HP printer causes USB backup drive to disappear 2

[ctyankeeinok]

Just installed a new HP Envy 4500 printer on my computer that is running Win XP and has a Seagate GoFlex external drive. When the printer is connected (USB), the Seagate drive disappears. If I disconnect the printer USB cable, remove and reconnect the USB for the backup drive, the drive appears again.I tried (in vain) to change the drive letter on the backup drive, but that had no effect. I cannot figure out what is causing the conflict, other than it has something to do with the USB ports.

 

[ctyankeeinok]

Also - I did have an older HP printer connected to this computer along with the backup drive with no problems.

 

[goombawaho]

Just to be clear - you WERE able to change the backup drive letter and it didn't make a difference. You said "in vain", which implies failure at changing the drive letter.

When the printer and backup drive are connected and you can't see the backup drive letter, can you look in Device Manager and see what error it is giving, if any, for either device?

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[xwb]

Is this on a desktop or a laptop? Could it be a power problem on your USB? The portable drives derive their power from the USB. When you plug in the printer, there may not be enough juice to run both. You could try a powered hub.

 

[goombawaho]

Except for one thing - printers aren't powered from the USB bus per se, it's just signal. But, if you had a powered hub, it couldn't hurt to test. I wouldn't buy one to test and I wouldn't bet this is the problem.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[ctyankeeinok]

Thanks for the suggestions and dialogue. I was able to get it the printer working properly and coexisting with the Seagate drive. I deleted the printer, uninstalled the driver, rebooted, and re-installed the printer with a new USB cable. I am not certain if it started working because of the new cable or if I might not have had the old cable fully connected on the printer. When I connected the new cable to the printer, it seemed like it is all the way in, but I gave it an extra push and it clicked in further - that may have been the whole problem.

BTW, to answer all the questions, it is a desktop. Also, earlier I was able to change the drive letter successfully, but it did not fix the problem. I never could find an error message in Device Manager or anywhere else. Thanks again for your willingness to help and spurring additional thoughts when I was at my wits end. Sometimes asking good questions are as good as or better than giving what is believed to be the answer. Once again, the tek-tips community shows why it is the best.

 

[goombawaho]

Glad you figured it out. If the USB cable was only half inserted it may messed up the USB bus that was shared with the printer.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.