The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Installing HD enclosure with 64-bit Vista

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009.

  1. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I am trying to connect an HD enclosure to my laptop - HP dv7 with 64-bit Vista - but although it installed the drivers successfully, the computer freezes every time I turn on the enclosure.

    Anything special I should be doing?

    Thanks.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009
    #1
  2. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

    Reputations:
    1,654
    Messages:
    5,955
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Tried turning the enclosure power on first before connecting to your notebook?

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Jul 16, 2009
    #2
  3. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    What enclosure are you using, and how does it connect to the computer - USB, firewire, eSATA?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 16, 2009
    #3
  4. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's Nexstar-3 External 3.5 Enclosure with USB 2.0
     
    ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009
    #4
  5. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I did that but it didn't work. I even tried to restart the computer with the enclosure turned on but no luck.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009
    #5
  6. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Something weird: If I am looking at the "Computer" window, it doesn't show the enclosure drive there. But if I turn off the enclosure, it shows the drive "F" for a couple of seconds then it goes away!

    Any idea what it going on?
     
    ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009
    #6
  7. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

    Reputations:
    1,654
    Messages:
    5,955
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I would try another cable first.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Jul 16, 2009
    #7
  8. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Update: The HD inside the enclosure is listed under "Device Manager", but not accessible in the "computer" window.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 16, 2009
    #8
  9. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Did you follow all of the instructions in the user manual for setting it up, including properly installing the hard drive in the enclosure and setting the jumpers on the hdd?
     
    Shyster1, Jul 16, 2009
    #9
  10. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah, and furthermore, I tried every possible position of the jumpers.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 17, 2009
    #10
  11. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    And I assume you were trying to plug it into one of your USB ports, correct?
     
    Shyster1, Jul 17, 2009
    #11
  12. ntheo

    ntheo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Not sure if this will help but when I first got my external, it wouldn't show up until I reformatted under the computer management and gave it a drive letter.

    If you have an external with data on it, then that wouldn't work.. ;)
     
    ntheo, Jul 17, 2009
    #12
  13. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes, I have important data on it that I want to access.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 17, 2009
    #13
  14. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes, that's correct!
     
    ricksaint, Jul 17, 2009
    #14
  15. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    468
    Messages:
    1,369
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Try the enclosure without a drive in it? Try a different enclosure? Try a different drive in that enclosure? Try a different USB port? USB enclosures are pretty universally recognized these days, so my moneys on a bad enclosure or bad drive.
     
    olyteddy, Jul 18, 2009
    #15
  16. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Go to Start, Right Click "Computer", and click "Manage".

    Clikc "Disk Management" and see if it shows up there. You might be able to assign a drive letter to it there.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 18, 2009
    #16
  17. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Already tried that: it doesn't show up there. :mad:
     
    ricksaint, Jul 18, 2009
    #17
  18. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Have you tried using a different cable or a different enclosure yet?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 18, 2009
    #18
  19. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    At this point, it's probably time to send that puppy (the enclosure, that is :D) back for a refund or a replacement.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 18, 2009
    #19
  20. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The funny thing is that it worked fine with my old laptop (HP dv6 using XP), but I sold it.
     
    ricksaint, Jul 18, 2009
    #20
  21. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    How long ago did you use it last? With all due respect, enclosures are pretty simple devices, so if your current computer isn't picking it up, and the USB port you plugged it into otherwise works (e.g., you stick a USB stick drive in there and it works fine), then odds are the enclosure has become defective.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 18, 2009
    #21
  22. ricksaint

    ricksaint Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well, it does always show up in Device Manager, and it shows up for a couple of seconds in the "Computer" window when I turn off the power to the enclosure. :confused: :confused:
     
    ricksaint, Jul 19, 2009
    #22
  23. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    It still sounds like it's buggy to me.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 19, 2009
    #23