Hi, I have a maxtor personal storage 3100 on which I have data that has been stored from my Dell Dimension computer that has XP. I want to transfer the information to my new DELL Studio computer with windows 7 and Iamreceiving a not compatablemessage. can you help

The FAT format is easier to recover data from if things go wrong, but if you insist on making it NTFS, all you have to do is right click the drive, choose FORMAT and then specify NTFS as the format.
WARNING!!! This WILL ERASE all the data on the drive so back it up first!

You can find a power cord for your Maxtor Personal Storage 3100 100 GB Hard Drive here:

http://lcdpayless.com/productpage.php?productId=2503

or

http://www.ecrater.com/p/6553550/ac-dc-power-adapter-maxtor-3100

Try a different "data" cable between your computer and the external disk-drive.

If there is an external power-supply, borrow a "multimeter", and test that the power-supply is supplying power (correct voltage and correct amperage).

Try connecting it to another computer.

Disassemble it, and disconnect the disk-drive from the USB-to-disk-drive adapter. Connect the disk-drive as a "slave" disk-drive in a desktop computer, and see if the disk is working.

If it still is under warranty, either your local retail store, or Maxtor/Seagate will honour the warranty, and replace it.

If you can hear mechanical sounds from the case the problem is in the hard disk and moving it to your laptop isn't the solution. In that case check for a data recovery company at your area as sooner as posible. If the sound is no mechanical I'll tell you the way to move the HD. Describe me the kind of sound.

Stelios

Replace the adapter. Check at Radio Shack or check with Maxtor for a direct replacement.

You could send the drive to a data specialist .. that will cost hundreds of $. They will plug their adapter into your drive and get the info.

Unless ... I misunderstand your question and the problem is really inside the drive - then - if you really need the data, you will have to pay a data recovery specialist (find their ad in the back of popular PC magazines). There may be a guy in your community that operates a little computer repair shop who can help you also. Go see 'em.

Thanks for your interest in FixYa.com

Have you checked the Power Adapter of the Maxtor 3100?
- If the Power Adapter is defective and won't give power try to change the power adapter with the same specs.
- If the power adapter is good, then the board in your maxtor 3100 is defective.
- Now buy new enclosure for your Maxtor 3100 because the HDD in it is IDE.

This could be an issue with the circuit board.I am facing a similar problem & shown it for repairing. And facing issue in sourcing the IC. Seagate is giving support for maxtor after it has taken over. Data recovery is possible only if the circuit is working.

try reinstalling the drivers for it if its a usb which most are try using a different usb port to re initialize the usb communication to it

It's Plug N Play. XP will see it (Found new hardware), and will install the drivers for you and assign it a drive letter and you will see it in MY Computer. However, there may be some other features and drive options you might like on the disk.
I have anexternal USB harddrive myself and am planning on gettng another very soon.

My Maxtor 3100 did work with my XP widow machine at one time. But suddently my computer doesn't recognize the USB connection. How do I fix this?

Proopt