ngdawg

I have a Maxtor 3100 External HD and ALL my work is on it.
Weirdly, it no longer is "seen" on my Dell, yet can be on our EMachine. I've swtiched connection cables, used different ports, it's showing as being on but it's nowhere to be found. However, my son's external works fine on the Dell using the connections that are on my Maxtor.
I attempted to download a driver update, but all those sites want $$$. I tried a system restore, but nothing changed. Plus, the driver updates all state they're for Win98 and that XP doesn't require them.
What next?

OK< now my son's won't open either, yet all my other plugnplays are fine....

Lasereth

Go to start, run, type compmgmt.msc

Go to disk management, see if either drive is listed there without a drive letter (look for 80 GB, 100 GB, however big it is)

If you see it listed, right click on it and go to change drive letter, change it to L or something. Sounds like it has a conflict with another drive letter in the PC.

ngdawg

It didn't show up and doing the basic things like restore and running thru the USB ports were no good...
Ended up having a Dell rep(even Dell outsources to India) doing a remote fix and after two hours, we got it up and running. Appears he had to go into BIOS in a roundabout way and reconfigure a few things.

telekinetic

I hate posts like this, because the truth like this is, every harddrive will eventually fail completely and irrecoverably, it is just a matter of when. You should NEVER have any work you can't afford to lose stored on a single drive. External media is so cheap these days there is no excuse not to backup your drives.

ngdawg

Sorry you hate this stuff...
I know the HD will eventually fail but also knew that this time it hadn't since my first action was to test it on the other pc.
We've had externals at work fail and bring them to a place that does recovery and recopies the files to new hard drives.

This is why I miss my zip drive-those little disks could be used and reused until they couldn't be any more. I could work off them, resave thru any software without going thru my pc first. I did notice that Office Depot sells the disks....I should see if our drives actually still work....
-----Added 7/9/2008 at 10 : 31 : 14-----
Well, it seems Mr. Tech Support didn't fix things after all, only partitioned my hard drive.

I don't know why this pc is not "seeing" the hard drive, but everything else-printer, scanner, webcam, camera and tablet-are ok.

Lasereth

So neither drive shows up in disk management?

ngdawg

Only the main C;/ drive and the cd/dvd drive show up. I ran the OS disk and that eliminated the partition that the tech had done, but not only didn't that help with getting back the external, I am now showing a G:/ drive that, when I click on it, gives me an "insert disk" prompt. I don't have two disk drives....

I wen back into device management and ran roll-backs on the USBs and "storage devices" to no avail.

If I have to reformat, I'll have a major problem as right now, there's no way to back up anything except to fill up about 100g worth of cds.

Lasereth

Did you unplug every USB device on your PC and try the HDDs by themselves? I've seen the same thing happen when the USB hubs on your PC are overloaded.

ngdawg

I unplugged and switched around all my hardware-scanner, camera(which it sees and that is, essentially, a hard drive), printer and tablet. I left the HD unplugged and switched other things around, then plugged the HD into different ports.
I use a multiport additional USB-5 ports then it plugs into the pc-that has the printer and scanner and webcam, but I unplugged the webcam and scanner, plugged in the HD and still nothing. I could say by what you mentioned that the printer might have been the problem, but even plugging the Maxtor into one of the front ports of the pc did nothing.
In a Dell forum, someone suggested to another that had the same issue that it's a MOBO problem. I hope that's not the case, but since this was only bought in February, it should still be under some warranty. I have emailed Dell support outlining everything up to Mr. Tech spending two hours and not helping-in the meantime I'm hoping for my brain to jump start-that might get me on the proper track....

telekinetic

So it does or does not still work on other computers? I'm not sure I understand where the problem stands.
-----Added 8/9/2008 at 01 : 58 : 15-----
The reason I hate it is because I feel bad for you...storage media is so cheap noone should have to go through this.

It's odd you mention ZIP disks--they are so expensive compared to today's options. Assume $5 per disk for .1 or .25 gigabytes of storage depending which disks they are, that's either $50 or $20 per gig. External hard drives are somewhere between 20 cents and a dollar per gig, depending on the drive size and the deal you get.

Also, Flash drives are even getting cheaper than thumbdrives. $20 at LEAST gets you a 2gb, if not a 4 or 8 gig.

