use my old HDD as external drive via SATA/USB cable...some help please...

[lafite1968]

So I thought it was easy...turns out I need some help please...

I have a laptop hard drive hanging around unused after I replaced it with SSD. So today i got a connecting cable SATA & USB on each end, and connected to my laptop, trying to use this old internal drive as external storage or simply to backup my windows/ files.

My computer first detected and was installing device drivers, which appeared on lower right hand corner screen. Device manager also shows mass storage device. But somehow it does not showing in "My computer" screen where it usually shows C: drive, DVD or others. If i use usb to connect my another WD passport external drive with USB cable, it shows immediately. But not this good old internal drive.

Something I almost forgot to say, yeah, i erased everything on this old laptop hard drive. I thought when i plugged in, it should format or ask me to format?? Instead it was detected and driver was installing...

How do I get this works? Thanks ...

 

[SkyNetRising]

Can you post screenshot from Disk Management?

Generally may need to assign drive letter to your external drive.

 

[Rdslw]

Please give us connector you used, Issue might be with low power of USB 2.0, enough for ssd, but to low for HDD to spinup.
if you're using USB2.0 you need external power OR cable with dual connector (one for power one for data) like this:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1yIQmn3MPMeJjy1Xbq6AwxVXa4/2016-Nowy-USB-2-0-na-SATA-Serial-ATA-15-7-22-P-Adapter-Kabel-Do.jpg_640x640.jpg
Windows sometimes like to f**** up with drivers, you might want to connect and disconnect ~2-3 times 5 min each.
if it needs ~3 drivers it will install one EACH time you connect the device (don't ask me why). Important part, should work after few tries.


if you have 3.0 cable and 3.0 USB then connect to HDD first and usb later.
if you still have issue post HDD and connector models, we will get it from there.

 

[lafite1968]

@SkyNetRising :

Can you see this? :

Don't quite understand why it says unallocated?? Thanks

 

[SkyNetRising]

It seems you have cleaned your old drive.
For it to become usable again, you have to:

• 1. initialize the drive (right-click on disk1, choose initialize to MBR);
  2. Create a partition in unallocated space (format NTFS, quick);
  3. Assign drive letter to created partition.

That's it. After this your drive will be listed in "My computer" screen.

 

[lafite1968]

@Rdslw :

It has 2 usb tail on that end, both plugged to my laptop, as you indicated, 1 for power ; 1 for data, has 2 lights but i guess too bright when the photo shot was taken... thx

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

Actually, the reason some USB devices have dual plugs is that 1 plug is not always enough for power. USB always has both power and data simultaneously, but there are limits to how much each USB port can supply, so while 1 may perform the data functions, both are for power. 🙂

 

[lafite1968]

@SkyNetRising :

Yes, the data of old HDD was erased, cleaned up as you stated.

Ooops a little clarification needed here ...I got the MBR thing, but when I pointed my mouse at different section of disk 1 (right click mouse), i got these 2 instead of letting me format...

 

[SkyNetRising]

Choose "New simple volume".

 

[lafite1968]

@SkyNetRising :

Got it, it works....Thank you so much !

Also thanks to Rdslw and bigpinkdragon286,....

1 last question: if i plug this in with my another laptop for external storage as well, do I need to do this 1 more time with my 2nd laptop & 3rd desktop?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Nope. This is one time thing after cleaning the drive.
If you don't perform cleaning, then no need for repeated initialization/partition creation/formatting.

You may need to assign drive letter on a new pc though.

 

[lafite1968]

@SkyNetRising :

Thank You once again for yr help , truly appreciated !