Problem with USB Harddrives on Win 7 64 Bit

Magixx said:

Hi guys,

I have optimeced my System since 3 days within Windows 7 64 Bit (OEM Version) as my new OS.

After I plugged in my 1 External USB Harddrive (WD MyBook) Windows say that the Drive is a Unknown Device in the Equipment Manager.

In the Data media administration the harddrive is not listet.

I try this with another external USb harddrive my 2,5 Toshiba and there was the same problem.

After I plugged them out I couldn´t use both anymore, because no other Computer, OS, or Partition Magic recognice them.

Only My Playstation 3 shows me a firendly Windows 7 icon, but I couldn´t get access to them.

Is there any help for me?

PS: I´m sorry for my bad englisch. Greetz from Germany.

Welcome to Seven Forums,

Has there been any other problems with your Win7 64bit OS since you installed it?

Check Device Manager for any yellow triangles with an exclamation point.
If you find any, tell us where they are. That will usually mean you need to update drivers.

Are you saying that you tried your external HDs on another computer and they didn't recognize them either?

If the answer is yes, when was the last time you were able to use them, last time they were recognized by a computer, and which computer, which OS?

Try a different USB cable, and tell us if that works.


Let us know the results.

Magixx said:

Has there been any other problems with your Win7 64bit OS since you installed it?

I have another Problem with my Iphone Connector. It recognice the Iphone for a while, like 4 minutes and then it disconnect.


This is a Scrrenshot from my Device Manager with my descibed problem.

Are you saying that you tried your external HDs on another computer and they didn't recognize them either?

Thats correct. The Drives worked perfekt... Only my Playstation 3 recogniced the drives with this little Windows 7 Icon.

last time they were recognized by a computer, and which computer, which OS?

The last time they were recogniced was on Windows XP (32 Bit)

That about the right spot for your USB Mass Storage Device.

In Device Manager go to the one with the Yellow Triangle,
right click on it, choose 'Properties',
this is where you were in the screen shot,
select the 'Driver' tab,
Click on 'Update Driver'
select 'Search automatically for updated driver software'

This will find a driver for you, install the driver, restart your computer, plug in your external hard drive.
You should see it in Explorer and Device Manager.

Let us know how it goes,

Magixx said:

This was the first way I´ve tried to solve the problem.

Here is the screeny about automatical driver update.

No Way. The problem is even there.

Did you have the USB external HD plugged in?

Hallo, Magixx und willkommen auf der SevenForums!

The first screenshot you posted gives an error code 43. That means Windows has stopped this device because the device has some problems. Normally the reason is a non-functioning or missing driver.

However, we are talking about a USB hard drive which normally should not need a driver. That we can read from your second screenshot: "The optimal driver for this device is already installed".

If the HD is not broken, i.e. not readable, we have to assume the issue is the USB connection. Here's a short checklist of options you could try:

• Try another USB cable. Very often a non-functioning USB device works as a dream when it gets a new USB cable. From my own experience I can tell I have an external DVD burner that won't work with the original cable. The cable works fine with some of my other USB devices but for this DVD burner to work, it needed a new cable
• Try to connect the HD to different USB ports
• If the HD is connected to a USB HUB, reconnect it directly to your computer

If nothing else helps, disconnect the HD and boot your computer to Windows Safe Mode with networking. Connect the HD when Safe Mode is fully booted and then connect your HD. Do you get an error message? What does it say?

Kari

I am sorry I have to answer by asking more questions.

• Have you tried if your USB drives work on another computer?
• Have you other problems with USB devices, like mouse, keyboard, CD/DVD or such?
• Could you please tell what is the type of your motherboard?

Kari