USB HDD Formating problem

[Jackmetickler]

IBM Travelstar 80gb external USB 2.0 HDD on Win2k pro Sony Vaio Notebook.

Logged on as administrator

Picked up and installed by windows. Can see unallocated disk in Disk Management but cannot format or create partition and therefore no show in Explorer?

Any pointers please.

Gratefully yours
Jackmeticler

 

[Jackmetickler]

Further to my last....
error drive is not IBM it is Hitachi.

I can see the disk in Disk Management with red circle/white bar icon alongside it. The disk size is correct but it is unallocated. Options to create partition are greyed!

Write signature wizard appears and I have followed that through but as soon as it begins, read/write light appears on USB HDD and stays on indefinitely. Wizard appears to finish OK.

Many thanks for any assistance.
Jackmetickler

 

[satrow]

I would suspect the USB housing. Are you using it self-powered or via a mains adapter?

Andy.

 

[Jackmetickler]

Self powered.

 

[rotaman]

A lot of these external drives have a "lock" function which should be on the back of the drive, somewhere close to the power outlet for the DC. If it is locked, that could cause you to not be able to access it.

Also make sure that any required drivers by Hitachi have been installed properly, although works pretty well with this sort of peripheral.

Check it out and get back to us.

 

[Jackmetickler]

Many thanks for the assistance gents...
but no lock function to be seen .... just power input and led? All drivers installed by win 2k when first attached. Only drivers that came with drive are win98.

This is an hitachi travelstar drive inside an IBM Travelstar housing.... would that have any bearing... all concections seem standard!

 

[PRThomasUK2]

Hi,
I have a similar problem with a Fujitsu External USB drive... I can see it within Windows XP (it's already formated) but as soon as I try to transfer any files either way it fails! The drive works fine on other machines including my rather outdated laptop. Suggest you try on another PC if possible, you can then narrow the problem down to your PC or the drive! In my case I've never managed to get it working on my PC even using the external power supply, seems to be a compatibility issue with the USB ports on my machine... I know they are working as I have various other USB devices (both 1.1 and 2) that work fine...

If you havn't installed XP SP1, I'd suggest installing as it includes updated USB drivers in case that's the problem.

 

[Jackmetickler]

Update.

Could not get any joy with drive on my PC or Laptop (Sony Vaio)..

I then tried it on a friends Laptop with Win XP. it picked it up, installed it and let me format. I then was able to use it on my laptop.

Cannot fathom it out, although we spent so much time playing around with different drivers there may have been some change that I cannot remember !

Sorry I cannot put this properly to rest with a concrete explanation.

Anyway many thanks for all your efforts. Keep up the good work.