Windows 7 not recognizing my external HDD

[k31k0]

Hi. I have recently purchased the PQI external hard drive. It works on Windows XP, on Ubuntu Linux... But when I connect it to my computer with Windows 7 installed (RTM version), it won't show up in My Computer. When I try to format it in the Disk Management, it shows up some kind of error. I can't remember what it is, but when I get home I'll tell you. Can someone help me? I have searched the Google and this forum but nothing helped so far

 

[Dave76]

Hi. I have recently purchased the PQI external hard drive. It works on Windows XP, on Ubuntu Linux... But when I connect it to my computer with Windows 7 installed (RTM version), it won't show up in My Computer. When I try to format it in the Disk Management, it shows up some kind of error. I can't remember what it is, but when I get home I'll tell you. Can someone help me? I have searched the Google and this forum but nothing helped so far

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you using USB or eSATA to connect your external HD?

Do you have a single OS on your computer or are you multi-booting?

How long ago did you install Win7?

When you see it in Disk Management is there a yellow triangle and explanation point?

Check in Device Manager if there are any yellow triangles and explanation points or downward pointing arrows in any of the items listed, expand each one to be sure.

If your external has USB and eSATA there might be a switch on the back to select which one to use, if there is then check its position.

What is the PQI external Hd model number and size? The HD size in GB and the disk size, 2 1/2" or 3 1/2"?

 

[k31k0]

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you using USB or eSATA to connect your external HD?

I'm using USB to connect it. It doesn't have eSATA interface.

Do you have a single OS on your computer or are you multi-booting?

It's single OS computer that I'm using primarily as Media Center to watch TV and movies.

How long ago did you install Win7?

I installed it about a month ago but I didn't have external HDD before now.

When you see it in Disk Management is there a yellow triangle and explanation point?

No, there is no yellow triangle nor explanation point.

Check in Device Manager if there are any yellow triangles and explanation points or downward pointing arrows in any of the items listed, expand each one to be sure.

In Device Manager, in the Disk drives group I can see the disk (called "PI-210 USB 2.0 Drive USB Device") but I also see one Unkown device that disappears when I disconnect the HDD.

If your external has USB and eSATA there might be a switch on the back to select which one to use, if there is then check its position.

It has only the USB interface.

What is the PQI external Hd model number and size? The HD size in GB and the disk size, 2 1/2" or 3 1/2"?

Model number is PQI H550 (2,5" disk with 320 GB capacity).


Thanks for trying to help.

 

[Dave76]

Hi. I have recently purchased the PQI external hard drive. It works on Windows XP, on Ubuntu Linux... But when I connect it to my computer with Windows 7 installed (RTM version), it won't show up in My Computer. When I try to format it in the Disk Management, it shows up some kind of error. I can't remember what it is, but when I get home I'll tell you. Can someone help me? I have searched the Google and this forum but nothing helped so far

What was the error message?

In Device Manager, in the Disk drives group I can see the disk (called "PI-210 USB 2.0 Drive USB Device") but I also see one Unkown device that disappears when I disconnect the HDD.

That's when you disconnect the external HDD, right?

Is the external HD partitioned?

Can you give a screen shot of Disk Management with the external HD plugged in?

If there is no drive letter assigned in Disk Management, right click the 'Unknown drive' and click, Change Drive Letter and Path, then assign a drive letter.

Let me know if this is the problem.

What is the PQI external Hd model number and size? The HD size in GB and the disk size, 2 1/2" or 3 1/2"?

Model number is PQI H550 (2,5" disk with 320 GB capacity).


Thanks for trying to help.[/QUOTE]


I would guess there is no external power supply, is that correct? Gets it's power from the USB port.

Let us know if this helps, or you get it working some other way.
Seems to be a re-occurring issue.

 

[k31k0]

What was the error message?

The error is typical Microsoft unexpected error (I could never understand why would error ever supposed to be expected???) - it says:

An unexpected error has occurred. Check the System Event Log for more information on the error. Close the Disk Management console, then restart Disk Management or restart the computer

In Device Manager, in the Disk drives group I can see the disk (called "PI-210 USB 2.0 Drive USB Device") but I also see one Unkown device that disappears when I disconnect the HDD.

That's when you disconnect the external HDD, right?

Yes, that happen when I disconnect the external HDD.

Is the external HD partitioned?

It's not partitioned.

Can you give a screen shot of Disk Management with the external HD plugged in?

http://img267.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=96804_disk_management_122_107lo.jpg

The external HDD is the one called "Disk 1".

If there is no drive letter assigned in Disk Management, right click the 'Unknown drive' and click, Change Drive Letter and Path, then assign a drive letter.

Let me know if this is the problem.

When I click on "Change Drive Letter and Path", I get the following message:

The operation failed to complete because the Disk Management console view is not up-to-date. Refresh the view by using the refresh task. If the problem persists close the Disk Management console, then restart Disk Management or restart the computer.

Of course, I did all of that and the problem and the message are still the same.

I would guess there is no external power supply, is that correct? Gets it's power from the USB port.

Let us know if this helps, or you get it working some other way.
Seems to be a re-occurring issue.

No, the HDD has two USB connectors that has to be connected to the computer.

 

[DocBrown]

I am thinking this external HD has to be initialized first usually by right clicking in disk management. After that is completed you can usually format the HD.

 

[k31k0]

I am thinking this external HD has to be initialized first usually by right clicking in disk management. After that is completed you can usually format the HD.

But how come it works on every other Windows (XP and Vista) and on Linux? And how can I initialise it when I get that error every time I try to do something in Disk Management?

 

[Baldwin Cyrus]

Hello guys!

I recently installed the Windows 7 beta on my home computer and love everything about it. The operating system as a whole is great, and I have no complaints… especially when compared to Windows Vista. Anyways, I recently tried to backup my photo folder on my computer to my external hard drive, and I realized that it was not listed in my list of available drives. So I went to my device manager and it wasn’t found there either. I then tried disconnecting and reconnecting it with no luck. When I open up the USB tree in the device manager, I find an “Unsupported USB Device”, which I am assuming is my external hard drive.


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[k31k0]

Did anyone solve this problem? I recently installed new ATi driver for my chipset (for Windows 7) but the problem still exists. Please help me. The OS is great and if I could solve this problem it would be great.

 

[whest]

Go into disk management, and on the left where it says the disk number right click, and see whether online is not greyed out, and click online if its available.