I have a HP computer running Windows 8.1 with both USB 2 and USB 3. I have two different external HDs connected to USB 3 ports and they work fine. They've also worked when connected to USB 2 ports. One is a 1 TB Western Digital drive, the other a Sabrent docking station with a 2 TB Toshiba drive.
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To trouble shoot, I'd look in the Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management. You should see the drive there. If you do, you might need to format it and assign a drive letter to it. If it's not there, then you need to check your BIOS setup to see if it's there. If the BIOS doesn't see it, there's likely something wrong with the HD.
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Good luck.
Hi,
I just bought a "Toshiba HDTB105EK3AA 500GB Stor.E Basics USB 3.0 2.5 Inch External Hard Drive", which they say is for Windows 8 as well but, I took it out of the box & connected its USB cable to my Windows 8 PC with no luck. It does not show on the win. explorer.
It does not show in the Vista laptop either but, shows in the small Acer XP Netbook.
It boasts that uses both 3 & 2 USB.
Can you help please before I return it? ....thanx ....nick

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