no matter what I do. All other devices work perfectly and the drive works in all my other machines.

I finally chalked it up to being some type of controller incompatibility.

[alhatmy]

hmm

I think you can try this
from device manager, uninstall all USB drivers that's (not working well)

then chose scan for hardware changes

[hekwu]

At this point, maybe you should post the type of hardware you have... maybe someone will have time to lookup the issue for you...

[diehost]

You should manually download drivers for the external HDD

[dadulus]

1.Plug in and turn on the external USB hard drive
2.Right mouse click on My Computer
3.Left click on Manage
4.Left click on Device Manager
5.Expand the USB list
6.Find the USB device for your USB Hard Drive
7.Right mouse click - Uninstall
8.Turn off the external USB hard drive
9.Turn on the external USB hard drive and let it find and install the driver
10.It should work

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[Mike - Limestone]

Originally Posted by dadulus

1.Plug in and turn on the external USB hard drive
2.Right mouse click on My Computer
3.Left click on Manage
4.Left click on Device Manager
5.Expand the USB list
6.Find the USB device for your USB Hard Drive
7.Right mouse click - Uninstall
8.Turn off the external USB hard drive
9.Turn on the external USB hard drive and let it find and install the driver
10.It should work

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I finally gave up with this specific external HDD (I ultimately copied it to another computer, then used my network to transfer the files), but thank you for the advice. I'll certainly try that next time.

-mike

[benjohnsonfs]

i am having the same problem with a lacie external hard drive ... :-(

[pora]

Originally Posted by plumsauce

As in the above post, the problem with smaller laptops is often insufficient power from a single usb port. Some drives come with a cable that has two plugs at the laptop end to draw juice from two ports. If your drive came with one you might want to try it.

That's for 2.5 inch drives. A 3.5 inch unit will never get enough juice from the usb port itself.

Yes, sometimes try different USB port might help. Like my dell, I can use my external HDD with the ports on the left side but not the one on the right side.