[polaris6]

I am unsure to which forum this should be directed, so, this is a start toward I hope will be the correct direction.

I have an IBM X20 Thinkpad on which I have installed XP Professional. I use this computer as my navigation GPS device on my boat while crusing. I have use this thing for several years now and it works well, mainly because it has a small screen and it's size is compatible with the space I have available for it on the boat.

I would like to reformat the HD (clean it of the electronic 'debris' I have collected over the years, and as part of that process, I want to backup my data on the HD. I have a WD 250 GB USB HD that I normally connect to my laptops for such a purpose and store the HD data on it.

Now, when I plug in the USB HD, I get the message that the Hi-Speed USB device is in a non-hi-speed port and that it will run faster in a USB 2.0 port.

I have searched the 'net'' and found the drivers for this device and tried to install them, but it won't install, and I cannot read or write to that external HD. The system recognizes I have plugged in a device, but that is the extent to which the recognition process goes.

I suspect that I may not have the correct driver, but how many times do I have to uninstall and then install the driver I find on the internet site? One thing is for certain, I do not have a Hi-speed USB host controller installed.

Anyway, can I have some direction on how I can get my laptop to recognize this USB HD?

 

[JimE]

All of the drivers are available from the manufacturers website: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-4LXTHS.html

In any case, it's possible the laptop doesn't have USB 2.0 ports. But the external HDD should still work just fine.

 

[polaris6]

Thank you for the response.

I found the site you recommended, but I couldn't find anything for the X20 XP OS. I did find a USB driver for a Portable Diskette Drive (for 95/98/NT 4) and Video Drivers. Should I try to install the Portable Diskette Driver?

Since my first post, I 'updated' my version of XP (the computer came with 98; I upgraded it 3 years ago). Since the update, when I plug in the external USB HD, I get no recognition from the OS that the drive is there; I can plug in a flash drive and it is recognized and works.

Just a thought...do you suppose that the external USB HD requires more power from the computer than it has available, and as a consequence, just shuts down?

I am groping for solutions.

Thanks for your response anyway.

polaris6

 

[JimE]

I would typically just say install the motherboard/system drivers and/or the USB drivers. But their site doesn't have have either of those listed. In any case, the flash drive is working, so it's likely not a driver issue.

And yes, if your external HDD is not self powered and is getting its power from USB, it's highly likely the laptop isn't supplying enough power.