Removable storage: Can't access

[aaf6701]

Why can't I access files on a removable storage device that I plug into my pc. The "new storage device device has been detected" icon appears on the system tray, but when I go to my computer it does not see the drive. How can I get to these files?
Thanks,
Alan

 

[wahnula]

I assume this is a USB or FW drive. See if you can view the drive in Disk Management (right-click My Computer>Manage>Disk Management) but DO NOT initialize or format if there are files you want to keep on there. Just report if Disk Management can see the drive.

Tony

 

[Sympology]

I've had a similar one on fiancees laptop.

Problem is that she has 2 usb ports and 3 devices. Often when swapping around, 1 or both device no longer decide to work.

I've found a bodge job is to go into device manager, disable USB Host and reenable.

It works for you, but make sure you have any driver cd's handy, it may ask for them again.

ps. USB Hub is on it's way...lol

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[ASG0856]

This could be an autoplay problem. Goto the MSN site, search on autoplay. The top hit should be the autoplay repair wizard. Download, install and ruin that against the drive. If it can see a problem, it will fix it for you.

 

[aaf6701]

I just realized that the removable storage device, LaCie Extreme 2d was initialized on a MAC. Could this be why the Windows machine can't read the files?

 

[kmcferrin]

Could be, but it should at least show up in Disk Management that there is a disk there. One other common problem with USB-based disk/flash drives is that they generally try to grab the same drive letter that they used on the previous system that it was plugged into. If that drive letter is already used on the current system, they may not show up in Explorer. However, they will show up in Disk Management and you can just change the drive letter that is assigned.

 

[aaf6701]

Would that damage any of the files that were created on the mac? There are about 70 gb worth of images on this storage device that I want to backup onto a windows xp workstation that has 450gb of extra space. If I put them in the Windows environment, can they be used on a mac later?
Thanks,
Alan