Won't detect Hard Drive

[Cntcomplain]

Hi,
I have an iomega external hd. It picks up fine as "iomega" on my laptop and as of a few days ago, it always worked fine on my desktop.

Now when I plug it into my desktop it shows up as local disk and when I click on it, it says drive needs to be formatted, but as I said earlier, no problems on my laptop.

The only thing that I installed around the time it started doing this, was Nero 7. However, I installed it on both pc's and the desktop is the only one with the problem. I uninstalled it and run registry cleaner after and still nothing.

When it's plugged in and showing local disk, under disk management, it shows as "local disk" and shows that it's 149 gig disk, but it says that it's all free space, which isn't so.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[linney]

Does Nero 7 come with InCD, that has sometimes caused problems with drives. This is a Reg Fix that sometimes fixes up strange drive errors. Although it is CD related it may be worth a try, just make sure you backup any Reg Keys before trying it.

CD-ROM Access Is Missing and Messages Cite Error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, or Code 39 After You Remove Easy CD Creator in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US/#kb1

Some other things to look at.

AutoPlay intermittently does not detect removable media or digital cameras

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822660&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

6952 » AutoFix freeware can fix problems with Windows XP Autoplay.

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBN/tip6900/rh6952.htm

USB device does not function after connecting device to a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer or to a Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005-based computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870893&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

314634 - Windows XP Does Not Detect Your New USB Device

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314634&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Resetting the Bios to Safe Defaults, saving and exiting, then going back in to the Bios and making sure anything to to with USB is enabled, is something else to try.

307070 - Windows XP Does Not Recognize a Q. USB Hard Drive

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307070&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

314464 - How to Troubleshoot Unknown Devices Listed in Device Manager

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314464&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

830638 - USB Hard Disk Icon and Label Do Not Display Correctly

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830638&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...%22USB+hard+drive%22%2Bproblem%2Bwindows%2Bxp

HOW TO: Disable the Use of USB Storage Devices in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en;823732

Use Device Manager and delete the USB root hubs that show on your machine now. Reboot and let XP rediscover the ports.

Floppy Disk is Not Accessible, Not Formatted, or Not Recognized by Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul.../kb/articles/q140/0/60.asp&NoWebContent=1#kb1

 

[cdogg]

Chris,
Just so I'm clear, you're saying that your laptop can STILL see the partition, folder and files just fine if you were to hook it up right now?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Cntcomplain]

Yes, cdogg. As a matter of fact, plugging into my laptop is the only way I can access the files on it. It shows up as an Iomega HD on my laptop!

I was just able to log back in and check the responses, so I'm gonna try some of the suggestions by linney and will let you know what I find.

Nero 7 does come with InCd but I chose not to install it. I had Nero 6 earlier that came with my external DVD writer and did install it on the laptop, but not the desktop. It still didn't make any difference though, because both pc's still picked it up. But no, I didn't intall it with Nero 7 on the DT.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Cntcomplain]

Hi,
I forgot to mention that when I double click the "local disk" volume it says that the drive needs to be formatted. But like I said earlier everything is fine when plugged into other pc.

 

[Cntcomplain]

Here is log of the autofix utility that I ran. It said it couldn't fix the problems!

AutoFix [V5.2.3790.67]
Time [2006-12-30 01:34:20]
Microsoft Windows Version [5.1 (Service Pack 2) <2600>]

Test [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.] - Instance [N/A]:
Result [AutoStart Setting]: OK
Result [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.]: OK

Test [Policies] - Instance [J:\, Drive Type: 3]:
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Present}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [Driver level policies]: OK {
HKLM\...\Services\!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>
HKLM\...\Services\\Parameters!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysEnable (Absent) <Not set>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysDisable (Absent) <Not set> }

Test [Drive Notification] - Instance [J:\, Drive Type: 3]:
Result [Legacy Notification]: Problems
Result [AutoPlay V2 Notification]: Problems {
Service (Silent)
Shell (Deaf) }
>> Repair << [Autoplay V2 Event]
Step: No steps to take.
Result: This AutoPlay setting cannot be fixed. Either the device is malfunctioning, or the wizard cannot determine the problem.
>> Repair << [Legacy AutoPlay Event]
Step: No steps to take.
Result: This AutoPlay setting cannot be fixed. Either the device is malfunctioning, or the wizard cannot determine the problem.

>> Required action: The wizard found problems but cannot fix them -> None

 

[linney]

What type of drive is J:?

Have a look in the Registry and see if you can see anything that is wrong?

