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General discussion

Can't access Maxtor OneTouch II 200GB with MS Vista

Apr 13, 2007 5:18PM PDT

Just wondering if anyone can help me? I have recently upgraded from XP Pro to Vista Ultimate. I backed up alot of my data onto a Maxtor 200GB OneTouch II external drive. I have installed the drivers and the device is seen in the Device Manager and reported to be working properly. When I look for the drive under Computer, however, the drive is not shown and as such I can't access it to retrieve my data!
Has anyone else had this problem, or any ideas how to get around this problem? I note that Maxtor don't support Vista, something I should have checked prior to the upgrade!
Cheers,
Nick

Discussion is locked

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Could be proper.
Apr 14, 2007 1:13AM PDT

Upgrading to Vista does not mean motherboard drivers and USB ports will function automatically. There was no words about your PC but a recent Toshiba Vista install had us update the BIOS twice because Toshiba issued a new bios a day after the update.

This is not an offer to hunt down your machine's updates but that you need to do that.

If there are none I suggest you go back to what worked and ask for your refund on Vista as quickly as possible.

Bob

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Thanks
Apr 14, 2007 2:09PM PDT

Thanks Bob. I updated the BIOS prior to upgrade and there have been no updates since. I guess I could uninstall Vista but I'm hoping there could be another soloution.
Cheers Nick

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That's one item down.
Apr 14, 2007 8:58PM PDT

But what about motherboard drivers? I can't check since no details were shared about make, model, etc.

Bob

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HP 1060a
Apr 15, 2007 8:53PM PDT

Bob the PC is a HP Pavilion 1060a. Not too sure about motherboard drivers but I been to the HP website and have all the latest upgrades on offer.
Thanks Nick

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Then we have to...
Apr 15, 2007 10:57PM PDT

Put it on another machine to get our files out. Once that's done then we format it on the new Vista box and copy the files onto it again.

Bob

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Advice on installing Maxtor OneTouch II with Windows Vista
Aug 12, 2008 2:30AM PDT

Hi,
I installed the MaxBackup.exe for the OneTouch III containing drivers for Vista and now my OneTouch II works perfectly well with vista.
See http://www.maxtor.com/en/main/support.html 'Software Downloads'

Software is available under 'OneTouch III MaxBackup Vista Software'

Good luck!

Claes

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works fine..
Oct 9, 2010 8:13AM PDT

Thanks for the advice. Appears that my One Touch II is accessible again after installing the software you suggested.

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can't access maxtor one touch III with ms vista
May 26, 2007 3:10AM PDT

I have the same problem. the staff at maxtor/seagate was not able to help. can someone help me? I can't understand this.

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Vista is tough on those that upgrade.
May 26, 2007 3:17AM PDT

If you've followed the steps above then the answer is the same.

Bob

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vista problem with maxtor one touch iii
May 26, 2007 3:25AM PDT

bob, thanks for your prompt reply. unfortunately I am not tech-computer savvy. I don't know from bios.

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You may have to make a choice.
May 26, 2007 3:33AM PDT

As to how to proceed. Since you don't know bios from os you have to choose where to get some support. Your machine's maker should be called with a request to fix it or refund the purchase. My suggestion is that this is the only exit for some since taking the machine to shops like geeksquad only racks up 100 to 200 buck support bills and often results in total data loss.

The issue from what I'm seeing is drivers or the need to plug the USB drive into the back of the machine. Be sure you try that other USB port first.

Good luck,

Bob

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maxtor
May 26, 2007 3:46AM PDT

I do have it plugged into the back of the machine. maybe I should plug it into the front of the 'puter's USB port. I just bought this last week. I will take it back to Fry's. thank you.

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Buy a western Digital ext drive instead
Jul 1, 2007 2:46AM PDT

I am having the same problem with my Maxtor one touch II with vista. I went to Maxtor website and there no driver updates or software updates for vista on the Maxtor website. You know Seagate bought out Maxtor so there may not be updates at all. I going to buy external HD from western digital, their external drives working with vista OS.

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I found the answer!
Jul 1, 2007 3:16AM PDT

I found the answer!,remove the password from your Maxtor external drive, once you do that your vista OS will install the Maxtor drivers. One more important thing to note. In order remove the password from your Maxtor external drive, hook Maxtor HD to your XP machine and goto the Maxtor password setting to disable password or remove password. THIS WILL WORK!

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Annoying but not impossible
Jul 3, 2007 11:33AM PDT

Yes, this is the answer - at least the first part of the answer. You can get Vista to recognize the drive if you plug the drive into an XP machine which has the Maxtor OneTouch software installed on it and remove the password. Then when you plug it into a Vista machine it is recognized as a standard USB hard drive and you can access the files. You don't need to install any software on the Vista machine. If you need to install the software on an XP machine you can download it from the maxtor / seagate support site.

HOWEVER...

The maxtor software itself does not work in Vista. Even the vista installer on the support site is a waste of time. Not only doesn't it work but it also installs an incompatible driver which causes the drive not to be recognized at all. You have to uninstall through device manager (sigh).

