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General discussion

western digital external hd no longer recognized

Aug 19, 2006 10:30AM PDT

I recently got a SimpleTech 160GB external hard drive (model #96300-4001-001) to replace the Western Digital 80GB external (model #WD800B008-RNN) that I had managed to fill up. When I connected the Simpletech drive, I couldn't access the WD drive. I shut down and disconnected the SimpleTech drive and started up again, but the WD drive was no longer recognized. Everytime I connect the WD drive, windows (XP) gives me a USB Device Not Recognized message and lists the drive as an unknown device on a 6 port USB hub (it's not connected to a hub). I thought this might be an issue with the drivers installed on my machine so I've hooked it up to others with the same results. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drive in the device manager and running WD's diagnostic software (as was recommended by their tech support) to no avail.

Is there anything I can do to get the drive to be recognized again?

Discussion is locked

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try this
Aug 20, 2006 8:14AM PDT

Remove the drive from of its case
Connect it as secondary internal HD (slave)

Go to DISK MANAGEMENT
Right-click on the HD and select PROPERTIES
Click the TOOLS tab
Click the CHECK NOW button
Check both options and start the scan

If successful, install the HD in the external case.

* * * * *

Before you use any USB drives, make sure that XP has SP2 and Windows Update shows that XP is fully updated.

Always unmount external USB drives using the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon down by your clock.

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questions
Aug 20, 2006 8:20AM PDT

What is your computer model name?
Are you connecting to front or rear USB ports (some have more power than others)?
Have you tried other ports (some may be USB1.1 and others USB 2.0)?