I try to connect external HDD hatachi 160 cannot detect.System used xp.

RESOLVED the ISSUE...!!

Hi, Yesterday I get into similar problem of having my USB Drive ( WD passport Elite 320gb ) not being detected by my PC and as soon as I connect to it, Initio Combo device class drivers gets loaded and Drive do not show up in the device list...!!
I tried several options.1. Freezed my hard drive for 12 hrs in the freezer. It did not help me today.2. I have opened the USB drive shell ( becareful, I have damaged it.. see the instructions before you try t ). You can find the 2.5' HDD inside and there will be SATA to USB bridge adapter. I was having doubt on this bridge unit as I read through several blogs.3. luckily I have a unused 2.5' Laptop HDD. So I have removed this bridge unit carefully and tried to connect to my HDD. If the bridge is good, my HDD must be detected right away..But it is the same problem.. It did not work.. Hence I have confirmed that it is the bridge problem..
4. I bought a Rs. 250/- ( 5$ ) 2.5 SATA casing that is available in the market to use the 2.5' SATA HDD through USB. ( actually I do not know where I can buy only the bridge..hence bought the entire unit..which is still cheaper )
5. From the new unit, I have the USB to SATA bridge, which I have connected to my WD HDD SATA USB hard drive... Bingo.........It is detected by OS and I have started copying my important data immediately...
6. This Unit comes with a casing ..hence you may continue using this case... But some units may not fit well..still the bridge is usable..!!



I GOT all my data..with just Rs.250/- ( $5 ) ..I am happy to try this on my own..!!


Good luck with your drive..!!

Hello
first install windows again with Service pack 3 and try it its working and change your HDD USB Cable.

Your USB ports may be version 1.1

You need a USB "Y" cable.
The USB Y cable uses two USB ports on your laptop and the third plugs into the external HDD.

Check RadioShack or maybe the vendor has a USB Y cable.

This will work!

hi ,

looks like u primary hard drive is inside the laptop and so should be displayed as c : drive ,

and the reason , the external hard drive is not displayed seperately is csue ., the external HD  may be added as slave to the internal HD .,

can u tell me ,make a right click on c:/ drive and choose properties : and tell the totalsize dispalyed 

My External HDD of Western Digital (500 GB) not detecting by Win-XP SP-2. But at the same machine another External HDD of Western Digital (160 GB) is detecting and functioning well.
What is the problem? & what to do to get back my necessary files stored in the 500 GB HDD.
Can any one help me, please? URGENT.My External HDD of Western Digital (500 GB) not detecting by Win-XP SP-2. But at the same machine another External HDD of Western Digital (160 GB) is detecting and functioning well.
What is the problem? & what to do to get back my necessary files stored in the 500 GB HDD.
Can any one help me, please? URGENT.

Hi,
After plugging ur HDD, verify the device is detected or not in Device manager and Try Partitioning Again GUI mode (means in XP).. or follow the steps..

1- Go to Computer Management, Click Disk Management
2 - You will find you External HDD in the Right side
3 - Just Right Click the Drive, if it asks Initialize HDD, just Initialize and Create Partition as u like.

Have Fun
- Rajkumar

If the drive is corrupted the data is useless.

it seems that your computer might have a SATA hard drive which could not be detectable by windows xp, try to install vista it will detect it easily.

otherwise use dm (disk manager) for detection and partition.

hi kiran,
If you are using Windows 98 then you have to istalled driver for your external USB HDD.

If you are using Windows XP/Vista then the masstorage drivers for USB HDD is allready installed in your system, as it comes with the OS.
Some time due to conflict or bad contact your system might not read the USB devices:

• Be sure that switch is on (if there is any switch in USB HDD).
• Try to check the connection.
• Try in different USB port.
• Also check the USB cable is good.

If still no success try to use in another system and let me know your feed back.

Thanks
Iqbal