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General discussion

External Drive comes up as "found new hardware" after reboot

Jul 13, 2006 1:03PM PDT

I have an internal HD (Seagate) installed in an aluminum case (Adaptec-type), which is powered, and uses USB to connect to my main PC.

It's been working fine. I had installed some updates for the main computer. I needed to restart the computer to finish the installation of the updates, of course.

I shut off the power switch to the USB hard drive, then rebooted the computer.

Typically, I've shut off the USB drive before, and when I powered it back up, it will do an "auto scan," which I cancel, and then the drive shows up.

This time, when I powered it up, it said, "new hardware found" and it showed a name "24."

I cannot find this drive anymore.

I thought that I should do a system restore point, so I did...one day from today. This didn't change anything.

I have the utility disc for the drive, but I'm not sure what I need to do with it.

By the way, what is the purpose of "add new hardware" in the control panel, if it doesn't detect new hardware? I've always had trouble with this feature. If I install the "CD" to get the files, it asks me to "browse" for the files. How the hell do I know what files I need, if I don't know which ones to look for?

Or, if I even need to use the CD's files, at all?

I can feel the drive running. This drive is only a couple of months old, and was running just swimmingly a few minutes ago, until I shut it off, and installed the updates on the main computer.

Please walk me through the corrective action I need, to get this disk to show up again.

Thanks.

Al

Discussion is locked

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Let's start with..
Jul 13, 2006 8:45PM PDT

Windows (do you run that and what version) is not bug free or perfect. Add to that the variety of hardware and your issue is not unknown. You seen to think there is a do this fix but some that run XP won't install SP2. Some own 'built' machines with the wrong wiring to the front USB ports. While both play a role in some complaints, the details are too lite in your post.

For the front ports issue, move the drive to the rear ports.

As to the add new hardware issue, you may have revealed that you are not aware of Microsoft's history. That tool while discussed in some books and web content is not what it seems.

Bob

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Details
Jul 13, 2006 9:09PM PDT

Bob, somehow I knew you'd be the first to respond to my note....

My main PC is an HP Pavilion 9870, 784 RAM, XP SP2.

The external drive is on one of the rear ports. I don't use my front ports.

There are lots of things I'm not aware of, which is why I'm here asking questions.

Al

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That's better.
Jul 13, 2006 9:50PM PDT

I'd try another USB 2.0 cable. Then I'd run the hard disk maker's diagnostic.

The issues I alluded to about Microsoft's history is long but I'll condense it to this. The OS has never been better but then again it isn't that great in some areas. Your expectations of add new hardware is telling. I've been here since before DOS, CP/M so it's a grand view.

There is a new discussion you should read too. Here's the link.

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-10149-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=190878&messageID=2067686&tag=nl.e497

Bob

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Weird timing....
Jul 13, 2006 11:54PM PDT

Bob, thanks. I'll try these...

Shortly after I clicked on the link you sent me, I then checked my e-mail.

Since I get regular tips from CNet, lo and behold, that exact subject was in my inbox, with the same link.

Life is good....

Al

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Still nothing
Jul 14, 2006 5:00AM PDT

I tried the suggestions in the link. I also connected the drive to another computer, and it also showed "new hardware found" and the name was the same (a number...24).

There is no hint of it in the computer management, disk management section of the control panel.

Is it dead?

Al

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If the drive is not working in all machines...
Jul 14, 2006 5:10AM PDT

We have a discussion about Maxtors at http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-7590-0.html?forumID=67&threadID=28919&messageID=328179 which runs across all the usuals and more.

Such units are nice when they work but since they are no more reliable than your internal hard disk, we must not trust them for storage.

The above link covers it all. Drivers, motherboard drivers, Microsoft's non-support of fetching drivers for your machine (that's your job) and more.

Hope you find it.

Bob

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moving it inside
Jul 14, 2006 11:54AM PDT

Bob, I've seen this thread before. I used the information in it to recover data from an external drive, using Runtime. But, I was able to actually see the drive.

Since it is an internal drive, in a hard case, what about moving into the main computer, to see what it does there?

I don't know if I've got another space for it, though. Should I pull one of the secondary drives out first? Then, insert the questionable one?

Al

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What I do...
Jul 14, 2006 12:32PM PDT

I pull the drive out of the case, and plug it as master on the secondard IDE channel.

Bob

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Bob, it worked...
Jul 15, 2006 2:28AM PDT

I pulled the drive from the case. Since my optical drives in the PC were occupying the secondary IDE channel, I pulled them out of the socket temporarily, then connected a new ribbon cable to the questionable drive, the other end to the secondary channel.

The drive was immediately recognized and was healthy.

I transfered the file to the PC for now.

Everything ran smoothly.

So, it was the portable hard case that was giving me the fits. I'm relieved, of course.

Thanks for the help.

Al

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That's the best news today. Why?
Jul 15, 2006 3:02AM PDT

Well I'm painting another room today. Not that it matters in your issue, but it's good when we don't lose our files.

Bob

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Next question...
Jul 15, 2006 4:46AM PDT

Now that I've got this perfectly functioning drive, and I don't dare put it back into a portable case...

Although the PC has all the available IDE connectors used up, I could install this extra drive with a PCI card, correct?

If so, what would you recommend for a good quality PCI IDE control card?

Thanks. (Hope the painting is going well).

Al

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Actually I'd just get a new case.
Jul 15, 2006 5:14AM PDT

But that's my thought.

Bob

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Copy that...
Jul 15, 2006 5:52AM PDT

I'll take your advice...

Anyone who's been around since before DOS, has got to know what's what...

Thanks.

Al