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Jaz
February 20th, 2006, 18:09
Probably a newbie question knowing me, but I'm stuck.

I recently bought a 3.5 External HDD Case so I could use my old HDD from my old computer on my new PC as external memory via USB. I've put the HDD into the case, and it powers up alright and XP recognises the device with the "USB device activated sound", but then nothing happens and the device is not visible from My Computer.

Then after about a minute, XP plays the "USB device disconnected sound".

The HDD in the case has come straight out of my old PC, should I of formatted it first? Is this why XP won't recognise it as external memory? Or should it recognise it anyway?

Cheers in advance, you geeks. ;)
Falcon4ever
February 21st, 2006, 13:18
How about pluggin in the external power adapter... 3.5 hdd cases can't live without them. only 2.5 can ;)
Blacklord
February 21st, 2006, 16:12
Just like diffrent partitions man. There should be a maxtor sofware which can help.
Simplified for complete geeks(like u:P nah just kidding)--->When u slip ur hardisk in 2 pieces the comp only sees the 1 piece. To see the 2 piece u need a special dos progam. Don't ask me where to get it couse i'll be dammed if i know XD.
zAlbee
February 21st, 2006, 19:40
Blacklord -- wtf? that made no sense.
Jaz
February 21st, 2006, 23:17
How about pluggin in the external power adapter... 3.5 hdd cases can't live without them. only 2.5 can ;)

I'm not that much of a noobie!
Slougi
February 22nd, 2006, 08:39
Do you have another hard drive to test with?
Niggy G
February 22nd, 2006, 10:17
I get problems with external devices if the drive mapping is already used. i.e my PSP is connected then i try to connect my external hard drive that also wants to be d:

But your problem sounds different. Have you changed the pins on the back of your drive?
Jaz
February 23rd, 2006, 17:07
But your problem sounds different. Have you changed the pins on the back of your drive?

Now you've lost me.

Am I going to have to take photos? ;)
Niggy G
February 24th, 2006, 10:54
There should be a little plastic jumper that fits onto two pins on the back of the hard disk. When I started using my external hard disk I had to change the jumper settings to 'Master' (the instructions for which setting is master should be on the top of the hard disk). Try changing this...

but im still not confident this is the problem either.
blizz
February 24th, 2006, 11:37
I just shoved an old HD in an Icy Box last night. You'll need to change the pins setting from slave/cable select to master. (Normally there's a sticker on top of the hd showing the pin configuration to get set the HD up as master).
Jaz
February 27th, 2006, 13:10
I just shoved an old HD in an Icy Box last night. You'll need to change the pins setting from slave/cable select to master. (Normally there's a sticker on top of the hd showing the pin configuration to get set the HD up as master).

Mate, you're a legend.

All working now.

Remind me to buy you a beer next time I'm in London. :)