Solved Thinkpad T420 does not recognize external drive

[Corobori]

SOLVED: Thinkpad T420 does not recognize external drive

For a few years I have been working with an HP Elitebook 8460p to which I connected an external drive, a Western Digital Element 2042. Working just fine. A few months ago I purchased a Thinkpad T420 and I thought that connecting the external drive would be a piece of cake but unfortunately no. So far I have been been enable to do so and I can't figure out why. When booting the drive doesn't show up in the drive's list.
I have been trying just about each port on my Thinkpad and none worked, the actual cable and port seem to work as the light at the back of the drive are on.

I know for a fact that the drive works, I just fired off my HP Elitebook 8460p again to make sure it was indeed still alive and it is fine. I can see it on my HP's boot menu and in the HP's disk management details. But not on my Thinkpad T420.

I used an enclosure with another drive to make sure the USB ports on my Thinkpad T420 are ok and this works fine. I also changed the drive's letters.

If the ports on the Thinkpad is fine if the external drive is fine, why then my external drive is not recognized by my T420 thru the USB port ?

This is the external drive's information as they are shown on the HP

 

[rvcjew]

It is probably just not getting a drive letter and you need to give it one are after initializing it. Does disk management see it?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows.html

 

[Corobori]

On the HP notebook it appears in Disk Management but it doesn't appear in Disk Management on the Thinkpad.

 

[rvcjew]

On the ThinkPad with it plugged in, in the Device Manger do you see any yellow triangles in there? Likewise under devices and printers does it show up in the top row like it does in the hp?

 

[Corobori]

Nothing weird in the Device Manager, not unrecognized device.

Here is the Device Manager on the HP and the Thinkpad (The Huawei unspecified device is the mobile broadband)

 

[rvcjew]

Does the device manager for the hp with drive plugged in show this on the bottom?

EDIT: Also on the thinkpad does it show up in the safely remove hardware item in the system tray?

 

[Corobori]

Does the device manager for the hp with drive plugged in show this on the bottom?

Nope, this doesn't show up on my HP

EDIT: Also on the thinkpad does it show up in the safely remove hardware item in the system tray?

Nope, the drive doesn't show up in the Safely Remove Hardware items

 

[rvcjew]

Can u go into the bios and list which version it is? On the ThinkPad.
BIOS Update Bootable CD for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit), 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad T420, T420i - Lenovo Support (US) there is a chart on this page. To get into it you hit f1 or enter when the pc turns on. Edit: also when you plug in the drive do you hear and feel it get power and spin up?

 

[CaptainWD]

~snip~

Hey there Corobori

I would run WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic and see if that WD Elements is recognized and if it passes both the quick and the extended tests. This should render the drive safe to use and exclude it as the potential cause of the problem.
Just to be on the safe side I'd try another USB cable and all the ports on the laptop and see if the drive pops up anywhere.
Di you have all your latest OS and driver updates?

I would recommend backing up the data from the drive just to be on the safe side!

Captain_WD.

 

[Corobori]

I would run WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic and see if that WD Elements is recognized and if it passes both the quick and the extended tests. This should render the drive safe to use and exclude it as the potential cause of the problem.

Done, but the drive doesn't show up in the list.

Just to be on the safe side I'd try another USB cable and all the ports on the laptop and see if the drive pops up anywhere.

Done, no change. Keep in mind that both drive and cable are working fine on my HP

Di you have all your latest OS and driver updates?

Yes for the OS and driver but it appears no for the BIOS, see below

I would recommend backing up the data from the drive just to be on the safe side!

Actually it is my drive for doing back up. I had to purchase an enclosure and use and old drive to keep up doing my backup, but still I would like to go to the bottom of this issue.

Can u go into the bios and list which version it is? On the ThinkPad.
BIOS Update Bootable CD for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit), 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad T420, T420i - Lenovo Support (US) there is a chart on this page.

Indeed I do not have the latest BIOS but I read the text version of the changes and I don't see any major change between current version 1.48 and mine 1.46

Edit: also when you plug in the drive do you hear and feel it get power and spin up?

Yes I do hear the power and the spin up (and also I see the light at the back is on).

