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    Wheres my External Hard Drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by ozymandias, Dec 13, 2008.

  1. ozymandias

    ozymandias Notebook Consultant

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    This is kind of embarrassing that I need to ask this, but I can't find my new external hard drive to save stuff on it. Its not on my My Computer menu, but I can see it on the device manager. How to I put stuff on it? I'm using 64bit Windows Vista Business.
     
    ozymandias, Dec 13, 2008
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  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    go to the control panel, and click "add new hardware"
    the system will scan itself for any connected devices, and hopefully your harddrive becomes recognized.

    If that fails, try connecting it to another usb port.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Dec 13, 2008
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  3. PopRoxMimo3

    PopRoxMimo3 Notebook Deity

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    Is it a flash drive or an actual external hard drive?
    External hard drives sometimes have power switches, if they have power adapters. others can just run trough (powered by) the USB
     
    PopRoxMimo3, Dec 13, 2008
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  4. ozymandias

    ozymandias Notebook Consultant

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    It's powered by its USB connection. I don't know where it is on the add new Hardware list. I know the computer can recognize it because it shows up on the device manager, I just can't find the USB devices on my computer, they don't have a section on the my computer page like they did on XP. How do I find them?
     
    ozymandias, Dec 13, 2008
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  5. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

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    Right click My computer and choose manage and see if it is listed in the Disk management.may be it needs an initialization/formatting.
     
    The_Observer, Dec 13, 2008
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  6. malai5

    malai5 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is the external drive connected to a USB Hub?
    Is the Hub a powered Hub?

    Sometimes there is not enough power to fire up an external USB drive unless the Hub is a powered one.
    I had this problem. I was using the USB Hub unpowered for most everything else but when i connected my External HDD to it, my computer would see it but not connect to it. You know, it was not showing as a Drive in My Computer, or Computer if in Vista.
    Did this help?

    Cheers

    Malai5
     
    malai5, Dec 13, 2008
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  7. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    I second the above 2 posts.

    If that fails, try restarting the computer, trying a different USB port, (if switch) restart the Harddrive.

    If you can, try the HDD on another computer as well. ;)
     
    ahl395, Dec 13, 2008
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  8. ozymandias

    ozymandias Notebook Consultant

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    Figured it out. I forgot to format the HDD, sorry for the trouble.
     
    ozymandias, Dec 13, 2008
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  9. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    Oh, good. :)

    Although, i cant belive any of us (inc. me) didnt think of that. :p

    Thats ok. :)
     
    ahl395, Dec 13, 2008
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