Help! Windows Will Not Detect My External HD!

Computer Forum General Hardware
1

Hey guys,

I reinstalled Windows last nite, and backed up my important files on my 320 gig Western Digital Elemental. From what I recall when I bought the thing, it was simply plug and play, no driver installation.

Well, I plug the device into USB, and windows makes it USB recognition noise, but it does not show the device name in the task bar. It only shows “mass storage device”. Windows does not display a new drive in My Computer. I plugged another mini external HD into the same USB port, and it was recognized immediately. So I know nothing is wrong with USB.

I plugged the HD into my laptop, and it will not read it either! I can’t believe the thing would be hosed, and it has all my important files. Is there anything I can do?

2

I believe that you will need drivers for it to work,mine take firmware drivers to make it work. Is it USB or Firmware ? Either one you will need drivers..

3

There are no drivers involved. You just plug it into the USB port and Windows installs the drivers.

In a desperate effort, I hooked it up to my old PC. This time, the drive was recognized even by name. I tried to open it, and it said that the drive was not formatted. So I reformatted the dang thing losing all my files. I just can’t believe my rotten luck. The drive has never done this to me until the one time I really need it.