New Seagate Expansion External Drive not showing up in 'My Computer'

[2harts4ever]

Howdy,

I bought a new computer with Win7 about a month ago which came with a 1TB Seagate hard drive installed so I decided to replace my previous 250 GB Aulartek External with a 1TB Seagate External Drive.

Well ... to make a long story short I tried installing the new Seagate 1TB Expansion Drive a few hours ago but up to this point I can't get the computer to recognize it.

However, there is a 'green light' visible on the end of the new Seagate External that is lit up and if I click on the 'Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media' button on the taskbar it does show something called 'Eject Desktop' under 'Open Devices and Printers'.

I tried going to the Seagate Community Forum but got even more confused than when I started trying to troubleshoot my problem with not being able to see it listed under 'Computer'.

My old Aulartek External had an 'on and off switch' and this new Seagate doesn't have one unless I just can't find it.

I have both the USB and A/C Power supply plugged in.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

 

[essenbe]

Try right clicking on computer in the start menu, and select manage. In the window that opens after giving admin approval, selece disk management in the left column. It should show every hard drive connected to your computer. In the lower portion of the window, look for your Seagate, right click it and select change drive letter or path, in the next window click add and choosed a drive letter. Click OK. after the drive letter is assigned, you will be able to see the drive in explorer.

 

[2harts4ever]

Hi essenbe,

When I click on Disk Management I see the following:

I have 5 disks numbered '0 through 5' plus the CD-Rom Drive.

Disk '0' says it is "Basic, 931.51GB and online" and shows it has my System ; 'C' Drive; and 'D' Drive on it.

Disks 1,2,3,4 are empty and shows 'No media'

Disk '5' says it is "Basic, 931.51 GB and online" but shows nothing else.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

2harts4ever

 

[whs]

Which of those disks (in Disk Management) has no letter ?? That would be the one that does not show in Computer. Right click on it and assign a letter or define a simple partition which will come with a letter.

 

[SIW2]

I believe it is Disk 5 which needs a letter adding.

 

[2harts4ever]

Disk 5 has no Drive letter. However, it has the exact same GBs (931.51) as Disk 0 which has my operating system and recovery disk on it.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, rt click it in disk mgmt.

 

[whs]

Disk 5 has no Drive letter. However, it has the exact same GBs (931.51) as Disk 0 which has my operating system and recovery disk on it.

That does no mean anything. Right click on Disk5 and define a simple partition. The wizard will guide you.

 

[essenbe]

Perhaps the easiest for us and for you qould be to post a screenshot of Disk Management fully expanded so we can se the top and bottom portions of the screen. I have 2 Seagate external drives. The have both come formatted NTFS which is what windows prefers. It shouldn't be necessary to create a partition, but stranger things have happened. But, as WHS said, you should be able to simply assign a drive letter to it. It being new with no data on it, if Disk Management wants to create a partition and format it, do it.

 

[2harts4ever]

How's this?

 

[essenbe]

Right click on disk 5 and select change drive letter or path, select add and select a drive letter. It should show up in explorer then.

 

[2harts4ever]

Here's what I got when I tried to change drive letter:



After getting the message I did as it suggested but still no success. I appreciate all your help and suggestions but I think my best bet is to return it. If I am having this much trouble trying to get it to work I really don't know how good it would be when I really need it.

Your time, patience and suggestions have been appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

 

[whs]

What are you waiting for. Disk5 has neither a partition nor a letter

 

[2harts4ever]

Am I correct in assuming you mean I should return it??

 

[essenbe]

I believe what WHS meant was right click on the drive and select new simple volume and follow the wizard.

 

[2harts4ever]

I don't see any selection which says: new simple volume

 

[whs]

Am I correct in assuming you mean I should return it??

Nah, we'll get that fixed one way or another.

Let's see whether this disk is even initialized. Right click on where "Disk5" is written and see whether there is an "initialize' option.

 

[2harts4ever]

Let's see whether this disk is even initialized. Right click on where "Disk5" is written and see whether there is an "initialize' option.

No such option when right clicking Disk 5.

 

[whs]

OK, What are the options that are not greyed out when you right click on the right pane of Disk5.

 

[2harts4ever]

I just realized I never gave the model number of the Seagate External. It is: ST310005EXA101-RK