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    External HDD not recognized

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by squelchy451, Jan 30, 2011.

  1. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

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    I bought a acomdata external hdd enclosure and a Western Digital 5400RPM hard drive. When I plug in the usb cord, the SATA to USB adapter that's part of the enclosure is recognized but not the hard drive. please help

    THank you
     
    squelchy451, Jan 30, 2011
    #1
  2. michael_recycled

    michael_recycled Notebook Deity

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    Hi,

    this external drive comes with AC adapter? If yes, then use it. If no, back to vendor for being defective by design.

    Michael
     
    michael_recycled, Jan 30, 2011
    #2
  3. Joel

    Joel coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

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    Yes, like Michael said, if it comes with an AC Adapter then plug it in, I have similar problems with my external HDD's too. (They don't require an AC Adapter though... Only 2 USB ports) If I only have 1 plugged in, it will detect the bridge, but not the drive, however once the other USB is plugged in it will detect it.

    Otherwise, like Michael said, return it.
     
    Joel, Jan 30, 2011
    #3
  4. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Was the hard drive formated out of the box? Tried looking for it in "disk management?"
     
    Johnny T, Jan 30, 2011
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  5. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

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    hey i tried disk management....the disk shows up there but all the space is marked as 'unallocated'

    Would making a partition be helpful? Thanks
     
    squelchy451, Jan 30, 2011
    #5
  6. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yup you just need to make a partition then it should show up in "computer". It's just unformatted right now. :)
     
    Johnny T, Jan 30, 2011
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  7. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    Yes.

    Make one Basic (not dynamic) partition that uses all available space on the drive. Once that is done, format that partition with an NTFS file system. That drive will now properly show up in My Computer, and allow you to save/copy files to that drive.
     
    kent1146, Feb 1, 2011
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  8. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks everyone my external HDD is working!
     
    squelchy451, Feb 5, 2011
    #8