SZ Won't Recognize ANY External HDs!

What gives??
I've tried 4 separate esternal USB hard drives that Windows XP is supposed to recognize without drivers...and my SZ 160 won't recognize ANY of them! It sees that they are plugged in initially, but it always searches for drivers and comes up empty.

All 4 of my other computers recognize them immediatele, yet the SZ won't handle them at ALL.

Any tips out there??
Very very troubling, as these are essential to on-the-road photography use with the SZ.

Hard drives tried:
-Western DigitalWD Passport 120GB USB drive
-8GB GigaBank from I/O Magic
-Others.
GRRR!!

Any thoughts??
Thanks,
Mark

 

Its not supposed to search for drivers...

Only suggestion reinstall Windows.

My Iomega 80GB External doesnt look for any driver...just works instantenously.

 

I've used my LaCie external 250GB with both USB and firewire connection, was never asked for a driver on the SZ160.
Both work well

 

I had something similar on my FE i just used a different USB port and it started working though it turned off my touchpad oddly.

 

Have you checked for the USB PNP registry flaw? Info on it is in one of the threads about doing a partial restore. I would look into that...

 

Yea, try this first before you do a reinstall. I had the same problem with the USB and this fix helped. Search for the Semi-reinstall by BlackG35.

 

I've had a very similar problem like this as i have 3 USB thumb drives and they all work fine, but I purchased a 500 gig Western Digital "MyBook" external drive and my laptop tells me it cannot find drivers

I need to find that USB PNP topic, hopefully that solves my problem

 

External hardrives work fine here.
OS is "out of the box", meaning I did NOT do a clean install of windows.

 

Yeah, on my post i forgot to mention i did a clean install using XP MCE

I thought the problem was Media Center related, but i tried the MyBook on my upstairs computer (also MCE) and that picked up the HD just fine, although there's an issue where when i copy stuff to it XP says "disk full" despite the fact there is 450 gigs free)

I also plugged in the HD to my work computer here (Win 2003 server) and it worked perfectly...

So my issue is definitely isolated to my SZ..... searching this forum for "USB PNP" isn't bringing up any helpfull topics

 

the usb pnp info is buried somewhere in the semi clean install thread IIRC.

 

I have this drive and have found that it only works with the short USB cable that came with the drive and only when plugged into the SZ USB port, not a powered hub. Same on my desktop, it will only work with the short cord. I think its a power problem with the drive. Other than that drive all others have worked out of the box for me, including all USB flash drives.

 

Oh man, I was going to buy this exact same external drive! Besides the fact that it won't work on your SZ, how do you like it? Let me know if you (or anyone else) gets this to work on the SZ!

Javier

 

For those having problems, are these clean XP installs of factory installed XP?

 

So here's the skinny on my troubles with this HD

- Work Computer (Dell Dual Xeon Win2k3 Server):
Works 100%

- Desktop at home (Self built AMD based, XP Media Center):
Picked it up as a HD when i plugged it in, but i cannot copy files to it, tells me "not enough space", which is b.s. as its 90% empty

- Here on the SZ (Clean install, XP Media Center):
Asks me for drivers, which there are none, WD tells me its a standard USB Mass Storage device, nothing additional needed


So in a few words: stay far faaar away from the MyBook

 

Ah hah!

Went into "Services" and "Mass Storage" was stopped and set to manual... fired it up, plugged in the WD... it recognized it, and i am able to copy to it

now to just figure out my desktop computer issues and I'm happy about my $250 purchase

 

Sweet! I'm glad you are enjoying your HD - now, where's my credit card?

Javier

 

Woo hoo!
After changing a line in the registry...ALL USB devices I plug in are now being recognised PERFECTLY!! Whoopeeeeee!

As to the Western Digital USB-powered 120GB drive... It is superb. Fast, quiet, and has a great housing that is some sort of "slip-resistant" rubber on the bottom. The thing absolutely WILL NOT slide off of surfaces, even at an angle. This is great for when you have no other surface but the laptop palm-rest itself...because it's not likely to slide off if bumped.

Highly recommend.
ALSO... Costco has the 120GB model for $149 right now.

My only complaint is that they don't have a simple fold-out USB connector built in, which would mean you dont have to carry the short USB cable around...but other than that, it's a great drive. I'm actually considering a second one. Also... It's 5400RPMs, meaning it spits out data as fast as the USB can carry it.

-Mark

 

Yes! That worked!!
ALL of my USB drives are recognised as they should be!!!
-Not only this drive, but the numerous OTHER USB devices that were giving me this same problem! I'll try to post a new thread with the fix, because this seems to be a common problem. The great news is...it super easy to fix.
Yahoooooooo!!!!

All is well in the world...
Thanks.
-Mark

 

I have a WD external & have tried everything to get XP to recognize it. I can't find you ever posted any new thread on this. PLEASE help me by telling me what you did in the registry or however to cause these plug & play devices to be recognized. My XP also will no longer recognize my Zen Vison MP3 despite numerous re-installs. I hope to hear from you.