External Hard-Drive Not Showing Up

[Shaaun]

Hello SEVEN FORUMS,
Im here to write an HELP thread for my external hard drive.
Well first off its a SeaGate 250GB Hard-drive (USB) i plug it into the USB port with cable and the light comes on saying its connected.
I go onto my computer and nothing comes up? Its not in My Computer or anything.
DO i need to Do Something Thanks?

PS: im on Windows 7 Home Premium - 64-Bit

CHEERS

 

[theog]

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

Screenshot tools.
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Snipping Tool - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows
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Use Snipping Tool to capture screen shots

 

[Shaaun]

Heres a screen Shot: THANKS ( it's An Attachment *SORRY*)

 

[gledden]

Hi Shaun,
I have the same operating system and had the same problem with a new Buffalo Ministation 1tb external HDD. Try going to Start; right click on Computer; click on Manage; click on Disk Management under Storage on the left and your SeaGate should show up with a blue line. Right click on the blue line and select Change Drive Letter and Paths. This will allow you to choose a drive letter and the external HDD should then show up in Windows Explorer.
Good luck! Geoff.

 

[theog]

Heres a screen Shot: THANKS ( it's An Attachment *SORRY*)

If this is a new external hard drive, return to Retailer.
If not, check that all the cables are connected OK, in & outside ofthe case.

 

[Shaaun]

Heres a screen Shot: THANKS ( it's An Attachment *SORRY*)

If this is a new external hard drive, return to Retailer.
If not, check that all the cables are connected OK, in & outside ofthe case.

It is not brand new, i got it about 2years ago and i got an Windows 7 PC way after i bought it. Im sure windows 7 wasnt out when i bought it,
thanks.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I've posted on this type of problem which can often be solved quite easily

Here's an example I had with an unrecognized USB drive.

Since your light comes on I don't think you've got a hardware problem.

I'm sure if you follw what I do -- happens with several drives since I'm always swapping them on quite a few different machines.

1) Control panel===>administrative tools===>computer management===>Disk management

2) You'll see a list of Disks (and partititions) and DVD's (if you have any) and you'll probably see something like Disk 1 with no partition letter assigned

3) Right mouse click and choose Change drive letter and paths ===> add chose a letter from the drop down and the drive will be available.

Sometimes this happens when you switch USB drives between different computers and OS'es -- I think this is due to the "Disk ID" created by Windows .

anyway if you look at three screenshots I can now access the unrecognized drive as drive J.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[cosyistheman]

1) Control panel===>administrative tools===>computer management===>Disk management

2) You'll see a list of Disks (and partititions) and DVD's (if you have any) and you'll probably see something like Disk 1 with no partition letter assigned

3) Right mouse click and choose Change drive letter and paths ===> add chose a letter from the drop down and the drive will be available.


what if the devise in question dosnt show here?

 

[matc01]

i am having the same problem at present and the main issue with mine is when i go to select the options it is coming up with all grey and not allowing me to change the file path or assign a drive letter... any suggestions???

 

[JimLewandowski]

Event Viewer, select Applications, Microsoft, Windows, DriverFrameworks-UserMode, Operational. Those are USB connection events.

 

[RikkeKJ]

I am having the exact same problem as matc01...

JimLewandowski I followed your guide, but now I have no idea what to do with it - can you please help me ??

 

[PCN00B]

Hey,I'm having the same issue and whenever i try to change the disk's letter i get an error saying Disk Management isn't up-to-date and that i need to refresh or restart my PC, doing both of these leave me with the same error when i get back though. Screenshot by Lightshot

 

[osama58]

i know this is like 9 months later...but external HDD's dont work using the front usb ports, try using the usb ports on the back of your pc...this is if its a desktop

 

[Erurainon]

1) Control panel===>administrative tools===>computer management===>Disk management

2) You'll see a list of Disks (and partititions) and DVD's (if you have any) and you'll probably see something like Disk 1 with no partition letter assigned

3) Right mouse click and choose Change drive letter and paths ===> add chose a letter from the drop down and the drive will be available.


what if the devise in question dosnt show here?

I had to format my external hard drive. Just right click the black area and select add volume or something like that, go through the menus and wait for it to format.

1) Control panel===>administrative tools===>computer management===>Disk management

2) You'll see a list of Disks (and partititions) and DVD's (if you have any) and you'll probably see something like Disk 1 with no partition letter assigned

3) Right mouse click and choose Change drive letter and paths ===> add chose a letter from the drop down and the drive will be available.

Thanks, this was very helpful.

 

[robinhoh]

I am having a similar problem. However when I am disk management I do not get the option to rename the drive when I right click on the black bar. All I get is 'new simple volume'.

If I right click on disk 1 I get the option to 'convert to dynamic disk' or convert to GPT disk.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[JohnathanM]

The answer is... Disable "Fast Boot" in your Bios... Guaranteed.

It only enables Keyboard and Mouse when turned on.

This will also affect trying to recover drives with usb connections and recovery software.

Thank me later.

 

[mmb01]

External Hard drive not showing up

I have an older SimpleTech external hard drive and the original cord broke and I bought a new cord. But when I plug it in it does not show up show in My Computer even though the red light is on and I hear the hard drive.
I tried to follow the instructions above but when I right click the drive without the letter all I get is the option to click Help. I don't get the option to Change Drive Letter. Any suggestions?

 

[April Raine]

I had this and computer management would not give option of assigning a letter. I assigned a letter with Paragon Hard Disk Manager 14 and i can see in my computer use it etc. As far as i know Paragon Back Up and Recovery free will assign a letter too. No connection to Paragon