Hi

I have read all posts regarding external hard drive problems but still haven't been able to get mine working. I have a PC running Windows XP with SP2. I connected my hard drive through the USB 2 Port and it was recognised, then I found it wasn't showing in My Computer went in to Manage and it showed briefly. I allocated a drive letter and it has nver been seen since. Now when I try and install, Plug and Play recognise it and then says there has been a problem and it may not work. Device manager shows the exclamation mark, I have uninstalled and re-installed as advised but still no luck. I get an error message Code 10 saying this device cannot start. Any ideas please. Please bear in mind I am not very clever with computers!!!!! Thanks

Is it a new drive? If so you need to format it via Disk Management.

Are you sure all of your USB ports are 2.0?

What type of hard drive is it? SATA? IDE/ATA?

Do you know if the speed is compatible with your motherboard?

I would plug it into an USB 2.0 port with the computer OFF.

If it is recognized on boot then go directly to Disk Management and format the drive (assuming it is new).

Do not assign a letter. Just choose Format... NTFS.

Hi thanks for reply

No it is not a new drive but there was no problem when it was an internal drive. I am happy to format it but it does not show up on boot - I tried to do as you said and it was not recognised.

Yes my USB ports are 2.0

Hard drive is IDE

Don't know about the speed how do I tell?

It has shown up in another PC

Thanks

If you want it to show up (In windows XP especially) you need to assign a drive letter once it has been formatted or it will not be recognized as anything more than a storage device. You also need to be sure Windows has all of the updates.

Thank you for getting back on this ongoing problem - I still haven't solved it despite the length of time. I am at a loss to know how to format the drive as it doesn't show up anywhere - maybe you can help on that. I appreciate I'm a novice on such matters.. The USB ports are working well for other things, I have checked and the jumpers and all seems well - any other suggestions would be welcome

Sorry if I let this slip away but if it does not appear in Disk Magement there is nothing to do save try and find out why not.

If your USB devices do work the Plug and Play should be on.

Can you still verify this drive works on other computers?

Also go into Services and verify that Plug and Play as well as Universal Plug and Play are set to automatic or manual.

Start > Run... > services.msc

Thanks Jephree

I am stuck at present regarding trying on another computer being confined to house due to on-going heart problems (awaiting an op). Will have to wait for someone with a laptop to appear - hopefully within the next few weeks. With regards both Plug and Play are set to mannual. should it be automatic and if so how do I change it?

Incidentally I wasn't having a moan because you hadn't followed it up - I had just thought there was no answer to the problem. It was only when someone else popped up after all this time that I replied and you picked it up.

Many thanks

The default for XP is that Plug and Play is Automatic

Whereas Universal plug and play is Manual.


In order to change settings right click on the service and choose Properties.

There you will have the option to change settings.

Thanks I have altered that but to no avail - I guess I shall just have to accept the h/d is u/s.

I have plugged another external h/d into the usb port and it is working fine.

Perhaps I should put the troublesome one into my pc to see if it works there

Many thanks for your help

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

After hours and hours trying to find an answer to my problem, I stumbled upon your posts and to my complete amazement, your suggestion worked. I have a WD My Book Home Edition and could not get it to show up anywhere on my computer after owning it for over a year. I figured I must have ruined it somehow. Just when I was about to give up hope and send it in for a replacement, I found your answer.

I just can't thank you all enough. The turning off and unplugging process worked. I really did not expect it to but sure enough, I looked it up and there it was!!! I tried it unplugging it before but not in that order so it did not work for me. Your way worked, so thanks!

I could just kiss you all! I had to take time to post a reply. You just made me a very happy lady. Have a great day!