+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) I've just bought a new external 200Gb USB hard drive. When I plugged it in to my PC and switched it on, my PC went 'bing bong' and told me it had found new hardware. A moment or two later it said the the new hardware had been installed and was ready for use. A removable drive icon appeared on the right hand side of the blue bar at the bottom of my screen. However..... I can't find it anywhere I'd sort of expected it to appear as a 'Removable Drive' (with a drive letter) in my Windows Explorer in much the same way as my 1Gb data stick does but it seems not. I can't find it anywhere. I'm running Windows XP Home Edition. Before I take it back and make a fool of myself, is there something I should have done to make the PC recognise it and assign it a letter. The only instruction that came with it refer to installing a driver from the supplied CD if I'm running Windows 98. Edited August 31, 2005 by Pharisee Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Did it come with a driver disk John? I have found a number of devices that are not on Microspits approved list and occasionally you have to install the drivers before plugging into the USB. I know it isn't in our nature but I have started to read documentation (oh horror) before installing new devices. I have had three recent products that needed the drivers installed first. A USB to Serial adapter, a flash card reader and a bluetooth dongle. Si Quote Link to comment
+Master Mariner Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Does the disc require formatting? Just a thought... Charles Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Try going into the Computer Management MMC by doing the following Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management Then look at the Disk Management Dose the drive appear there? If so is if Formatted? If not Format it by Right clicking on the rectangular block that represents the drive Milton (aka moote) Edited August 31, 2005 by moote Quote Link to comment
barryhunter Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I brought a external drive once, that wasnt partitiioned and formated, so it didnt have a drive letter. If you are using windows XP you can use 'Disk Management' to check to see if it appears there and if it does you should be able toformat it... Find Disk Management, by right clicking 'My Computer' and choosing 'Manage' You should then get a 'Computer Management' window appear, in the left tree there should be disk management. Clicking that should show a graphical representaion of your disks, which should mention if they formated. If it not you should be able to right click on the box for the disk and choose partition, after that a similar process to format. > in the disk management somewhere there is an option to assign letters even if it already formated. Hope that helps, Barry Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Find Disk Management, by right clicking 'My Computer' and choosing 'Manage' Yes there is a quick way I forgot and I have been using it allday Remember you might need to log on as an Administrator if it does not appear Milton (aka moote) Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Did it come with a driver disk John? I have found a number of devices that are not on Microspits approved list and occasionally you have to install the drivers before plugging into the USB. I know it isn't in our nature but I have started to read documentation (oh horror) before installing new devices. I have had three recent products that needed the drivers installed first. A USB to Serial adapter, a flash card reader and a bluetooth dongle. Si I did try putting the disc in.... the PC eventually told me that the driver already installed was the best one. Just going to plug it in again and look at the formatting stuff Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Thanks very much, guys.... I now have a formatted and visible F: drive !!! Oh what it is to be clever..... That would seem to be a load of beer I owe you!!! Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Thanks very much, guys.... I now have a formatted and visible F: drive !!! Oh what it is to be clever..... That would seem to be a load of beer I owe you!!! Oh not clever we're just GEEKS Milton (aka moote) Quote Link to comment
+t.a.folk Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Thanks very much, guys.... I now have a formatted and visible F: drive !!! Are you seeing the 200Gb? Windows 98 does not usually support large drives, if you can, I have just had a puter lesson. Quote Link to comment
barryhunter Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Oh not clever we're just GEEKS - glad it worked out! Edit: I think John is using windows XP , just the disk that was Windows98... Edited August 31, 2005 by barryhunter Quote Link to comment
+Sensei TSKC Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I've only just seen this thread and I would have made similar suggestions so I'll get in that queue for a beer too! Make it a coke. Cheers. Oss! Quote Link to comment
+t.a.folk Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I think John is using windows XP , just the disk that was Windows98... Oh! yer, in that case all 200Gb will be seen (well almost) Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Oh not clever we're just GEEKS - glad it worked out! Edit: I think John is using windows XP , just the disk that was Windows98... Correct.... XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while Quote Link to comment
+Slytherin Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while I can't imagine why you need a drive that big. - Quote Link to comment
+Naefearjustbeer Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 My 60gb hard drive worked straight out of the box! Its getting kinda full already. And I am knowhere near finished turning all my cds into MP3s Not to mention all the photos and other stuff Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 My Buffalo 240Gb I got for £100 last weekend works like a dream straight out of the box. I now have a daily full backup of all my data, and lots of space to store those photos etc that have been burnt to DVD for backup, but are still nice to have to hand when needed. Quote Link to comment
+John Stead Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while I can't imagine why you need a drive that big. - To hold pictures of the hat???!!! Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while I can't imagine why you need a drive that big. - To hold pictures of the hat???!!! Oi.... it's not that big!!! Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while I can't imagine why you need a drive that big. - To hold pictures of the hat???!!! Oi.... it's not that big!!! Yes I agree my home server has 6 raided 420GB drives and I can fill them up no problem. Milton (aka moote) Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 XP Home Edition and the drive formatted to 187Gb. That'll keep me going for a little while I can't imagine why you need a drive that big. - To hold pictures of the hat???!!! Oi.... it's not that big!!! Yes I agree my home server has 6 raided 420GB drives and I can fill them up no problem. Milton (aka moote) Wow.... your hat must be REALLY big Quote Link to comment
Nediam Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Am I too late for the free beer??? Quote Link to comment
+shadows_crew Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 Can anyone join in the beerfest?? I am not a computer geek...sort of followed everything said here...don't own a hat...but could sure use a beer!! I could try to sound techie if that is really a necessity!! :D Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 Thanks very much, guys.... I now have a formatted and visible F: drive !!! Oh what it is to be clever..... That would seem to be a load of beer I owe you!!! Oh not clever we're just GEEKS Phew since I got the solution wrong then I am not a Geek Hang on does that move me out of the beer queue? Quote Link to comment
+marinor Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 saw this one too late to help, but I woulda done ifn I coulda done, can I join the beer queue too? stay safe Bill Quote Link to comment
+bobuk Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 can I join the beer queue too? stay safe Bill you know the rules bill (you been at sea long enough) last one in the pub gets the drinks in...... wooops looks like thats me atm B. Quote Link to comment
+Teuchters Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 Hey Mr P! Did you get a bargain on the drive? A good price? Nick Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted September 2, 2005 Author Share Posted September 2, 2005 Hey Mr P!Did you get a bargain on the drive? A good price? Nick Bought it on Ebay..... Same as this one. Quote Link to comment
Deego Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 Thats a good price . I just paid £55 for a 30 gig pocet drive. For moving stuff to and from work. Have 250 gig in my pc at home, cant beat loads of storage space Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 Thats a good price . I just paid £55 for a 30 gig pocet drive. For moving stuff to and from work. Have 250 gig in my pc at home, cant beat loads of storage space Hoarder! Quote Link to comment
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