how to successfully view exterior hard drive

Debby · 19 Jun 2022

Hi! how can I successfully view hard drives from other laptop computers, through this laptop computer? I have Windows 7 operating system installed on this computer. I bought an exterior drive for viewing them, from the Uk, it turns out. Then I bought a UK to USA converter, so that it could be able to be plugged into the kind of wall outlets that the USA has. I put a hard drive from another laptop computer into the exterior drive, and plugged it in, but I see nothing showing of it in "My computer." The USB end is plugged into this laptop, and the power cord is plugged into the wall. Is something wrong? Or do I need to do something additional, in order for the contents of the drive to show up?

Bree · 19 Jun 2022

Debby said:

... I put a hard drive from another laptop computer into the exterior drive, and plugged it in, but I see nothing showing of it in "My computer."

It may just be that the drive is being recognised, but does not have a drive letter assigned to it.

Open Disk Management. If you see the drive there but there are no letters for the partition(s) then you can assign a letter.

Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows

Megahertz07 · 19 Jun 2022

The Ugreen hard drive enclosure you bought is just an enclosure for a HDD or SSD.
Will the ugreen hard drive enclosure work?

Did you install a HDD or SSD on it?

Debby · 19 Jun 2022

Hi! I don't see it at all in Dish management. As for my reason for wanting to view the hard drive - it is not to install anything on it - but to view what is already on it and then to install a fresh new operationg system on it to replace the corrupt system that's on it. I know of no way to install anything on it without first removing the corrupt operating system that is on it first.

SIW2 · 19 Jun 2022

Have you another disk you can pop into the ugreen just so you can check the ugreen is working ?

If a different disk shows up in the ugreen, then that points to problem with the first disk.

Megahertz07 · 20 Jun 2022

Debby said:

Hi! I don't see it at all in Dish management. As for my reason for wanting to view the hard drive - it is not to install anything on it - but to view what is already on it and then to install a fresh new operationg system on it to replace the corrupt system that's on it. I know of no way to install anything on it without first removing the corrupt operating system that is on it first.

The Ugreen hard drive enclosure is just a box that you have to put in a HDD or a SSD. Without a HDD or a SSD you won't see anything on your computer.
Did you install a HDD or SSD in it?

Debby · 21 Jun 2022

Hi! I guess I see now, that the hard drive should show up on my computer, if the Ugreen card reader is working. And that it it doesn't, it must not be working. Maybe I'd better just give up trying, at this point. I tried to get a hard drive out of a different laptop computer, and couldn't remove some screws. It may be a dead hard drive in that one, anyhow. Maybe I should buy another hard drive viewer (but try to make sure to get a powerd kind) - right here in the USA. And try out that one. I will bring this to a close now. Thanks for your efforts!

SIW2 · 21 Jun 2022

It should show in disk management if the enclosure and the disk are working.

It will only show in my computer if there is a drive letter assigned.

If it does not show in disk management then either the enclosure or the hard disk in the enclosure has a problem

Megahertz07 · 21 Jun 2022

@Debby, buy a USB external drive. It doesn't need a external PS. It's plug and play.

CANVIO READY B3 1TB BLACK - Newegg.com

USB 1T external drive