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General discussion

SimpleTech problems...

Dec 27, 2006 4:54AM PST

I got a SimpleTech SimpleDrive Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Portable 80GB Hard Drive (product number SP-U25/80 designed by pininfarina) for Christmas. I know the thing works, as I hooked it up to my dad's computer to grab some of my files off of it. Once I got it home though, I tried hooking it up to my computer and it won't recognize it. All I can do it unplug it in the USB menu, I can't access it from My Computer. It came with a little disc for a StorageSync program and everytime I try to install it I get the following error before it finishes installing-

Access violation address 0040267 in module 'SETUP.EXE'. Read of address FFFFFFF.

I have no idea what that means or why I can't get the thing to work. It may have something to do with that fact that my computer is WAY old and runs Windows ME (though the hard drive claims to be able to work with that system).

Any advice? Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Sure that SW works with WinMe ?
Dec 27, 2006 7:23AM PST

Any idea how the external drive is formatted ..FAT32 or NTFS ?

VAPCMD

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yeah...
Dec 27, 2006 11:25AM PST

It claims that it does work with WinMe...

Also, it's formatted as NTFS.

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(NT) Windows ME doesn't work with NTFS.
Dec 27, 2006 11:27AM PST
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Even if 'Syncback' works with Me, your OS doesn't
Dec 28, 2006 12:36AM PST

recognize an NTFS formatted HDD...ergo the reason I asked the question about formatting.

Solution 1: format the external FAT32...it should work on both PCs and OSs'.

Solution 2: upgrade the Me to XP before you encounter more SW issues.

VAPCMD

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How?
Dec 28, 2006 12:44AM PST

How would I go about doing that? I don't think I've ever had to reformate something before...

And I would LOVE to upgrade to XP, but I think my computer is too old to handle it. It's sort of a hand-me-down computer and the only reason I got it is because my dad got a new computer that could run a newer version of windows. I think I'm stuck.

Thanks so much for all the help, by the way.

-ender

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If you cannot delete the NTFS partition and recreate it
Dec 29, 2006 7:37AM PST

it as FAT32 on your PC ...you could probably do it on your Dad's PC.
And then it should work on either PC.

Have you checked MS to see if your PC is XP compatible ?

VAPCMD

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That's what I thought
Dec 29, 2006 3:00PM PST

I was going to have to do. Thanks for the advice!

Um, no... I haven't. I'll have to do that, haha. I have a feeling it's not though.

-ender

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(NT) OK...let us know the outcome.
Dec 29, 2006 11:25PM PST
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This happens more and more (no old Windows.....)
Dec 27, 2006 7:32AM PST

Look up SYNCBACK on google.com I think it supports Windows ME. Sorry if it doesn't. But the price is right.

Bob

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Upgrading to XP
Feb 3, 2007 9:18PM PST

I think that upgrading to XP is a good idea. I don't know if this helps at all, but rather than run a compatibility check which I agree is also a good idea at times, I have reservations as to Microsofts ability to diagnose computers remotely. Here are the specs that I suggest for a computer.
800 mhz CPU
256mb Ram
40 GB Hard Drive.

These are my recommended specs for someone who would like it to run and operate in a fashion which is not trying to your senses and it leaves space on the drive for a couple other things.

Here are the lowest specs that I know XP to run on and operate halfway decent, but mind you these specs leave minimal room on a hard drive, but it will function.

400 mhz
64mb RAM
4.7gb HD

This particular model I bought in early 2000. This should give you a rough estimate as to how old a computer can be. As for hand me downs, you can get a reasonable compuer nowadays for under 200 dollars. I do not promote companies on other websites so I can't tell you where, but if you ever do want to know you can conact me at michaelfeather@aol.com. My computer now is a Emachine 1.2 Ghz CPU 512mb Ram, 150 GB HD and a bunch of other goodies that I have installed from here and there and so far I have about 160 bucks in it. That's with the lightscribe DVD burner and the DVD/CDRW drive, so it is very possible to get or piece together a very good system for minimal money.

Hope the specs help

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PC won't recongize the drive
Apr 4, 2007 2:51AM PDT

I recently bought the 100G Simpletech Pininfarina and formatted it to FAT 32 so I could use it with both my mac and PC. This was working fine for a bit however now I can't get the drive to show up on either my PC at work or at home.

I checked it with my Mac last night and it worked fine. Both PCs are running XP.

Can anyone advise me what steps I need to take to get my drive to read on the PCs?

Thank in advance,
lapeachies

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That's a known problem. QUICK!!!
Apr 4, 2007 3:03AM PDT

Save your files that you can't lose. I'm seeing FAT32 volumes on USB fail on Windows but work on other OSes (Mac, Linux). To fix this we back off the files and delete, create the partition and give it a fresh format.

Sadly FAT32 is not damage resistant and eventually goes wonky again.

-> Let me be blunt. Do not use FAT32 volumes on USB for storage. Only use such to transfer files.

Bob

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Thanks
Apr 4, 2007 3:09AM PDT

Thanks for the tip. I thought I was going crazy for a moment.

~lapeachies