Widows not detecting my external

Quinnzo · 11-07-2009, 12:35 PM

Hi, sorry I know their is lots of posts around on the internet on this subject but I can't find anything that helps me. It shows in Device Manager under Disk Drives. When I uninstall the drivers through Device Manager and then reconnect the external it installs driver so I know it's somewhat working. When I try to put it into another PC the same thing happens.

Interesting thing to note, when I try to start up my laptop with it attached it doesn't boot, just stays at a blank screen, doesn't show the HP logo or anything.

It's a Buffalo 1TB, DriveStation I think.

Edit: I did see the TestDisc post but wanted to get feedback before I try it.
Also this all started the day I upgraded to 7, it stopped letting my transfer files to back up then once I upgraded it worked once but crashed quickly.

Dogg · 11-07-2009, 12:49 PM

Is the drive listed in Drive Management?

Quinnzo · 11-07-2009, 05:07 PM

Yes, it says I must initialize it though. Will I loose all my data if I do that? Any way around it?

**raptor_pa** · 11-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Try test disk, sounds like it lost the MBR

Quinnzo · 11-08-2009, 05:33 AM

It doesn't show up in TestDisc :/
Also, you need to run it as Administrator in Windows 7 as well.

**raptor_pa** · 11-08-2009, 05:55 PM

Just want to clarify - it doesn't show as a drive when you are running as admin? Any test or diagnostic tools should be run as admin in Windows if yuo want to get accurate results. Windows limits access to disks to protect itself. True DOS is actually the best way, but most consumer tools are windows based

Quinnzo · 11-09-2009, 12:52 PM

It doesn't show up when I run as admin, the only drive that shows up is the one in my laptop :/

11-07-2009, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Quinnzo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Widows not detecting my external Hi, sorry I know their is lots of posts around on the internet on this subject but I can't find anything that helps me. It shows in Device Manager under Disk Drives. When I uninstall the drivers through Device Manager and then reconnect the external it installs driver so I know it's somewhat working. When I try to put it into another PC the same thing happens. Interesting thing to note, when I try to start up my laptop with it attached it doesn't boot, just stays at a blank screen, doesn't show the HP logo or anything. It's a Buffalo 1TB, DriveStation I think. Edit: I did see the TestDisc post but wanted to get feedback before I try it. Also this all started the day I upgraded to 7, it stopped letting my transfer files to back up then once I upgraded it worked once but crashed quickly. Last edited by Quinnzo; 11-07-2009 at 12:39 PM.

11-07-2009, 12:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,085 OS: XP sp3	Re: Widows not detecting my external Is the drive listed in Drive Management? __________________ Google is your friend !

11-07-2009, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Quinnzo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Re: Widows not detecting my external Yes, it says I must initialize it though. Will I loose all my data if I do that? Any way around it?

11-07-2009, 05:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,843 OS: XP	Re: Widows not detecting my external Try test disk, sounds like it lost the MBR __________________

11-08-2009, 05:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
Quinnzo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Re: Widows not detecting my external It doesn't show up in TestDisc :/ Also, you need to run it as Administrator in Windows 7 as well.

11-08-2009, 05:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,843 OS: XP	Re: Widows not detecting my external Just want to clarify - it doesn't show as a drive when you are running as admin? Any test or diagnostic tools should be run as admin in Windows if yuo want to get accurate results. Windows limits access to disks to protect itself. True DOS is actually the best way, but most consumer tools are windows based __________________

11-09-2009, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Quinnzo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Re: Widows not detecting my external It doesn't show up when I run as admin, the only drive that shows up is the one in my laptop :/