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Windows 7: External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer

15 Mar 2011  
BmBranch

32 bit Windows 7
7 posts
 
 
External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer

I have a 120gb external HDD, I've connected it to my laptop and it has been used before but it is not showing up in My Computer. It is recognised by the computer and installs correctly and is visible on device manager and disk management, I've tried reformatting and this doesn't come up where it is supposed to. Is there a problem with the HDD or my computer? or is it something ridiculously simple. I'm running 32 bit Windows 7 Ultimate. Any help would be brilliant

My System SpecsSystem Spec

15 Mar 2011  
DocBrown

Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
8,576 posts
SomeWhere in the HOT Arizona Desert !
 
 

Welcome BmBranch


In Disk Management, does it show that it has been assigned a drive letter. Can you right click on it & open it, & browse the HD to see what is on it ?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
BmBranch

32 bit Windows 7
7 posts
 
 

It has been assigned a drive letter and I can't seem to open it up in any possible way, as mentioned before it is not showing up in My Computer and the only options that come up when right clicking in disk management is properties and change drive letter
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


15 Mar 2011  
fseal

Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
2,557 posts
San Diego
 
 

Does the disk manager say "Foreign Disk"?

If so you need to "Import Foreign Disk". It basically just doesn't want to add a possibly virus laden "outside" disk onto the system without your express consent. After you "import" it once it'll remember the disk ID and allow you to hot swap it from then on.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
DocBrown

Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
8,576 posts
SomeWhere in the HOT Arizona Desert !
 
 

So you are saying Open & Explore are grayed out ?
Attached Thumbnails
External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer-disk_mgmt_open_explore.jpg  
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
BmBranch

32 bit Windows 7
7 posts
 
 

I've attached a screen shot of the disk management screen. When right clicking the open option isnt even visible.
Attached Thumbnails
External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer-capture.jpg  
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
BmBranch

32 bit Windows 7
7 posts
 
 

Also there is nothing about being a "foreign" disk
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
DocBrown

Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
8,576 posts
SomeWhere in the HOT Arizona Desert !
 
 

Your snip looks like the disk has not been initialized or that it is showing as a USB removable card / flash slot ? Here is a snip of my 80gb JAK Ext HD It also shows one of my USB card reader drives as empty (which it is a the moment) .
Attached Thumbnails
External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer-disk_mgmt_ext-removabledds.jpg  
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
BmBranch

32 bit Windows 7
7 posts
 
 

what do you suggest I do? I've tried pretty much everything
My System SpecsSystem Spec
15 Mar 2011  
DocBrown

Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
8,576 posts
SomeWhere in the HOT Arizona Desert !
 
 

Has it been tested with any other computers ? What is the make & model of it ?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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 External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer problems?



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