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General discussion

Trouble accessing external HD through firewire (XP)

Feb 24, 2005 1:44AM PST

I just got an 80GB Hitachi external hard drive in an Ultra enclosure, and I can't seem to access it with Win XP using firewire. My Inspiron 8200 laptop is a few years old, so no USB 2.0. Instead, I use a PC card with firewire ports to connect to the HD. The computer recognizes the device and it pops up as a drive in the device manager, but it doesn't display an accessible icon in My Computer. Does someone know a way that I can get into this thing?

Thanks,
Bryant

Discussion is locked

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Have you partitioned and formatted said drive...
Feb 24, 2005 1:59AM PST

WHILE its in the firewire case?

And using XP's Drive or Disk Management tool?

Bob

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This is new to me
Feb 24, 2005 3:41AM PST

Haven't partitioned or formatted it, but I was under the impression that had been done, as it was labeled "plug & play."

I'm not familiar with XP's disk management tool; I will have to look for that.

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Yes, you get to play in partition and formatting it.
Feb 24, 2005 4:00AM PST

Here's why. NO SUPPLIER CAN GUESS what partitions or file system you want.

Bob

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same problem - solutions ?
Feb 28, 2005 7:48AM PST

I have exactly the same problem with a Maxtor 250 Gb HD in an ICY BOX enclosure, XP, firewire-access and motherboard doesn't support USB2 either.
The disc is still an active disc in my system managment and disc managment but I had no access to it. But NTSF/FAT32 isn't recognised ... A quick format solves the problem temporary. But the problem will occur again soon. I guess the problem is on a driver-level or BIOS-level, recognising the disc. If you find a solution u can mail me .. christianblock01@yahoo.com.