USB hard drive issue

[BlindBartimaeus]

have a usb case and I put a laptop drive in and windows recognizes it in the device manager but it does not show up anywhere. Originally I had another Laptop hard drive in there but it died. I thought it would be simple plug and play but it won't show up so I can't format/use it.

Suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

Any external harddrive must have an external power source - especially on a laptop. The USB port power can't handle the load. Most 2.5" externals have a 5 vdc module that takes care of that.

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

I have used a 5V adapter and it still does not work

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

Additionally I have gotten through the other hoops but now I get write failures unless it is a small transfer. I have 2 usb plugs that go to the back of the case and put a 5.9 volt adapter powering it...very strange. I ran the WD diagnostics on it and came back good.

 

[corkyg]

Try this - go into Device Manager, and Properties for that particular drive, and select Policies. The select Optimize for Quick Removal as opposed to performance. This turns off write caching and should eliminate the delayed write errors.

Sounds like it could be a settings problem in Windows. Can you try a different USB port? Change the drive letter?

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

How would I change the drive letter?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: BlindBartimaeus
How would I change the drive letter?

Control Panel/Admin. Tools/Computer Mgt/Disk Mgt. Pick an unused letter.