Edit: An extra step I tried today was disabling the BIOS Security Chip (as described here) but no change

This is by BIOS:

My current's BIOS settings are as this:

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

WakeOnLAN
current setting = ACOnly
possible settings = Disable,ACOnly,ACandBattery,Enable

EthernetLANOptionROM
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

USBBIOSSupport
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

AlwaysOnUSB
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

TrackPoint
current setting = Automatic
possible settings = Disable,Automatic

TouchPad
current setting = Automatic
possible settings = Disable,Automatic

FnCtrlKeySwap
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

FnKeyLock
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

ThinkPadNumLock
current setting = Independent
possible settings = Independent,Synchronized

PowerOnNumLock
current setting = Auto
possible settings = Auto,On,Off

BootDisplayDevice
current setting = LCD
possible settings = LCD,VGA,Digital,Digital1onDock,Digital2onDock

GraphicsDevice
current setting = IntegratedGfx
possible settings = IntegratedGfx,DiscreteGfx,SwitchableGfx

OsDetectionForSwitchableGraphics
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

SpeedStep
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

AdaptiveThermalManagementAC
current setting = MaximizePerformance
possible settings = MaximizePerformance,Balanced

AdaptiveThermalManagementBattery
current setting = Balanced
possible settings = MaximizePerformance,Balanced

CDROMSpeed
current setting = Normal
possible settings = High,Normal,Silent

CPUPowerManagement
current setting = Automatic
possible settings = Disable,Automatic

PCIExpressPowerManagement
current setting = Automatic
possible settings = Disable,Automatic

OnByAcAttach
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

PowerControlBeep
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

LowBatteryAlarm
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

PasswordBeep
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

KeyboardBeep
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

SATAControllerMode
current setting = AHCI
possible settings = Compatibility,AHCI

CoreMultiProcessing
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

HyperThreadingTechnology
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

AMTControl
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

HardwarePasswordManager
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

LockBIOSSetting
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

MinimumPasswordLength
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

BIOSPasswordAtUnattendedBoot
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

BIOSPasswordAtReboot
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

FingerprintPredesktopAuthentication
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

FingerprintReaderPriority
current setting = External
possible settings = External,InternalOnly

FingerprintSecurityMode
current setting = Normal
possible settings = Normal,High

FingerprintPasswordAuthentication
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

SecurityChip
current setting = Active (<---- this is the one I changed to Inactive and Disable)
possible settings = Active,Inactive,Disable

TXTFeature
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

BIOSUpdateByEndUsers
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

FlashOverLAN
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

DataExecutionPrevention
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

VirtualizationTechnology
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

VTdFeature
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

EthernetLANAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

WirelessLANAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

WiMAXAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

WirelessWANAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

BluetoothAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

ModemAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

USBPortAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

IEEE1394Access
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

ExpressCardAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

UltrabayAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

eSATAPortAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

MemoryCardSlotAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

SmartCardSlotAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

IntegratedCameraAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

MicrophoneAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

FingerprintReaderAccess
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

ATpModuleActivation
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable,Disable

ComputraceModuleActivation
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable,Disable

BootMode
current setting = Quick
possible settings = Quick,Diagnostics

StartupOptionKeys
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

BootDeviceListF12Option
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

BootOrder
current setting = HDD0:ATAPICD0:USBHDD:USBFDD:HDD2:HDD1CILAN:ATAPICD1:ATAPICD2:HDD3:HDD4
possible settings = HDD0,HDD1,HDD2,HDD3,HDD4,PCILAN,ATAPICD0,ATAPICD1,ATAPICD2,USBFDD,USBCD,USBHDD,OtherHDD,OtherCD,NODEV

NetworkBoot
current setting = PCILAN
possible settings = HDD0,HDD1,HDD2,HDD3,HDD4,PCILAN,ATAPICD0,ATAPICD1,ATAPICD2,USBFDD,USBCD,USBHDD,OtherHDD,OtherCD,NODEV

BootOrderLock
current setting = Disable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

ReserveMemoryForUEFIBootManager
current setting = Enable
possible settings = Disable,Enable

 

[rvcjew]

This is indeed odd can you try plugging the hdd in while in safe mode on Windows?

 

[Corobori]

This is indeed odd can you try plugging the hdd in while in safe mode on Windows?

