External hard drive enclosure not recognized by win xp

[sohcrates]

Anyone else have a Bytecc or similar 3.5 inch external HDD?

just got it, put a new hard disk in it, but when i connect the usb winxp doesn't find it.

all drivers are installed (though it shouldn't technically need drivers)

hard disk is unpartitioned and unformatted since it's new, but apparently it *should* show up at least enough that i can go to disk management and partition / format it there.

could it be defective?

thanks for any help

 

[sohcrates]

bump

 

[Texun]

I had this problem once. Had to format the drive in the PC and then reinstall it in the external box. Worked like a charm after that.

 

[Firus]

I have the Bytecc external you talk about. Dumb question, but is it turned on? Does xp recognize something on teh USB port, just not the hard drive, or not the USB at all?

 

[sohcrates]

Originally posted by: Firus
I have the Bytecc external you talk about. Dumb question, but is it turned on? Does xp recognize something on teh USB port, just not the hard drive, or not the USB at all?

when i plug the enclosure in w/ no hard drive attached, pc sees "new usb device" and installs drivers...then says "there was an error". but i assume that "error" is the fact that there's no hard drive attached.

i partitioned and formatted the drive in my computer, then put it back in the enclosure, but now when i turn it on (with usb and power attached) it doesn't seem to detect anything usb being attached. isn't that weird?

thanks for any help

p.s. Firus, did you format through usb or format in your computer first? how big is your hard drive in the enclosure?

 

[Don66]

you might check to see if the ide connecting cable is pluged in tight and in the right direction.

 

[tcrosson]

Have you tried turning the unit on and then plugging in the USB cable? That's the only way I can get my Zip drive to work reliabely.

 

[sohcrates]

hmmm...good suggestions. i know the ide cable is plugged in ok. i will try turning it on first, then plugging in usb cable. thanks

 

[cowsclaw]

im having the same problem. anyone know how to fix this?

i have the me-320us. if someone else has it, could you please PM me and let me know the name of the driver that it should be using?

 

[Arcanedeath]

I would suggest formating the drive first then putting it into the enclosure, make sure the enclosure is pluged in and on and then plug it into your PC, do not hook up the enclosure to your PC w/out a drive, you should then be able to go into disk managment and assign a drive letter to your external HDD if it's working correctly (this is assuming you are using an NT based OS)