Windows 7: windows wont allocate drive letter to external drive

imback · 05 May 2016

hi there,
i just bought a preowned Seagate Freeagent Goflex,when i plugged it into my usb port windows installed the driver,but when i click on my computer it dosnt show though in disk management it is listed and online,i also have enabled automount and changed it from dynamic to basic.
Im not great on computers and any help would be greatly appreciated i only want to use the new disk for back ups.
Many thanks in advance.
paul.

jumanji · 05 May 2016

Please post a full screenshot of Windows Disk Management with only the Seagate Freeagent GoFlex external drive plugged in. ( Plug out all other external drives). Please read this tutorial and adhere to the guidelines therein to post a full Screenshot disabling Console Tree, Action Pane and adjusting the seperators as necessary to show all information. Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

imback · 05 May 2016

hi jumanji many thanks for your reply,i think i have done as requested and i hope it helps solve my problem

AddRAM · 05 May 2016

You have to create a partition out of the unallocated space, format it then you can give it a letter.

Not sure why it has a 200 MB EFI partition.

imback · 05 May 2016

Quote: Originally Posted by AddRAM

You have to create a partition out of the unallocated space, format it then you can give it a letter.

Not sure why it has a 200 MB EFI partition.

hi AddRAM thanks for your help but im a novice and not sure how to create a partition also i would like to use all the HDD for back-ups,the EFI partition was on it when i bought it

townsbg · 05 May 2016

Follow this guide. Create and format a hard disk partition - Windows Help

imback · 05 May 2016

Quote: Originally Posted by townsbg

Follow this guide. Create and format a hard disk partition - Windows Help

hi townsbg
i would prefer not to partition it as its an external hdd and to be used for back-ups only

alphaniner · 05 May 2016

You have to partition it. If you're sure you don't need the EFI System Partition, delete it. Then follow the guide townsbg linked. The defaults will result in a single partition spanning the entire drive.

One thing to keep in mind: if you ever expect to connect the drive to a Windows XP machine, you need to change the partitioning scheme from GPT to MBR. That's best done before you partition it.

townsbg · 05 May 2016

alphaniner is right. A hard drive (no matter what type or used for what purpose) cannot be used without a partition and filesystem.

imback · 03 Oct 2016

hi jumanji,addram,townsbj,alphaniner,i firstly want to apologise for not getting back sooner but i was ill im fine now and want to thank all of you for your time and help your advice worked a treat.You are great people.
Thank You.