SimpleDrive External Hard Drive

If you have a SimpleTech SimpleDrive connected to your computer and you're experiencing problems with the external hard drive, there may be several reasons why it's malfunctioning. Troubleshooting your computer can help rule out common problems and the possibility that the hard drive may be defective. If you recently purchased the device and suspect there is something wrong with it, return the defective drive to SimpleTech or the reseller for a replacement. Incompatible USB Port Problems SimpleTech SimpleDrive plug and play options makes it easy for you to connect the device to your computer. But you may encounter problems if your computer's USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports are not compatible with the external hard drive. Make sure your ports are powerful enough to operate the drive. USB 2.0 ports are recommended, but if you're using an older computer with 1.0 ports, the hard drive will function much slower or you may receive an error message that the device is not compatible with your system. b> Missing External Drive Letter If you're unable to find the SimpleTech external hard drive's letter on your desktop after you have installed the drivers for the device, it's possible that the external drive may be assigned to another drive. Sometimes, the hard drive is assigned to a network drive and you may need to manually change the drive's letter in Disk Management. b> SimpleTech SimpleDrive Incorrectly Formatted b> SimpleTech SimpleDrive is normally pre-formatted for Windows NTFS (New Technology File System), but Mac users may need to copy the backup software and reformat the external hard drive for FAT32 or Mac OS to be able to use the external drive. If the external hard drive is not formatted correctly for your system, it may not function or work properly. b> External Hard Drive Inaccessible If you receive an error message that says "Drive Inaccessible," the SimpleTech SimpleDrive may not be able to read the service area of the platter. If the external hard drive emits a loud or abnormal sound, this could mean the device is failing.
Test the drive on another computer to see if it is working properly. Otherwise, the external hard drive's surface area may be damaged or corrupted.
Replacing a Defective Hard Drive You can return a defective hard drive that is under warranty to SimpleTech. The manufacturer will exchange the device if the seal is not broken. But if you break or tear the seal on the case, any warranty claims will not be accepted and the device will be returned back to you. SimpleTech will only accept the device if you contracted a commercial data recovery company to retrieve critical data from the external hard drive and the seal needed to be broken. Before returning the defective drive, you will need to secure a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) approval number from SimpleTech and furnish any invoices or documentation regarding the data recovery company's services
or if its a usb external drive you might need a usb 3 card installed on your computer your computer might not have enough usb output power USB 3 card will provide more power when needed to the device to gain maximum throughput and conserve power when the device is connected but is idling http://blog.premiumusb.com/2010/09/usb-2-0-vs-usb-3-0/ these can be purchased on Ebay cheap and easy to install http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PCI-e-PCI-Express-USB3-0-Card-new-NEC-720200AF1-chipset-/330608109325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf9c7670d for roughly $9 or $10free postage Hope this helps.

if your using windows just right click on the drive and select format. in mac go to disk utility and select drive. choose erase and erase drive using either fat32 if you want read/write support for windows or just format as mac journal

Apple will recognize a FAT 32 format. Connect the drive to another machine - a PC. Copy your data to this computer, format the drive to FAT32, copy your data back and it chould be accessable to the MAC system again.

The external hard disk must be formated in a file system that both the pc and the mac can use - best is FAT32. In your case the file system that the mac put on the disk is incompatible with the pc.
Make sure the files you want to move are still on the mac (if not copy them back from the disk), plug the disk in the pc and format it there in FAT32 (don't use the quick option), plug it in the mac and copy the files and unmount the disk before disconnecting it from the USB connector. Now you can put it in the pc - in there always use the Safely disconnect icon, don't just yank out the cable.

go to simptec site and try to expean you rproblem they will help

there site is

http://www.simpletech.com/commercial/products/simpledriveexternalpininfarina.html

try pluging it in then go to device manager and click scan for hardware changes

If you unplug the power and USB cables from the drive (but not the computer), plug in the power and then plug in the drive, the Mac will remount the drive on the desktop. I am having the same issue, only my old HDD used to be my TimeMachine drive and now I want my SimpleTech drive for that. The issue is that when the SimpleTech drive disappears, OS X automatically uses my old HDD for TimeMachine and all my disk space vanishes.

Very ARRGH!!!

I'm trying to find a better solution, because having to mess with the cables means it's no good for TimeMachine... and very frustrating on top of it.

You probably have to initialize and/or format the drive.

Right click my computer and click Manage (assuming windows xp)

Go to disk management

See if you see the drive listed somewhere there. Should show approximately 950gb disk drive

If so right click that drive listed and choose either format, or create partition.

If you create the parttiion, make sure to click quick format, otherwise it will take a long time.

Hope this helps

A Purchased Externa HD should be formatted for PC 32bit therefore readable univerally in any PC system but it will not read in a Mac. The would have to be formatted for Mac and will then only read in a Mac. So you decided where you want the drive to go .PC or Mac and we will take it from there