PC wont recognise new external HD

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 5:32pm #1

Hey

wonder if anyone can help me, ive bought a new Western Digital IDE HD and an external case.

When i plug it in i get the bleep (ive XP by the way) and i can see it in Device Manager, but i cant access it. Its also down as "Not Initialised" in Device Manager.

any ideas what the story is with this? coz i need help

Explosive_Cornflake · 13-07-2005 5:39pm

Its probably just not formatted, right lcick ym computer and hit manage, and from there go to disk managment and format it. I even think if there are no partitions on it at all xp will launch a little wizard when you go into disk managment.

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 5:47pm

no joy, the problem is its not in My Computer at all, only decive manager

mp3guy · 13-07-2005 5:51pm

do you only plug it in when the comp HAS started up, or before?

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 5:53pm

i plug it in after startup

mp3guy · 13-07-2005 5:56pm

shutdown, plug it in, then start up

Gareth2303 · 13-07-2005 6:04pm

So is the problem fixed yet?

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 6:07pm

no joy man

jaggeh · 13-07-2005 6:20pm

check the jumper settings on the HD

zuma · 13-07-2005 6:26pm

The last 2.5" HDD I got wasnt initialised as well.

Go to control panel-administrative tools-computer management-disk management

Right click on Disk X and initialise it.

Upload a pic of your Computer Management screen as well, if you are still having trouble, to imageshack.

formatman · 13-07-2005 6:27pm

there are no jumper settings when usingg the hdd externally ..

anyway go back read the first reply about initialising the drive

some external drives ( 250 upwards ) are formatted for Macs

go to control panel , admin tools , computer management ,storage , disk management and then post back if you get this far and I'll post the rest of the solution

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 6:36pm

bang on Zuma, thats the prob, ive initialised it and its showing as online now, problem is the things not formatted! aaaarrrggh, i feel like an eejit! lol

thanks for all the help lads

Inspector Gadget · 13-07-2005 6:37pm

[edit: Damn! Late! Sorry...]

I suspect that Explosive_Cornflake and Zuma are on the money here. Try the older-fashioned method of getting to the Disk Management utility; maybe you should read this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/

...and you'll probably learn more about the process that way.

MAKE SURE that you're formatting the right disk! Check the capacities marked on each disk (if your disks are different sizes, this can help you tell them apart) and check for marked partitions (under Windows, these will almost certainly be marked with a drive letter; make sure that you don't format a disk with any existing partitions - unless your drive is second hand, at least.

(The Disk Management tool looks a bit like this)

Take your time, be careful, make sure you're formatting the right disk. I'm sure I don't have to remind you of the consequences of formatting the wrong disk :eek:

Good luck with it...
Gadget

Boomer23 · 13-07-2005 6:40pm

thanks mate

PC wont recognise new external HD

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