It's odd ... and time consuming ! I tried plugging in the hdd in safe mode, nothing changed.
I reckon it must be a BIOS settings somewhere but can't figure out what. I have been told that he could that the Security Chip in the EEPROM detected something weird on the drive, that is why I tried disabling it as explained before but it didn't change anything.
Also somebody was saying that he could be a voltage issue but without giving me any clue on how to check that out and fix it.

 

[rvcjew]

This is indeed odd can you try plugging the hdd in while in safe mode on Windows?

It's odd ... and time consuming ! I tried plugging in the hdd in safe mode, nothing changed.
I reckon it must be a BIOS settings somewhere but can't figure out what. I have been told that he could that the Security Chip in the EEPROM detected something weird on the drive, that is why I tried disabling it as explained before but it didn't change anything.
Also somebody was saying that he could be a voltage issue but without giving me any clue on how to check that out and fix it.

Did you add later the bios settings (I did not see them before sorry) for sure try it once always charge usb is off. I have had issues with that in the past on a y50p. Though the only port that should stay powered like that should be the yellow one of the usbs (not the power port which is also yellow probably).

 

[CaptainWD]

~snip~

So the drive doesn't appear anywhere in the Disk Management? Not even as Uninitialized Drive?
If the drive doesn't show up there nor in the list of devices in the WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic but still work fine on other computers the problem is most probably coming from the system itself.

Do you have other storage devices attached to your system? There may be a signature collision which prevents your drive to work properly.

You may also try removing and reinstalling the motherboard drivers. You can get them from the manufacturer's website.

As a last resort you may try to reinstall the whole OS.

Captain_WD.

 

[Corobori]

Did you add later the bios settings (I did not see them before sorry) for sure try it once always charge usb is off. I have had issues with that in the past on a y50p. Though the only port that should stay powered like that should be the yellow one of the usbs (not the power port which is also yellow probably).

Not sure what you mean by that.

So the drive doesn't appear anywhere in the Disk Management? Not even as Uninitialized Drive?

Exactly, nothing, zilch.

Do you have other storage devices attached to your system? There may be a signature collision which prevents your drive to work properly.

Sometimes I am using a Broadband modem thru a USB port, it appears under "Unspecified" in Devices and Printers as Huawei Mobile

You may also try removing and reinstalling the motherboard drivers. You can get them from the manufacturer's website.

I'll see about this.

As a last resort you may try to reinstall the whole OS.

Dam... this is really something I wish to avoid.

Tomorrow I'll go to town (I am living in the countryside) and visit a friend who has got an external drive, I'll try to plug it in to see how it goes.
I'll keep you posted.

Anyways I appreciate the time you guys spent trying to help me on this issue.

 

[CaptainWD]

~snip~

OK, one more thing, is the WD Elements formatted as a GPT or a MBR drive? If you can, back the data up on another drive and wipe this drive clean on the other computer with the WD DLG tool (fill it with zeros) and then plug it in the other laptop and see if that makes any difference.

Captain_WD.

 

[rvcjew]

Did you add later the bios settings (I did not see them before sorry) for sure try it once always charge usb is off. I have had issues with that in the past on a y50p. Though the only port that should stay powered like that should be the yellow one of the usbs (not the power port which is also yellow probably).

Not sure what you mean by that.

I meant that it seems you cam back after I had posted and put the info from your bios. What I recommend is to go into the bios and disable always on usb and see if anything changes in windows. The yellow port I'm talking about is the one on the back of the laptop on the left side.

OK, one more thing, is the WD Elements formatted as a GPT or a MBR drive? If you can, back the data up on another drive and wipe this drive clean on the other computer with the WD DLG tool (fill it with zeros) and then plug it in the other laptop and see if that makes any difference.

Captain_WD.

I would think that would not matter if the OS sees it as the enclosure should factor into that and not the OS unless its not initialized, either way windows should see it as some kind of usb device period which seems to not be happening.

 

[Corobori]

Guys, I have solved this issue. On my trip to town I visited a place where they are fixing up notebooks. The guy in charge told me to purchase a dual USB cable, it wasn't easy to find one but I just got it and the external drive is now coming up nice and easy

 

[rvcjew]

Ah so was a power issue after all huh, glad you got it fixed.

 

[CaptainWD]

~snip~

Hey, glad to see you've resolved it. The single USB must not provide enough power to fully enable the drive to work so the dual-cable should serve you well.

Post back if you encounter other issues.

Captain_WD.