External HDD Help

[thedece]

I just got a new seagate 320GB SATA HDD installed into an enclosure which is compatible with eSATA and USB. When I hook up the hard drive into the USB port in my computer, I can hear the noise(ding-dong) but when I when to my computer, there is no drive there. I also check on disk management and it is not there also. Haven't try eSATA yet since I don't have a eSATA adaptor yet. Can anyone help me why my computer is not detecting my external HDD. Thanks.

 

[Mondoman]

It needs to be partitioned and formatted in order for Windows to recognize it. Not sure if any of the Windows tools will allow you to partition a USB drive. You may have to temporarily connect the drive to an onboard PATA connector to use the Windows tools.

 

[g-paw]

You should be able to format it by downloading the Set Up/Diagnostic software from Seagate, put it on floppy and boot from the floppy. You shouldn't have to partition the drive to set it up unless you want it partitioned.

 

[Mondoman]

Even if there's only 1 partition taking up the whole drive, it needs to be partitioned before formatting.

 

[TUB]

What OS are you running? I assume you already installed the drivers. If not, than you will need to install the drivers for the enclosure box (eSATA/USB) in order to work. Otherwise windows doesn't know what type of device it is. Make sure that the driver(s) support your operating system. Double check all the cables & connections inside the enclosure box. Sometimes window doesn't detect certain type of plug-n-play device(s) or was disable in the BIOS. Reboot the system with the external drive power "ON" connecting to the system.
If all the above fail than do this:

1) Remove the drive from the enclosure box and connect the drive directly to your motherboard SATA controller.

2) Reboot the system and go into the BIOS and check to see if the drive is working. If the BIOS see it, than you know its not the drive but the enclosure bridge that cause the problem or other driver issue with windows.

3) Other thing you might want to try and narrow down the problem is, put in a different drive (a working drive) into the enclosure box and see if it works. NOTE: Assuming that the drivers that came with your enclosure box is compatible with your OS.

NOTE: The majority of enclosure box (eSATA, USB, 1394a/b) is not as friendly as they advertised. Trust me, I've seen this type problems everyday. The problem is drive compatibility. They don't test the enclosure box (bridge) with every brands of drive out there. 95% of the time its not the drive but the enclosure bridge (circuit board) itself. I highly recommend buy from a brand name only or if not buy the whole complete external drive unit.

Good luck!

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Cheers! 8)

 

[KimLau]

Maybe just a problem usb wire? Change another one & try again.