Hi again...
I've purchased SEAGATE FREEAGENT 500GB HDD 4 months before. on that time i've installed the driver and it worked nicely but last week my pc got some problem so i formatted and reinstalled my os(xp sp2), now my problem is my pc doesn't detect my external HDD after that, for that i've download the driver and installed, after that too my pc does not detect my external HDD... How to resolve my problem??? Help indeed....
Thanks in advance....

Reformatting is ALWAYS the last resort because not only might you end up months or even years behind in security updates, but you loose all the special hardware drivers for your on-board and added hardware. Did you install the drivers for your motherboard from your motherboard utilities disk or motherboard maker's website? Do other devices plugged into the same computer port work?

Thanks Digerati....
i"ve installed my motherboard cd after installing os and i connected the external HDD in the same port eventhough it doesn't detect.....
How to make it detect???? I'm terrible disturbed since i bought that HDD few months b4 only.... Resolve my problem...

I would try another port. Try your drive on another machine. Try a different device on your machine. Maybe then we will have a clue as to what is happening.

Thanks digerti...

As u said i tried that HDD with my dell laptop with vista...
The same porblem there too(doesn't detect).....
Wat can i do now???

Oh,Oh. Its starting to sound like whatever made you reformat Windows somehow affected your Seagate ext. hard drive also. Does it at least light up when you plug it in? Does bios/cmos see it when it is plugged in and detect it as a secondary hard drive? Like Digerati said, Does usb port on your machine detect like a flash drive or printer? Its not looking good for the seagate.

Just a thought here, maybe the files on the hardrive are now unrecognizeable by Windows because of whatever borked your previous install of Windows. Just a thought. Although I don't know why Windows wouldn't recognize the hard drive itself.

If you don't see a new USB device on either computer, then I would suspect the device, in this case, the enclosure, or the drive within. You might have to open the enclosure, pull and install that drive in another enclosure or computer.

Does it at least light up when you plug it in?

Right. And does that enclosure use an external power source? [The obvious...] - are the connections tight and secure?

Thanks degerati..

ya the LED indication in that HDD glows when i swith it poweron but my system doesn't detect it like an flashdrive too... waiting for ur reply....

i tried that HDD with my dell laptop with vista...
The same porblem there too(doesn't detect).....

my system doesn't detect it like an flashdrive too

Then you may have two or more problems. If your HDD does not work on other computers, then something is wrong there.

If your flashdrive does not work on your computer, then the flashdrive may be bad, or the computer. WARNING! If something drastic happened, some physical damage, or component failure, it is possible anything you plug into that pair of ports may be damaged as well! This might be a time to take it to a shop where they can get some trained eyes on it and they are responsible for any collateral damage.

Does the computer work fine otherwise? Do other USB ports work?

Hi degerti...

My system and flashdrive are all working fine...
My usb port is also good and working fine..
Eventhough Seagate HDD is not detecting..
What ll be the problem?? I've some important datum in that.. How can i backup those datum??? Pls help me to get out of this problem.....