External Hard Drive Issue

Spartacus · #1 05-12-2006, 11:03 AM

I recently built an external hard drive using an internal drive with an enclosure. I followed the instructions from a DIY page that someone has up, it was pretty easy. It just plugs into any USB port.

Here is my issue; my laptop(Dell 8600) won't recognize the drive. When I plug it in, it beeps like it should but does not appear in My Computer nor do I get the popup window asking me what to do. I have used other external drives with the laptop without any issues. I have also tried the new hard drive on other desktops without a problem.

I am stumped.[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Anyone experience anything similar? Where do I start?

It is a Maxtor 200 if that matters.

Zygote · #2 05-12-2006, 02:36 PM

You probably need to change your BIOS setting. Load it up when you start your computer and "enable" your second drive.

ericd · #3 05-12-2006, 02:55 PM

I'd assume the drive had previously been a master. If that is true, then there is a chance that setting is wrong for you now. Maxtor's website may have some documentation to help.

TITHEAD · #4 05-12-2006, 03:36 PM

Checked the jumper settings on the drive?

I always check that first with HD problems

Basterd jumpers are so small !! ><

Spartacus · #5 05-12-2006, 05:36 PM

The BIOS setting should be okay seeing as it has no problem picking up my other external HD.

It is set as a slave drive. I don't think I had to change the jumpers.

I went to Maxtor's site which had a Q&A section. Someone asked a similar question, XP not recognizing the drive. They said that it must be partioned and offered advice how to do that. Mine is not partioned which may be the problem, but it is still odd that only the laptop does not recognize the drive.

ericd · #6 05-12-2006, 06:22 PM

I'm guessing, but I think slave may not be right either. What is it a slave to? It is not sharing a cable with another drive. Just a thought.

Spartacus · #7 05-12-2006, 08:20 PM

I pretty much followed the DIY external HD link to the letter. I assumed it was set to slave, but to be honest, I can't say for certain.

One thing I do know for certain, the only thing I did different between the two external drives I built, one is partioned and one is not. Maxtor's web page says it must be partioned to be recognized as an external drive. It is curious that the desktops recognized the unpartioned drive and the laptop does not.

FWIW, I am moving all the data from the Maxtor and will reformat it with a partion. Hopefully that remedies the problem.