Hard Drive Will Not Read on a 10 -> 7 Computer

[sometimeshandy2]

I downgraded a new machine to Windows 7 and thought I had all the correct USB drivers. Every USB drive and external hard drive/flash drive I have works fine, but one particular 2 TB drive will not read. When the drive turns on, the light comes on but does not blink as it does in other computers. Other Win 7 machines read the drive with no issues. Another strange thing is that out of a hundred attempts or so, one time it actually worked and read/mounted the drive properly.

Is this a driver issue? What am I missing?

 

[mrjimphelps]

Try plugging the drive into a different USB port.

There may be a USB3 issue here; if it is plugged into a USB3 port, plug it into a USB2 port.

 

[sometimeshandy2]

Wow, this is remarkable. This machine doesn't come with any USB2 ports, only 2 USB-C and on USB-A. I had tried the USB-A and USB Super Speed port on the side of my monitor and neither worked, but it turns out you're right.

Unbelievably, even though those 2 ports do not work, the port on the back of the monitor works (same type port), and port directly out of the USB-C hub works.... I couldn't make this up, but I am baffled. Any idea how this is possible?

 

[mrjimphelps]

Sometimes you just get lucky. You just have to try different things, to see if something will fix it. An easy thing to try is a different USB port.

You have now passed to the next level of computer troubleshooting and repair!