My 2.5" PATA hard drive won't work in an external enclosure

[mercanucaribe]

I've tried two enclosures, and it worked in neither, but was fine in the laptop I pulled it from. The device shows up in control panel, and a drive appears in explorer, but its size is 0. It shows up in Disk Management as a removable disk but says "No Media".

 

[xtremeskier97]

Have you tried partitioning and formatting it before putting it in the enclosure?

Also, what format are you using? Dont some enclosures only allow certain formats?

 

[corkyg]

Try connecting a power source - i.e., look for a small hole in the external case where you can connect a second USB cable as a power adapter. I use 2.5 externals all the time, and in most cases, they require external power to be "seen."

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Try connecting a power source - i.e., look for a small hole in the external case where you can connect a second USB cable as a power adapter. I use 2.5 externals all the time, and in most cases, they require external power to be "seen."

:thumbsup:

 

[mercanucaribe]

Both enclosures I've tried have two USB plugs, so I don't think power is the problem. I've tried both a desktop and a laptop, so it's not that only one port gets enough juice. The drive is formatted with NTFS.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe Both enclosures I've tried have two USB plugs, so I don't think power is the problem. I've tried both a desktop and a laptop, so it's not that only one port gets enough juice. The drive is formatted with NTFS.

Not talking about the USB connectors - I'm referring to the small hole where a pin power connector goes. Here are 3 different 2.5" cases - USB and FW combos - note the small holes where you insert a pin connector that comes from a 5 vdc source. The other end can be a PS2, USB, or "briquette."

2.5 power

 

[mercanucaribe]

I know what you're talking about, but these cases don't have power connectors.

 

[corkyg]

Right - then get one that does. Never buy an external case without a power port. The "no media" message is telling you that the drive is not spinning up - that is due to insufficient power.

Have you tried using a powered hub?

 

[mercanucaribe]

The drive spins up and keeps spinning, so if that is an indicator that it's getting enough power, then I guess that's not the problem.

I have a powered hub, but I don't have a 5V AC adapter with that plug .

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribeI have a powered hub, but I don't have a 5V AC adapter with that plug .

In that case, it really isn't powered. Darn - I have a couple of extra ones. What brand of hub?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think that's it. I assume two USB ports on the PC should be able to supply the power. Still, I can jury rig a connection, if I can find the right connector. The hub is a Belkin and the port looks about the size of the adapter Nokia phones use. Hmmmmm