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External hard drive not detected

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Yoshiland24 -  
jeannets Posted messages 28442 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Good evening, I have an external hard drive from HP (hp pd500a) and my new laptop is unable to detect it. The drive spins, but the PC doesn't find it. It works perfectly fine on my old laptop and my parents' desktop. I checked in disk management and tried it on all 4 USB ports. I would like to know if there is a solution, as I find it strange that it works on other laptops and desktops but not on my new laptop.

Thank you in advance for your help.

13 answers

  1.
    jeannets Posted messages 28442 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassador 6 613
     
    Good evening,

    Your "new laptop" doesn't have enough power to run an external hard drive from the USB port; you need a "Y" cable that plugs into two USB ports to double the current.

    Something like this https://www.google.fr/search?q=cable+USB+en+Y&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0Wm9VObHAdPqaInhgkA&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=914

    Otherwise, you need a hard drive with its own power supply.
    1
  2. Yoshiland24
     
    Oki Jeannets.

    Yet it's a laptop that was released not long ago.
    But what I don't understand is that I hear it running, so it's powered on. But does it also need extra power for detection?
    1
  3. jeannets Posted messages 28442 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassador 6 613
     
    Hi,

    It's not always the same depending on the phone; we don't know... check the manual... otherwise, it's downloadable from the manufacturer's website..

    It's unnecessary to get your USB drive working... especially if a USB stick works on the port.

    Often, it's the "Delete" key or F2 right at the beginning of the HP logo.
    1
    1. C0nK€r@n Posted messages 384 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   43
       
      For Asus, it's often Esc or F12, but as you said yourself
      "It's not always the same depending on the laptop; that we don't know.."
      0
  6. Yoshiland24
     
    Could you tell me the way to access the BIOS settings?
    0
  7. C0nK€r@n Posted messages 384 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   43
     
    It varies on each motherboard, often it's F12 or Escape, but if you can send me a photo of the screen before Windows starts, I could probably help you.

    --
    Be Specific; we are not mind readers!
    If you don't know, ask... If you know, share!
    ~C0nK€r@n~
    0
  8. Yoshiland24
     
    So the laptop is an Asus G741JM-T407H.
    0
  9. C0nK€r@n Posted messages 384 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   43
     
    Almost, actually by default USBs are powered at low intensity which is enough to detect USB sticks and most external hard drives (at 3200 RPM); however, some external hard drives come with a Y cable because they run at 5200 RPM or higher, which requires more "power" to be powered and detected (for example, it may be sufficiently powered to run but not to be detected, like in your case). But you can also change the USB power settings in the BIOS settings.

    Be precise, we are not psychics!
    If you don't know, ask... If you know, share!
    ~C0nK€r@n~
    0
  10. Yoshiland24
     
    Ok, I'm starting to understand the problem a bit better. I'll buy another cable tomorrow and I'll let you know if everything works :)
    0
    1. C0nK€r@n Posted messages 384 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   43
       
      I hope your problem will be solved by the purchase of this new cable.
      0
  11. Yoshiland24
     
    I may have found the issue. In the hard drive manual, the compatible operating systems
    are XP, Vista, and 7
    but I have Windows 8, so that’s probably why it’s not working.
    0
    1. C0nK€r@n Posted messages 384 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   43
       
      It might be that this is the problem :/
      0
  12. BzX72X Posted messages 68 Status Member 2
     
    Good evening, try this:

    1) Right-click on Computer > Manage
    2) Go to Disk Management
    3) Your hard drive should be there (check the size of the disks), yours probably doesn't have a letter assigned to it.
    4) Right-click on it > Change Drive Letter..... > Add > Assign the following drive letter > Choose the letter you want.

    Normally it should work after that.
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  13. Yoshiland24
     
    BzX72X

    I have already tried this solution, my drive does not appear.

    Thanks anyway.
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  14. Yoshiland24
     
    I want to say that for the hard drive issue, it was the provided cable that was not powerful enough. I had to buy another one (it doesn't cost much) and now it works perfectly, so if you have a similar problem, buy another cable ;)
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    1. jeannets Posted messages 28442 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   6 613
       
      This is exactly what I said in my post from January 19th.. and which earned me a negative and anonymous rating.. Why..??
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