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General discussion

External Hard Drive not recognized by Windows

Sep 7, 2005 3:26AM PDT

My Maxtor OneTouch II USB external hard drive is no longer recognized by Windows. All of the data recovery solutions I have read about seem to only be helpful if the drive is still recognized. My computer recognizes the drive as a USB device, and that's it. I really don't want to lose the 60 GB of info I have on there...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm running Windows XP SP2 on a Toshiba Laptop.

Discussion is locked

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Try...
Sep 7, 2005 3:34AM PDT

Other USB ports on the machine. And then another PC, then call it in.

Just noting that your story is similar to those that thought these units were a backup device. The lesson is best not learned firsthand about backup. Hint: hard disks are not viable back devices. Just great second copies.

Bob

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external hard drive troubles
Sep 7, 2005 3:25PM PDT

Unfortunately the problem is not with USB or the computer, as trying other computers brings up the same result. The hard drive is definitely on the way out...I'm just hoping I can somehow salvage the data if I can't get a computer to even recognize the HD as a drive...

Mark

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Did you call it in?
Sep 7, 2005 10:15PM PDT

Sometimes they'll note trying another USB 2.0 cable, asking if the drive spins up or tell you of a reset button or procedure that's not in the manual.

At worst you can remove the drive and try it in a PC and boot up your KNOPPIX (use google to learn about) CD to see if it can see the files.

Again, these external drives are just external drives. Not a substiture for a backup.

Bob

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Thanks for the advice...
Sep 11, 2005 9:37AM PDT

Unfortunately, I have tried calling it in...with no luck. I'll have to try and get my hands on a PC tower so I can try it as a internal drive. Is it just a case of removing the outer shell, or does it get more complicated with power supplies, etc?

Mark

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Usually that's it.
Sep 11, 2005 10:48AM PDT

Just take it out and place on a spare connector and follow the IDE jumper setting rules.

As to calling it in, if under warranty they usually respond.

Bob

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Same problem
Jan 16, 2006 2:47AM PST

Mark,

I have a Maxtor Ext drive Onetouch II - 200Gb and i have the same problem. My drive is not recognized by the windows. The 2 blue leds starts to blink together when i turn on the drive but i can't see it in My Computer. I thing it could be a USB connect failure but i'm affraid to open the drive and try to connect directly. Have you tried this solution? Have you succeed?
Thanks
Mauricio

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Same discussion.
Jan 16, 2006 3:20AM PST
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USB device not recognized in windows XP
Oct 19, 2005 9:59AM PDT

I have recently connected an external hard drive into my laptop(Toshiba Satellite) but I received a message which says :USB device not recognized.
Could you please tell me what should I do?

I appreciate in advance,
Shahrad

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usb device problem
Oct 26, 2005 3:51PM PDT

You need to use install the appropriate drivers for the hard drive, using either the hard drive manufacturer website or the CD that came with the hard drive. If you have already done all this and it was working previously, you have a bigger problem on your hands.

Mark

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C'mon guys!
Nov 18, 2005 3:06AM PST

Connect the device and wait for Windows to give it's whole "New Hardware Found, USB device, there was a problem . . . blah blah"

Right-Click My Computer and goto Manage. Go down to Disk Managment. Find the external drive and right click it. Select "Mark this partition as Active". Done!

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Zuke1624 Found the Answer for Me
Jan 29, 2006 11:45PM PST

I too lost recognition of my external hard drives. All looked well, drivers, etc. Zuke's suggestion to go to Manage My Computer helped me arrive at the solution: the drive was recognized, but did not have a drive letter assigned. Re-assigning a drive letter fixed the problem.

Thanks so much for helping getting rid of that particular headache!

Alicia

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USB storage device not recognized
May 11, 2006 11:44AM PDT

I followed your tip right up to the part where you said to change the drive letter. I'd have done that if it hadn't been greyed out. Is there another trick to make that part useable? I've tried with TWO drives, a 120 gig Maxtor and an 80 gig Seagate. Both show up in the listing of devices as working, healthy, and active, but there is no drive letter with them so I can't do a thing with them. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks

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What you didn't tell.
May 11, 2006 10:37PM PDT

You seem to have jumped in the middle but we'll see if this is the issue.

The drive letter is enabled if you partitioned the drive. Or more accurately the drive has a partition that windows likes.

Your post didn't share if you partitioned and then formatted the drives.

Bob