External Drive Problem

[Dragonheart]

I bought an external 250Gb drive to back up all my files. Put about 40Gb of stuff from my D drive into it to clear some space. Opened up my computer today to find its disappeared from the list of drives, plugged it out and back in and now it says install software, didnt the first time I used it it just plugged in to the USB and was accessible straight away! How can I get it to work cause it says it cant find the software or some rubbish! This is wreckign my bloody head cause 40Gb of stuff is something I'll never get back!!!!

[colm_mcm]

Does the drive show up on "My Computer" at all, even when you plug the USB in?

[Kace]

Just hit Cancel when it asks to install software - then look in Explorer.l Chances are the external drive will be listed there

[colm_mcm]

doesn't sound like you actually lost any files DH.

[gfalls]

Plug it into a different USB port. Windows should pick it up again

[Dragonheart]

Not doing any of the above. Plugged it into another USB port didnt pick it up. Not showing up in my computer at all. When I right click the start button and go to explore that doesnt work either! I'll try it in the laptop and on the work laptop tomorrow if that doesnt work, but if it doesnt I dont know what to do! Thanks for the help though. I dont think the files are lost, I mean they're prob on the drive all right its just that for some reason I cant access it!

[Muad_dib77]

Check the Device Manager.

Right click "My computer","Manage","Hardware","Device Manager" if the pc pick its up you'll find it there somewhere - probably with a question mark or exclamation mark next to it.

If it's there try selecting it and then press delete, or pick remove.
then unplug the drive..

reboot the pc..

disable any anti virus / spyware applicaitons you might have running.

the plug the drive in again.

[mcgon1979]

Check the Device Manager.

Right click "My computer","Manage","Hardware","Device Manager" if the pc pick its up you'll find it there somewhere - probably with a question mark or exclamation mark next to it.

If it's there try selecting it and then press delete, or pick remove.
then unplug the drive..

reboot the pc..

disable any anti virus / spyware applicaitons you might have running.

the plug the drive in again.

this is almost bang on and I was about to post it... When you click right click on "My computer" and then choose "manage" you will be in a new window. Choose STORAGE from the tree list. Then choose disk management. you will DEFO see your 250gb drive there. right click om the drive and choose "assign new drive letter"... choose an unused letter. now your drive should pop up in the xplorer window again...

[Muad_dib77]

Yeah - that prolly more standard .. I have a tendency to muck about with the placment of functions so I don't always get the routes right

[Dragonheart]

Its telling me the driver isnt installed, but why do I need a driver now when I didnt first day? Even going into disk management doesnt show it up! Shows my C and D, and 3 cd drives, but I only have 2 cd drives so dont know where the 3rd is coming from, it does say its a dvd drive so maybe its calling one of my cd drives as 2 seperate drives for cd and dvd.

[optical illusion]

I was just about to say you may need to download a driver for it alright.

[Muad_dib77]

Ok - let's start from the start..

1. Which OS are you running?
2. Did you get a chance to try the drive on a different system?
3. Have you checked the manufactures website for any drivers/updates?


As for an explanation to your situation .. windows does strange things sometimes..actually - most of the time..

[optical illusion]

Just don't get me started on windows... I know it's just a start, but I'm so happy I dl'ed Opera all those years ago...

[CJ]

Right click on My Computer > Manage > Computer Management > Diak Management. Is the drive listed if yes, does it have a drive letter assignment? If not, manually assihn a drive letter.

Does the computer end of the USB lead have 2 connectors? If yes, plug them both into the laptop.

CJ

[Bernard]

Does the HD have an on / off button.... could be something stupid like that.

[Dragonheart]

Tried it on the work laptop this morning, it shows up there so all is not lost. No idea why it doesnt show on the desktop at home though any more, ah well, as long as I can access it from work all is not lost which is something to be relieved about. Thanks for the comments, appreciate the help.