External HDD won't start

draptak

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My external HDD suddenly wont power up, there is a blue light on it though. I checked every possible solution like device manager, computer management, etc there is NO TRACE of my HDD appearing on windows. I tried all my USB Ports.

The HDD works on my laptop no problem, but not on my PC.

Strange thing is when I turned off my PC with the HDD plugged in, the HDD starts to power up 100%, then when I turn the PC on again, the HDD powers down?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5QL/EPU
Memory
6.00 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
Sound Card
(1) NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (WDM) (2)HD Audio Device
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 22"
Screen Resolution
1650x1050 Max Resolution
Hard Drives
1TB Sata
PSU
Corsair CX750M
I have seen a like post sometime ago and so made a quick search and found it. :)

That gives a little more information and so I need not ask those questions which I intended to ask otherwise.

Obviously you didn't get any resolution so far.

Now try this:

Download v 0.8.1 of the drivecleanup.zip from Drive Tools for Windows.

Unzip it to a folder, say drivecleanup.

You will have two folders Win32 and x64 each containing DriveCleanup.exe for 32 bit and 64 bit respectively.

Remove all USB storage devices from your system (except your Keyboard and mouse) and reboot.

Right click on the DriveCleanup.exe and run as administrator. (Use the *.exe file appropriate for your bit version of Windows.).

After the clean up act, reboot.

( When you plug in your USB devices after this cleanup these will be installed afresh. What you have done is to remove all non-present devices and drive letters associated with them and start with a clean slate. )

I can't say 100% it will resolve your problem but if it does thank God, I am here.:)

Even if it does not resolve your problem, it is a good practice to do this drive cleanup periodically to cleanup your system - be it a laptop or desktop - of non-present devices and drive letters locked to those preventing Windows seeing USB devices.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
I have seen a like post sometime ago and so made a quick search and found it. :)

That gives a little more information and so I need not ask those questions which I intended to ask otherwise.

Obviously you didn't get any resolution so far.

Now try this:

Download v 0.8.1 of the drivecleanup.zip from Drive Tools for Windows.

Unzip it to a folder, say drivecleanup.

You will have two folders Win32 and x64 each containing DriveCleanup.exe for 32 bit and 64 bit respectively.

Remove all USB storage devices from your system (except your Keyboard and mouse) and reboot.

Right click on the DriveCleanup.exe and run as administrator. (Use the *.exe file appropriate for your bit version of Windows.).

After the clean up act, reboot.

( When you plug in your USB devices after this cleanup these will be installed afresh. What you have done is to remove all non-present devices and drive letters associated with them and start with a clean slate. )

I can't say 100% it will resolve your problem but if it does thank God, I am here.:)

Even if it does not resolve your problem, it is a good practice to do this drive cleanup periodically to cleanup your system - be it a laptop or desktop - of non-present devices and drive letters locked to those preventing Windows seeing USB devices.

Thanks for the reply jumanji. That sounds good.

Before I start to use 'DriveCleanup.exe', I have already done a 100% clean install of Windows 7, but unfortunately the same problem exists. So I dont think it would make a difference if I use Drivercleanup.exe, but that was a good suggestion. Thanks
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5QL/EPU
Memory
6.00 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
Sound Card
(1) NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (WDM) (2)HD Audio Device
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 22"
Screen Resolution
1650x1050 Max Resolution
Hard Drives
1TB Sata
PSU
Corsair CX750M
Yes, if you have already done a clean install - which you did not mention anywhere - your system may be clean and drive cleanup may not be necessary.

All the same run it once just to have a feel of it and can run it periodically.

I have no further ideas on the issue atleast for the moment and so let others to look into it.

( Have you installed the latest chipset drivers for your MB and done all Windows updates? That is all I can suggest.)
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
You may want to try this. Click start> type Power plan in the search box>select edit power plan> under USB settings >selective suspend>set it to disabled, click OK and try a reboot again.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900X
    Motherboard
    Asus X570 Crosshair Viii Hero
    Memory
    32GB G Skill DDR4-3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 3080 FTW 3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    On Board/Sennheiser PC37X Headset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 X Asus 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2 X 1 TB NVME drives
    PSU
    EVGA 850
    Case
    Phanteks Eclipse P400A
    Cooling
    EVGA 280 AIO
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510s/ Logitech G13
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    24/1
    Antivirus
    ESET/MBAM Pro/SAS Pro
    Browser
    Chrome/ Firefox/ Edge
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell 16 Plus
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Ultra 9 288V
    Memory
    32 GB LPDDR5X 8533
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" Mini-LED HDR600 Touch 90 Hz
    Screen Resolution
    2560X1600
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME
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