All of this math assumes you already have the drive...

The reality of responsible computing is ALL mission-critical or irreplacable data of any value needs to be backed up at least one place, even if it is only a burnt DVD. (currently hovering around .20 cents a gig)

Anyways...troubleshooting from here on out:
1. Test it on another computer. If it works, and your Dell is under warrenty, get your dell serviced, it sounds like you have a USB problem.

2. If it doesn't work on ANY computers, buy an external housing the same size as your drive, open the case, and put the old drive in the new housing...there's a chance that the enclosure could be bad and the drive is fine. This is the same procedure Geek Squad would do if you brought it to them for their $200 data recovery service.

ngdawg

My boss was kind enough to lend me one of his externals. I thought I'd take the Maxtor and the borrowed HD and transfer the files, just in case. Since my son's external couldn't be read either, it was obvious(to me and everyone else) that it was my pc.
Wrong.
The borrowed external is plugged in and running....WTF?
So, I'll still back up on it, place the Maxtor in a drawer and be thankful my son can't play on this computer any more because his external won't work either. (Insert wicked grin).

I-I-I'm not gonna tell him this 320g HD works.....

HAHA!!!!When I couldn't get the Maxtor to work, I went thru my drawer of cables and wires and got compatible ones and tested the box....no go. I plugged it into the Emachine with one of those sets and it was fine.
When the boss gave me this one, he was checking out his supply of wires, remarking he needed the "right voltage or this will burn out".
Well, I just plugged the Maxtor in with his cables.....it's running....

Nothing to see here, folks, move along.....

Sorry I wasted your time, guys, but thanks.
-----Added 8/9/2008 at 07 : 05 : 11-----
Sheesh... three USB cables and none of them will work with either HD on the Dell.
Are cords/cables/plugs supposed to only be compatible with certain machines or do I just have a drawer full of duds?

Lasereth

They are supposed to be compatible regardless. That is definitely odd.

Cynthetiq

I thought I posted this over the weekend. I guess I dreamt it.

I'd try this one thing here since the port seems to be working based on what I've read here.
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/tilted-...ain-ports.html

good luck

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ngdawg

Interesting, Cyn.
One of the things that had been done was that when my son would go to use my computer(altho he's been told not to, but he's 16, so...), he'll unplug my external and use those cables to plug in his own. Although I tried different ones, I think the Dell said, "No more externals, dammit". But using the cords my boss gave me, for whatever reason, made the Maxtor be seen.

Right now, all the files from the Maxtor are being copied to a single folder on the Dell. I ain't going thru this again...

Plaid13

If you liked the zip drives you should really like USB flash drives. Dunno what kinda work you do but the 16gig flash drives are under $50 now Easy way to back stuff up or just work off the flash drive. Small enough to fit in your pocket or on a key chain. They seem to last a long time and a lot of abuse.

egyptodd

Ngdawg or anyone who can help,

I have been having the same problem and have gottten many ideas in here and a few other forums. I am going to check them out tonight.

Addressing the boss' borrowed cable, was that the power supply or USB? I'm pretty sure USB but you were excited in your message. I fully understand as I will hit the moon if mine finally comes up. And of course store them in all in a minimum of 2 places.

My USB cable has no markings, not even the usual inking down the length of it. It came with the HD but we all know how useful that appears to be. I can say it has clear covering to where you can see the wire (no visible breaks, kinks, or punctures present), and translucent orange caps at both ends.

My power supply is APD (Asian Power Devices) model DA-24B12-C; AC in 100-240Vac, 47-63 Hz, 0.65A Max; DC out 12Vdc 2A.

Can you tell me what your boss provided so I can try it out?

P.S. Don't let people give you crap about "irresponsible storage". My dad drilled me on that since 1985 (yes that long ago) and just 5 months ago laid down a really good, strenuous reminder not to store everything on the HD, or any one spot for that matter. I had gone through 2 PCs last year (loooong story) so for a while I didn't trust that my latest wouldn't just be stolen by aliens or burn the house down in the middle of the night. So I messed up and am now trying to not end up paying the ultimate price. ARGH!

Lasereth

What exactly happens when you plug it in?

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