External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer

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  1. Posts : 7
    32 bit Windows 7
       #1

    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 Computer


  2. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #2

    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 Computer


  3. Posts : 7
    32 bit Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    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 Computer


  4. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #4

    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 Computer


  5. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #5

    So you are saying Open & Explore are grayed out ?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer-disk_mgmt_open_explore.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    32 bit Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

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


  7. Posts : 7
    32 bit Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Also there is nothing about being a "foreign" disk
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #8

    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 Attached Thumbnails External Hard Drive installed but not showing up on My Computer-disk_mgmt_ext-removabledds.jpg  
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7
    32 bit Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    what do you suggest I do? I've tried pretty much everything
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #10

    Has it been tested with any other computers ? What is the make & model of it ?
      My Computer


 
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