Hardware Issues - Any suggestions?

03/05/2009 04:38:29 PM · #1

My 1 TB external drive is not being recognized by my desktop. Works just fine on my laptop.

Any guesses on where to start troubleshooting?

03/05/2009 04:47:12 PM · #2

Is the laptop and desktop the same OS? What OS are you running? Did you try installing the software for the external drive?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/05/2009 04:51:55 PM · #3

Same OS - both run XP. I've never installed any software on either system. Not even sure I have any. Working right now on laptop the first time it was ever plugged into it.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

03/05/2009 04:54:03 PM · #4

Did you reboot with the TB plugged in and turned on?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/05/2009 04:57:02 PM · #5

Originally posted by LindaLee:

Did you reboot with the TB plugged in and turned on?

When I try that the system hangs up and wont boot.

Lockke

Nikon D90

03/05/2009 04:57:54 PM · #6

Does the USB port work with another device?
Unplug the TB drive, restart the computer, turn off and on the TB drive, then plug it in. If it still doesn't work, is your XP up to date with USB 2.0 for everything?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/05/2009 05:02:14 PM · #7

The external drive may be trying to use a drive letter that is already in use. I run into this using flashdrives all the time. To see, try this:

Right click on "my computer", select "manage". Go to "disk management" and see if the physical drive is visible here. If it is visible here, then right click, and select "change drive letter and paths" Change it to an unused drive letter and it should then mount as an available letter.

Covert_Oddity

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/05/2009 05:03:07 PM · #8

Before you try and figure out what's going on, take an immediate backup of anything on the 1TB drive that you don't want to lose, just in case.

Did it ever work on the desktop?
How old is the desktop relative to the laptop, it could be you don't have USB2.0 on the desktop but do on the laptop.
Try different USB ports, try removing other items from the USB ports on your desktop.
When you plug it in go to the Device Manager (right click on My Computer, select properties and then the device manager tab), you should see a little icon of a magnifying glass, click on that to scan for hardware changes.
Check in the device manager that there's no little yellow question marks showing, if there are click the + next to them to see what it is, it could be your external drive isn't recognised by the OS without some additional drivers.

03/05/2009 05:08:21 PM · #9

USB ports were all not working. And now system wont boot at all.. Now I have really big troubles.

03/05/2009 05:09:33 PM · #10

For Windows 2000 and XP:

Right click on My Computer.
Choose Manage (This will open the Computer Management window).
Go to the Storage category and select Disk Management
Right click the new drive (usually listed as Hard Disk 1) and "initialize"
You now have the option to partition and format the drive.
The default settings of Primary Partition and NTFS- Quick Format are recommended for most users.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

03/05/2009 05:12:12 PM · #11

Good news is that all my photos are safely stored on my external drive. Which is operating properly on my laptop as we speak. Bad news is we're broke and my laptop can barely even run Elements.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/05/2009 06:44:22 PM · #12

What happens now when you try to boot? error message? nothing at all? Are you getting the bios screen or the manufacturers logo?

03/05/2009 07:31:09 PM · #13

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

What happens now when you try to boot? error message? nothing at all? Are you getting the bios screen or the manufacturers logo?

Absolutely nothing. Deader than a doornail.

03/05/2009 08:43:12 PM · #14

Does the machine try to power up when you hit the button or doesn't do anything?

03/05/2009 09:49:17 PM · #15

Originally posted by JoeCan30d:

Does the machine try to power up when you hit the button or doesn't do anything?

It does absolutely nothing. Tried a new power cord. Plugged it into an outlet that has juice for other things. She's just dead.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

03/05/2009 09:59:36 PM · #16

It could be just your power supply...which is not a costly fix. If it's not even booting, I would bet that is the issue. Probably a 200w supply. By process of elimination, it would be the first thing I would change.

It's not hard to change, couple of mount screws and the wires are color coated. Just write down where the current wires are going before you disconnect.

Send me a message if you need some assistance.

Message edited by author 2009-03-05 22:00:20.

Patrick_R

Canon EOS-60D

03/05/2009 10:11:27 PM · #17

Okay unplug everything from your pc. Lay it on its right side on a table so that the left side is now facing up. On the back where you plug in everything should be 2 maybe 3 screws holding the "now" top panel in place. unscrew them. then slide off that panel.

Now you should be able to see you mother board and all the goodies inside. Plug the power cable in and make sure your power supply is turned on (if your pc has this it'll be near the cord and should be a little rocker switch. anyways after you have power look inside your case for a green light on the motherboard. if so then press the power button on the front and see if either that light changes colors or you get beeps

if you dont get anything? no lights?
then its most likely the power supply and should cost you more than 80 bucks if that for a 200-400 watt psu

if you get fans a turning and it still isn't working...
it could be the motherboard the ram the graphics card...

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/05/2009 10:20:38 PM · #18

Yeah, if it does absolutely NOTHING, then I would suspect the power supply. If it is a generic tower, you can find a cheap p/s for $20-30. A decent one for $50+. If you have a multimeter, you can check the power at the drive connectors. Do a quick web search and you can find info on what voltages should be on what pins.

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

03/05/2009 11:06:27 PM · #19

On the PSU, if the desktop is a Dell or HP or the like DO NOT install a generic PSU, Dell and HP like to force you to use their own PSU's by reordering the pinouts on them which boils down to if you drop in a generic PSU you will most likely fry the motherboard, and if its one built from regular of the shelf parts then ignore what I said :)

I agree with the others that it sounds like a PSU. If you were in Canada Id offer to ship one to you as Im sure I have an extra one kicking around here somewhere but it would prob be cheeper to get one locally new and they arnt that bad price wise...

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/05/2009 11:24:59 PM · #20

It may help to just open it up, and give all the plugs a shake, or pull the power supply and reinsert it. You may have caused a weak connection somewhere to break contact when you were messing with the usb connections.