Solved External HDD not recognised by comouter

[Sanda]

Hi,
I just had an upgrade to my computer. I had a HDD installed replacing 3 older drives. I need some of the information on the older drives so instead of purchasing 3 sata enclosures I purchased a docking station. But my problem is the computer does not see any of the drives in the docking station. I'm not sure what I should do next. Should I just go out ans spend more one on drive enclosures or is there another way around it?
Thanks
Sandra

 

[essenbe]

Right click on computer and select manage, in the left column select disk management, look in the lower portion of the window. Do you see a drive with no drive letter assigned? If so, right click the drive, select change drive letter or path, next window select add, and add a drive letter. If it is a new drive, there should be nothing on it. it may want to 'initialize' it and format it. If it does and there is no data on it, do so, select new simple volume, and when finished it will be usable.

When you first get to Disk Management, you may very well be met with a pop up window that says a drive needs to be initialized, if that happens, click OK and follow the steps of creating a New Simple Volume.

 

[Sanda]

The drive is visible under disk management and has a drive letter but there is no blue like the others for an active partition and is says "no media"

 

[essenbe]

Would you please http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

This will tell you how to upload and post screenshots here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html
Let us take a look at it and see if we can't get you up and running.

 

[Sanda]

I hope this image is large enough for you to see. I've also attached a system specs if you need them
Please excuse the time it takes for me to reply I'm, half way around the world in Australia and our time zones clash.
Thank you
Sandra

 

[essenbe]

Sanda, don't worry about the time differences, we are used to it. In the bottom left of your post, please click 'My System Specs' the system specs shown there do not match what you are showing, there will be a link there to update your system specs. Please fill that out to your current system and be sure to click save at the bottom of the page.

I assume you are having problems with drive 3. Right click it and if the option is there select new simple volume. Follow the prompts. If that option is not available, please tell us what options you do have. Assuming the disk is empty, if you have the option select format, you will want NTFS as a file system.

Also, unless it holds another operating system, Disk 1 should not be marked Active.

 

[Sanda]

Yes it's drive 3 I need to get to. It should not be empty it should have a lot of data on it, at least I hope so.
I will do the updates to the system specs

 

[essenbe]

Have you tried mounting the drive inside the computer? What type of dock is it? USB esata?

 

[Sanda]

that was something I was thinking of. I will try that tonight and let you know what happens. It may be the docking station which is not working properly as it's brand new and I've never used it before so I don't know that it is working as it should.
I'll let you know what happens when I try the drive inside.
Thanks for your help

 

[essenbe]

I hope it works out well for you. If it's the docking station, take it back to where you bought it and tell them it doesn't work and you want a refund or a replacement that does work.

 

[Sanda]

Just hooked up the drive internally and it works perfectly. I can now get all the information I need off it. I will test the docking station on a friends computer and if there is still no happiness I will return it.

When I unplugged one of the drives so that I could put the old one in one of the plugs was broken and fell apart in in fingers. Would I just look at replacing that cable with another?

 

[essenbe]

That's good news that you can get your data from that drive. As for replacing the cable, that's a judgment call, I guess. The cable may have been what was wrong all along, but then again, if you paid for it to work, it should work and may be the tip of the iceberg, as they say. What brand is it?

 

[Sanda]

The computer is a purpose built computer for my work, I do photo restoration. I have taken what I need off the old drive and changed the cable I found that I had an adapter cable for the sata drive and all is well now.
I will test that docking station on a friend's computer over the weekend and that will decide if I need to take it back. Although I have been told that the docking station may have an issue with the WD drive. I am surprised by that and will try a different brand drive in it at my friend's place on the weekend.
Thank you for your help it is much appreciated.
Sandra

 

[Layback Bear]

Please take note.
If the cable connector crumbled in your hand, that could be a sign that it overheated.
Does that connector look burnt in any fashion or smell like it's been burnt.

From post #11

When I unplugged one of the drives so that I could put the old one in one of the plugs was broken and fell apart in in fingers. Would I just look at replacing that cable with another?

 

[essenbe]

You're very welcome. We were glad to be able to help. If you feel this has solved your problem, please mark the thread as solved.

 

[Sanda]

Please take note.
If the cable connector crumbled in your hand, that could be a sign that it overheated.
Does that connector look burnt in any fashion or smell like it's been burnt.

From post #11

When I unplugged one of the drives so that I could put the old one in one of the plugs was broken and fell apart in in fingers. Would I just look at replacing that cable with another?

It was more like the plug had been broken off rather than anything else. I'm thinking the computer guy tried to force it the wrong way up or something. Thank you for you advice.
Sandra