Windows 7: Windows 7 doesn't recognize my external hard drive

What's the specific model of that external hard drive?
OP should look at their web site IMHO, this could easily be not compatible with Windows 7.
However, if the internal drive can be removed from the enclosure, it might still be salvageable.
I have a SATA/IDE external to USB drive device (around $20) for this purpose.
If tons of space is needed, easy fix, USB enclosures and whatever drive you want to cram in them or that one, just buy based on 2.5/3.5 size of drive and the connector type, SATA or IDE.
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Made me laugh when he asked if Speccy was something someone was trying to sell him.
Thanks for that.

Ok, what I've learned so far - my newer laptop with Windows 7 uses power saving features (as most of them do now). The newer external hard drives use half the power of the older ones, while possessing twice the storage space(!) So the current laptops only provide half the amperage that my older ext. HD needs. Thus, my ext. HD isn't provided with enough power to "start" and be recognized by my laptop.

So I wonder if Windows 7 has a way to bump up the power to the USB ports? If someone can assist with this, it would keep me from having to buy a new ext. HD.