1. Run Regedit to open the Registry Editor
2. Switch to the following key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CD Burning\Drives

– All CD drives show up in same key

– “Drive Type” value determines whether drive is capable of writing and rewriting

01=CD-R Drive

02=CD-RW Drive

03=Write Disabled

3. Note: if you have more than 1 CD-ROM / CD-RW devices installed, you will see the related items under the Drivers. Please change the keys one by one, so you can find the correct key.

 

[cdogg]

Also, what OS is your laptop running, and if you know, what is the file system that the USB drive was formatted in?

If you haven't done so already, try connecting the drive in a different USB port. If it's also an option, try connecting it to a 3rd PC that it hasn't been connected to before.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Cntcomplain]

Hi,
I've tried everything above. Both PC's are running XP. When I plugged the HD into the laptop I checked and seen it's formatted as FAT32. Also, the J: drive is what the external HD is showing up as. My built in CD burner was showing as E:, which is what the External HD used to show as. I changed it back to D:. When I plug my external DVD burner it shows up as F:, as usual, but the HD is still showing up as J: and it used to show up as E:.

I appreciate everyones help and if you need anymore information I will be more than happy to try everything u suggest. I'm patient, lol.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[wolluf]

Have you other USB storage - eg, memory stick? And if so, does the PC see that ok or not?

How much data on the drive? Have you the option to back it up on the laptop, reformat it on the PC (if it will actually allow that) then copy the data back from the laptop and then see if PC can see it.

I'd suspect your PC's USB is malfunctioning - if it is, a PCI USB card might sort the problem.

 

[linney]

Overview of PNP enumeration and hard disk drive letter assignments in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q825668

Hard Disk not Formatted?
thread779-1254803

 

[firewolfrl]

Ok first I am going to make a list so you can test this out.

• Unplug the drive
• Read the directions complete before you start this
• Go to

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315539

and follow the directions
Device Manager does not display devices that are not connected to the Windows XP-based computer
• Or as an option you can download Maxtweaks and run it…it does more than the above link

http://www.tech52.com/

• Reboot
• Open the device manager
• View > check … Show hidden devices
• Do not delete the dark grayed devices
• Scroll down to storage devices and delete all light gray generic volumes
• Scroll up to disk drives and delete the light gray USB disk drive
• Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers and delete all the light grayed devices
• You may need to have your drivers for any device that asks for drivers
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THOSE DRIVERS IF NEEDED before you start
• If you don’t need drivers for the drive don’t sweat it…
• Reboot
• Let all the drivers be redetected as needed
• Reboot
• Plug in the drive…it might detect as a new drive letter


This can also be your issue….windows has assigned the USB drive the same drive letter as a drive on your drive or a mapped and/or shared drive or an external DVD (LOL)

Go to START>>> SETTTINGS (IF THERE)>>> CONTROL PANEL>>> Administrative Tools>>>Computer Management>>>Disk Management
And see if your drive is sitting there with no drive letter if it is another drive could be using the drive letter that was used by the drive before
Go to the drive without the letter (if this is the case) or go to the drive with the conflicting letter (your external harddrive)
Right click and go to change drive letters and paths click the change button>> assign a new drive letter that is available

Believe it or not I have clients who are appraisers and use lots of shared/mapped drives , cameras, and lots of USB drives and I fix this on a regular basis

As I have read the rest of the post more thoroughly

Unplug the DVD burner
and delete that drive in the DVD/CD-rom drive section of the device manager
reboot
plug in the both drives

if you follow this step make sure you follow all the steps above to delete the GHOST GENERIC VOLUMES

Your problem is conflicting drive letter assignments

That is why your drive is asking to be formatted it is actually trying to assign the drivers of the DVD to the harddrive

 

[firewolfrl]

I forgot to add...switching USB ports does not help in this type of problem...they keep trying to assign the same letters

 

[Cntcomplain]

Hi,
Went through the list and noticed something. When I plug the USB HD in, instead of showing up under Mass Storage Devices, it's showing up under disk drives as a WDC(plus bunch of numbers), lol. That's bout the best way I know to say it without actually putting them all here.

Anyways, there's another similar entry under disk drives, which I'm assuming is my Hard Drive made by Western Digital that is there all the time. I uninstalled them both and of course when I reboot the drivers load back for my internal HD. But when I plug in the external it shows up as WDC with some different numbers. I'm thinking, like you said earlier, that it's loading the same drivers as my internal hard drive when I plug in the USB HD. I'm just guessing though, I don't know. I went through the whole list above twice, and even changed drive letters, removed drive letters(for everything except the C: drive) and named them different and then back to the way they were with no luck.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[linney]

What happens if you search in the Registry for the "bunch of numbers", does anything show up that looks odd or out of place?

Of course you could probably clear up everything by just installing XP clean after formatting, unfortunately a repair install will save your settings and therefor may carry across any unwanted errors from the Registry.