External Hard Disk

[compnovice]

I was trying to hook my Western Digital hard disk to my laptop (in Ultra 3.5" HD enclosure) via USB.

Windows does not recognize the hardware when I have the jumper in either Master or Slave position. When I remove the jumper (Single mode) the laptop does detect an external USB device.

However, when I try to format it by using; My Computer --> Manage --> Unallocated Disk ,
the New Partition tab is grayed out and I am unable to proceed further.

Am I doing something wrong?

UPDATE:

Finally backed up my data, Here's how to do it:

-- New Western Digital HD no jumper.
-- Connect enclosure to USB (Note the disk won't appear in My computer)
-- My Computer (Right Click) --> Manage --> Disk Management --> Disk (unallocated)

-- If the Disk (unallocated) has a red icon, right click near the icon and say initialize.
-- Now right click on the right pane where it says unallocated.
-- Click on New Partition and proceed to create a Primary or Extended partition according to your needs.
-- Back up your data!!

 

[robisbell]

okay, is this a WD external disk system or are you using a generic enclosure and a WD drive?

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: robisbell
okay, is this a WD external disk system or are you using a generic enclosure and a WD drive?

Generic enclosure (Ultra 3.5" USB) with WD hard disk...

 

[robisbell]

okay, the enclosure what did it say to jumper the hdd as?

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: robisbell
okay, the enclosure what did it say to jumper the hdd as?

Master, but my laptop does not recognize the device when I set it to master (Dual).

Also, this (external) drive does not have an OS. The enclosure does have its own power.

 

[robisbell]

sounds like you need to check the drive in a pc to make sure, but I bet it's the enclosure.

 

[compnovice]

Finally backed up my data, Here's how:

-- New Western Digital HD no jumper.
-- Connect enclosure to USB (Note the disk won't appear in My computer)
-- My Computer (Right Click) --> Manage --> Disk Management --> Disk (unallocated)

-- If the Disk (unallocated) has a red icon, right click near the icon and say initialize.
-- Now right click on the right pane where it says unallocated.
-- Click on New Partition and proceed to create a Primary or Extended partition according to your needs.
-- Back up your data!!