Bottom line is that if you disable security you can access the files. The Maxtor site states that they are working on a vista-compatible version of the software to restore the backup and security features for Vista users. No release date, but you can enter your email to be notified when the new software is available. (double sigh, for those of us who have run into this problem with other brand new but vista-resistant hardware).

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Result!!
Jul 26, 2008 4:27PM PDT

I too had this Maxtor OneTouch II/Vista problem. Did whatyou said and its fine now. Thanks

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Removing password doesn't seem to work for me?
Jul 16, 2007 9:46PM PDT

This doesn't seem to be working for me.

I plugged the drive back into my XP system and made sure that there was no password. Then on my Vista system, after making sure that everything Maxtor was uninstalled in Device Manager, I plugged in the drive and still can't find it!

Any ideas?

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Once last idea prior to that call.
Jul 16, 2007 10:20PM PDT

Hold down the SHIFT key as you plug in the drive to stop items from autorunning.

If it still fails call it in and ask for the fix.

Bob

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Shift key?
Jul 16, 2007 10:39PM PDT

I'm not sure what items I'm trying to prevent from autorunning, but when I hold down the SHIFT key as I plug in the drive, it still does the same thing: That godforsaken Vista "found new hardware" wizard pops up.

And when you say "call it in and ask for the fix," who am I calling?

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Who?
Jul 16, 2007 11:14PM PDT

The drive's maker.

If it's not Vista compatible it's up to them to fix.

If you built your own Vista machine it's yours to fix (the drivers issue.)

Sorry if you missed out on a class on Windows but here's what the shift key does -> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=STOP+AUTORUN+SHIFT+KEY

We'll still need the found new hardware to complete properly. If you cancel that, then it should never work.

bob

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This is how you get Vista to recognize a Maxtor OneTouch II.
Jul 16, 2007 11:42PM PDT

This doesn't require downloading anything, installing anything, or holding your mouth in a certain way. Save your applause for when it works for you.

Alright...

1) Plug the damn drive into power and into your Vista PC's USB port.
2) When the godforsaken 'Found New Hardware' wizard pops up, click the recommended option. When it says it can't find the drivers--which it will, because the wizard is a *****--never fear.
3) Select 'Show me other options', and then Browse your computer for drivers. Choose the C:\ drive, and click next.**

**The key here is that Windows Vista comes pre-installed with the drivers for the Maxtor external hard drives. So they're on your PC, even if the ***** Wizard tells you they're not.

4) Wait a few minutes, and you have beaten the wizard at its own game. You will see a window that reads, "The software for this device has been successfully installed," and now it will appear as a drive letter under 'Computer'.

As a final note, I'd like to pose a rhetorical question: What exactly are the Maxtor/Seagate technicians being paid for if not to help their customers? Maybe the company(ies) should shell out some cash to people on these forums that solve their problems for them.

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On my Ezquest drive with a Maxtor disk inside:no wizard.
Aug 9, 2007 1:23PM PDT

I thought your solution might work for me as I
have an Ezquest external drive (with a Maxtor 500gb disk inside)
with the same problem.
Vista automatically installs the drivers disk.sys and
partmgr.sys (both in the C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS directory)
for this Maxtor drive.
Even if I browse from C:\(or the Vista CD) it still
will only use these drivers.
Thanks.

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Fix for Mini 4 Drive
Nov 29, 2008 5:49AM PST

I had the same problem with Vista recognizing my Maxtor Mini 4 drive. All I had to do was upload all of the Maxtor install files from my old pc to a flash drive and install them on the new Vista PC. Once you install the files, you'll be asked to download and install a new software upgrade. It should work after that.

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Maxtor One touch II
Jul 3, 2007 12:54PM PDT

There are no drivers available right now for the Maxtor One Touch II for Vista. You either have to wait for a driver, if it ever happens, or go to a Windows XP machine, transfer some or a much infor or the info you need to a DVD and then use the DVD to transfer the information back to your Vista OS. I am in the same boot. I placed most of my fav on a DVD so as not to even take a chance to lose them. You have one more choice. Take apart the maxtor and install it into your hPC and add another hard drive. Then transfer the information from the Maxtor hard drive to your main hard drive or to a back up hard drive. I happen to have two hard drives already so I a going to now have a third, transfer or just use the programs that I didnt get back when I upgraded to Vista. Good luck. If you want, email me and Ill try to help. carmanhere@aol.com

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Properties
Jul 16, 2007 11:19PM PDT

Have you tried properties to run in XP comparability mode?...If that doesn't work...Its like what he said call it in.

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drive not registering in maxtor software
Sep 20, 2007 9:02PM PDT

i have recently installed my maxtor drive onto my new vista machine - i can however browse the contents of the drive including copy items to it, but what i cannot do which is the most annoying is run a backup to the drive through the software and also restor.

i have tried running it in compatibility mode for xp sp2 and also as an administrator this however doesnt seem to make any difference at all.

if anyone has any ideas on what else i can try - apart from blat and reload back to xp,

mike

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Yes, the Vista-drivers are available
Aug 13, 2008 9:32PM PDT

Hi,

Just download the MaxBackup.exe driver on the Onetouch III support page. It works perfectly very well with OneTouch II and Vista,....passwordprotection and everything.

Claes