External HD detected but can't be accessed

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  1. Posts : 258
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (desktop) / x64 (laptop)
       #1

    External HD detected but can't be accessed


    After some troubles with the boot of this PC, now I'm faced with another challenge --- I can't access the external hard disk that is usually plugged in this PC. Everything else in this PC works fine before it started not booting. After several attempts on fixing the computer's boot, it came to a point where the PC can detect the external HD but I can't gain access to it. I have a Western Digital external HD and I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit as OS. Whenever I plug the External HD, the option to unplug it at the bottom-right of the screen appears (which meant the PC recognized it) and it appears at the disk management as 'Disk 1' while Disk 0 is for the main HD. But the volume for Disk 1 doesn't show. I only see C: on the disk management screen.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,612
    Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 6.01.7600 SP1 (x64)
       #2

    hi and welcome:)

    go to device manager and find the drive in the tree go to properties and go to drivers now uninstall the driver unplug the usb connection and reboot. When you have the desktop open re-plug the usb in, windows should install the driver back again (make sure you are connected to the internet in-case windows need to access it :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,612
    Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 6.01.7600 SP1 (x64)
       #3

    Microsoft Fix it Center Online

    go to this Microsoft site(Microsoft fix it) its very usefull for common problems with windows:)
      My Computer


  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #4

    Is that a brand new disk that was never initialized? Does it have a drive letter?
      My Computer


  5. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #5

    It should be a plug and play device not requiring any initializing etc. - have you done anything to the disk?
    I think the USB icon recognizes a USB "device" has been connected to a USB port. When you click on the icon at the bottom does it say something like external HDD.

    Go to Disk Management. Does the drive appear and is it online. (A screen shot would help).
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 258
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (desktop) / x64 (laptop)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    whs said:
    Is that a brand new disk that was never initialized? Does it have a drive letter?
    It's working just fine with this PC before. Even when I was still using this PC under Windows XP, the external HD works just fine. After my last successful reformat / reinstall of OS that this issue occurred. When I insert the usb of the external HD the PC does recognize it, but it just won't let me access it -- no drive icon, no drive letter.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 258
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (desktop) / x64 (laptop)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    mjf said:
    It should be a plug and play device not requiring any initializing etc. - have you done anything to the disk?
    I think the USB icon recognizes a USB "device" has been connected to a USB port. When you click on the icon at the bottom does it say something like external HDD.

    Go to Disk Management. Does the drive appear and is it online. (A screen shot would help).
    How do you do screenshots of the screen? Is it Shift + Prt Scr key? Where does the screenshot goes?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,612
    Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 6.01.7600 SP1 (x64)
       #8

    there is a tool in windows 7 called snipping tool go to these links it will help you use it

    Windows 7 Features: Snipping Tool

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...e-screen-shots

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...9-31c71d6be5f3
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails External HD detected but can't be accessed-brys-snip.png   External HD detected but can't be accessed-brys-snip-2.png  
    Last edited by brianzion; 18 Oct 2010 at 02:10. Reason: update
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Assign a drive letter to the external in disk management. That will allow you to see it in explorer. You may also have to take ownership of the some of the folders as well.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 258
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (desktop) / x64 (laptop)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Sorry it took me a while to get back on this forum. We had an internet problem due to the typhoon that just got in the country. Here's the link for the screenshot of the error that appears whenever I try to assign a drive letter on the external HD:
    ExternalHDError.png picture by dothackjhe - Photobucket
      My Computer


 
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