External HDD I have a 2.5" HItachi 80GB that is enclosed in a aluminum usb HDD case. The connector is a USB Y cable. It is suppose to be compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1. I am running windows xp home on my pc and there is suppose to be no need to install anything for this drive to work. It is suppose to be plug n play but my PC does not recognize it when I plug it in and I have tried all USB ports. When the HDD is plugged in the green light does come on but it is not showing up in my computer nor does the PC recognize it as new hardware. It is a brand new HDD which was functioning well in da beginning but doesnt detect now.I also tried the 2 USB method of jacking both the USB Y jacks in two different USBs in regrads with the power surge however it still gives the same problem. What am I doing wrong and how can I fix it or install it so it works

Check the jumper settings of the IDE hard drive you have in the enclosure for compatibility in your setup. (Choices are Master, Slave and Cable Select).

problem with IDE -USB connector.It needs replacement or it is not compatible with win7

i have a Hitachi external USB hard disk 320 GB it was working fine at may laptop but when i tried using it with the computer ; the windows cannot detect the USB Drive . i tried it with 2 computer . but its still the same .pleas help i badly need my files

1) Power:

It may be the problem that occurs with a lot of USB powered devices jrherrer. Not enough power provided.

The USB cable plugged into the computer, provides signal wires for transferring information back, and forth, and also provides 5 Volts DC for power. (Two D cell flashlight batteries produce 3 Volts DC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

[ Below shows the Signal pins, and the Voltage pins of the USB B Mini style connector, (Male), used to connect to the SimpleDrive Mini external harddrive,

Pin 1 is for the 5 Volts DC Positive (Wire color - Red)
Pin 2 is for the D- Signal (Wire color - White)
Pin 3 is for the D+ Signal (Wire color - Green)
Pin 4 is not connected. (Or sometimes joined to Pin 5 with a Resistor)
Pin 5 is for the Ground (Wire color - Black)

Just added info in case you wanted to know ]

From what I see the SDM/250RW has a USB port on the side, and a DC Power Jack, used for an AC adapter, also.
(Round port with a pin in the center)

http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/0C876B7AB91B23988825773F006BEA02/$file/SD_Mini_DS_final.pdf


From what I see stated from Hitachi, and sellers on the 'net, the AC adapter may not be provided.
Many of those who provide a review state that both the USB cable, and the AC adapter is needed to provide enough power. Seems to be a power hungry external harddrive

It's a 2.5 Hitachi SATA laptop harddrive inside that external case. (The Harddrive is 2 and a half inches across in Width. Common size used for laptops)

When using an external device powered by a USB cable there are general guidelines to follow,
A) The USB cable should not be more than 2 feet in length
B) Connect the device directly to your computer, instead of through a hub, or other device, unless the USB hub has it's own power.


2) USB cable:

Could be a faulty USB cable, although I imagine you have tried different ones by now.


3) Interface Circuit Board:

The Hitachi SATA 2.5 harddrive inside the SImpleDrive Mini SDM/250RW, plugs into a small circuit board located inside that external case.

Components on the circuit board may be fried, or the Harddrive may have come loose from the interface.

Loose from the interface
To explain;
The back of the harddrive has connector pins sticking out.
The interface has socket holes which the pins insert into.

Faulty circuit board
The external case of the SimpleDrive Mini SDM/250RW can be carefully opened up, and the Hitachi SATA 2.5 harddrive extracted out.

Another inexpensive external case for a 2.5 SATA harddrive can be procured, and the Hitachi harddrive put in it.

Example of a 2.5 SATA external enclosure,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3743049&CatId=2781

Sometimes the drives pull too much current to start. I understand that it worked in the other caes, but the electronics in this case may be pulling more.

Usually they come with a two-headed USB connector. Try putting the single end in the drive and use two USB ports on the other end. This doubles the current available to the drive.

You need the following


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/External-USB-2-0-2-5-SATA-HDD-Hard-Disk-Case-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ320419271720QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item4a9a7a1428&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5-IDE-Aluminum-Hard-Drive-HDD-HD-External-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ400070866376QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item5d2614f5c8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-3-5-USB-2-0-External-Hard-Drive-Case-HDD-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ170377549189QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item27ab4b1585&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Please note the links are an example only.

If you plug it in and it does not appear, it may be choosing the wrong drive letter.
If that drive letter is already in use it will not appear.

Open the start menu, right click on my computer, then choose manage.
Select (on the left) Disk Management.

If it appears in there.
Find the thumbdrive in the list and right-click and choose 'Assign a new drive letter' . Make it like M or somthing far down in the alphabet.

If that does not appear under the disk management then the disk might be physically damaged.

An urban myth (which does sometimes work) includes putting the drive in the freezer for a day or so.

Also remember it might be somthing as simple as a bad cable or port on the computer. Try to access it with a new cable from a diffrent computer.

pls remove the hard disk from enclouser and plug direct to sata port and check if run well.
if not pls check with bios detection, if enclouser is good and hard is bad, there was no detection with usb port.

Ok,Download software for recover your data from Memory Card, Phone, HDD or any other Storage Device ----
Download from the following link ------

http://www.dasofts.com/software/3675-recover-my-files-3.98-build-6218.html


Note- this software is works only with windows operating system so, connect your Memory Card, Phone, HDD or any other Storage Device to computer to recover data.



For any other help contact me.



Thanks

You may not have installed the HDD correctly in the case... I had the same problem with my Thecus N1050 enclosure, the green power light on the enclosure would come on and the drive would spin up but my PC would not see the HDD!!??... I thought, becuase i could hear the drive spinning that i had it installed correctly but this wasn't the case, when i removed the enclosure again and FIRMLY pushed the HDD into the connector (all the way in) and connected it back up to my PC, it recognised it instantly. Hope this helps!