Computer Questions

[Trathena]

I hope it's OK that I started a new thread, but after looking around (only a little, I admit) I've not found a thread devoted specifically to stupid idiots like me who can't even use a new hard drive.

Sigh. I bought a hard drive so that I can back up my files. I recently bought a new computer (Dell, Intel Core i7-920 Quad core processor; 4GB of RAM; 640GB hard drive. woohoo!), and my spouse is taking this one, the one I'm on now. But I've got thousands of music files and a shit-load of other files (entire books and essays I've written, pictures, etc.) on this computer.

So we bought a hard drive (Maxtor OneTouch 4) to hold my files temporarily until we could move things around and set things up, blah, blah, blah.

I cannot get the hard drive to work. I've tried everything. It can't read my drives. I get this message: "No external drives were found. Make sure your external drive is connected and turned on."

It's connected. It's turned on. The little light is on. I switched to another USB outlet, but no luck. I searched the help forums, but damn it, those forums are for technical geniuses, not lay people like me. I've looked at the manual, and it doesn't address this issue. I've tried to delete it and reinstall, but it's a write-protected file and won't delete.

Help? Does anyone have a clue? At all? Anyone familiar with this brand of hard drive? Anyone have another option for me?

[And we'll just put a happy little bush over here.]

Re: Computer Questions

drivers? did you go their website and see if you need any specific drivers for your operating system?

[Trathena]

Re: Computer Questions

Yep, and it says that it will work on a Windows XP, which is what I have.
---
This is it:

http://www.maxtor.com/en/hard-drive-backup/external-drives/maxtor-onetouch-4.html

[And we'll just put a happy little bush over here.]

Re: Computer Questions

and it has never once shown up?

[Trathena]

Re: Computer Questions

No, it still says "no drives," however! I think I may have figured out a way to work around it. If I just click and drag the files, they move over to the removable drive. So . . . theoretically, I could just do that and the files will be saved there, correct?

It's really the only thing I can think of right now, since it's so late and I'm so sleepy.

[BuddyGoodness]

Re: Computer Questions

Did you restart the computer with it plugged in? When you plugged it in did windows make a noise? Did you restart the computer and then plug it in? Your best bet might be to take it back and buy a mine usb flash drive and just use that. 8GB and higher can be had for less than 40$. Takes longer to back stuff up but quite handy to have around.

[noclevername]

Re: Computer Questions

buddy speaks truth. ive got like 6 of those fuckers.

but if you can drag and drop to the external drive, then that should be what you need to do anyways, unless i've totally missed something.

[darshun]

Re: Computer Questions

Trat, hey, did you remove the USB cable while the computer and Hard Drive was still connected? Did it work at all at the beginning when you got it?

1 thing that can happen to a HD is if you disconnect the USB cable to disconnect the power to the HD that it screws w/the drivers for the computer. You should properly disconnect the HD via the computer FIRST before disconnecting anything related to the HD.

I've heard from a tech that sometimes if you disconnect the HD incorrectly that you may have screwed up something in the communication between the HD & the computer...

I'll try to hit you up on aim...

[bokkers]

Re: Computer Questions

No, it still says "no drives," however! I think I may have figured out a way to work around it. If I just click and drag the files, they move over to the removable drive. So . . . theoretically, I could just do that and the files will be saved there, correct?

If the drive shows up in Windows Explorer and you're able to drag and drop files around, the drive as well as the USB port are definitely working correctly. You said, you get the message "No external drives were found. Make sure your external drive is connected and turned on." What exactly gives you this message? Windows? Or maybe some external software?

Cheers

[Trathena]

Re: Computer Questions

God, you guys are so very nice to take this time to try to help me. I'm sorry, I had to get away from the computer last night; we were exhausted and I was starting to get Bitch Face with my spouse from the annoyance of all of this.

Did you restart the computer with it plugged in? When you plugged it in did windows make a noise?

Yes and Yes. And I could "safely remove" the hardware when I wanted to, so I know that the USB port is working properly. It's not the computer.

When I first installed the HD, it immediately told me that updates were available, so I installed them and then restarted and didn't think to unplug the hard drive. Is that what screwed things up, do you think?

Your best bet might be to take it back and buy a mine usb flash drive and just use that. 8GB and higher can be had for less than 40$. Takes longer to back stuff up but quite handy to have around.

I have a flash drive with 1GB, ha! But yeah, that's looking more and more like the way to go. But we really wanted to use this as a holding place for important things like theses, events we've taped, etc. And it's got, like 400+ GB.

but if you can drag and drop to the external drive, then that should be what you need to do anyways, unless i've totally missed something.

Yeah, I'm gonna just do that today.

Trat, hey, did you remove the USB cable while the computer and Hard Drive was still connected? Did it work at all at the beginning when you got it?

No and No. It never read the drives, ever. From the moment I restarted the computer, the icon in the . . . tray? (that area by the clock) registered "no drives." I never disconnected the cable from the HD. It just never occurred to me to do that, so yay. :-)

But I did pull it out (safely) when I was trying to see if the problem was with my computer, and plugged it into another usb outlet. I also checked to see if all of my drives were working properly, and the computer says they are.

You said, you get the message "No external drives were found. Make sure your external drive is connected and turned on." What exactly gives you this message? Windows? Or maybe some external software?

When I click on the desktop icon, instead of opening and showing me the removable disks, it gives me this message. I thought that was my only way of transferring the files.

Luckily, very late, after much Bitch Face, I got a clue and opened my c-drive, found the drive there, and tested a file by clicking and dragging. It worked; I signed off; and made amends to my spouse.

I honestly don't know why I can't use the desktop client, but at this point, I'm just glad I have a way to store these files and I can get this computer cleaned up and off to the spouse's office.

And start using my new kick-ass computer!

[hand_of_change]

Re: Computer Questions

In the future, Western Digital... I've got two 320GBs and one 160GB and they work perfectly for me. There is so much music on those things and I'd have a stroke if they crashed but they've been through a decent amount.

[And we'll just put a happy little bush over here.]

Re: Computer Questions

In the future, Western Digital... I've got two 320GBs and one 160GB and they work perfectly for me. There is so much music on those things and I'd have a stroke if they crashed but they've been through a decent amount.

second the western digital bump.

[Trathena]

Re: Computer Questions

Frustrating day. I've got everything switched over (I think/hope). I've set up my new kick ass computer and things seem to be fine with it.

However, I'm trying to set up the old computer in my spouse's office. Everything's set and running fine, and guess what? I can't seem to figure out how to set up the wireless connection. The "wireless connections available" icon/notice? It's not coming up. wtf? I bought this computer, like, two years ago. It's got to have wireless capabilities, right? Right?

I'm trying so hard not to resort to Bitch Face right now.

[Gnomad]

Re: Computer Questions

What's the OS?

[RckNorCal425]

Re: Computer Questions

I'll admit I didn't read all the posts in this thread... so my appologies if this is a repeat... but you probably need to reinstal the driver..

easiest way to do this is probably download the drivers again.. or reinstal from the CDs you got with the computer.. the disks should say "intel driver" or something like that...

you can check to see if they are installed under your System Properties .. under the HARDWARE tab...

doesn't take to long to do..

hope this helps... sorry again if its a repeat