external hard drive does not install properly

[Guest]

I have a new-to-me refurbished Gateway 4532GB laptop with XP.

I have been using a Western Digital 250GB External USB Hard Drive on my
desktop [Dell Dimension 2400]. No problems. Works fine.

But it will not install properly on the Gateway.

After plugging in the USB and switching on the WD, it 'pings', the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon appears. But it does not appear under 'My Computer'.
And I cannot access the files through applications on the Gateway [e.g. text
files, wma files, etc].

I can see the hdd under Disk Management - it describes itself as 'Healthy'
and 'Active'. [I am glad someone is]. It is NTFS formatted [as is the
laptop's internal hdd].

However, I have to allocate a drive letter to it each time I switch on. This
letter is, by default, 'E'.

Usually this letter does not appear next to the WD hdd in the upper console
window - just the lower one. [But, for some reason just now, for the first
time, it has actually appeared in the upper window].

If I hover the cursor over the WD hdd details and right-click, I can click
Open and see the contents of the hdd. But if the letter 'E' is not assigned
to WD hdd in the top console window, I cannot click on Explore in the lower
console window. I am told that the folder 'E' does not exist.

If I attempt to install the hard disc using the Contol Panel: Add Hardware
facility, I receive the message: "You can only instal one device at a time.
Another device installation is under way; when it is finished, you can try
this wizard again." From this message, I infer that the plug-and-play
installation of the WD hdd has not been completed.

If I click Disk Management: View: Drive Paths, I can see that there are no
drive paths allocated to either of the volumes [internal or external hard
drives] on view in the Disk Management console.

Moreover and finally, the Gateway laptop also refuses to install my
broadband modem [BT Voyager 105 ADSL]. After working its way through 75% of
the program, it finally gives a message to the effect that it is unable to
complete the installation and that I should seek technical assistance.

The people at Gateway are suggesting that I restore the whole system.

I have pored over the Internet over the last couple of days - and it seems
that this USB problem is fairly common, particularly with external hdds.

Has anyone got any ideas?

I am not an expert... by any stretch of the imagination... and I am becoming
more and more disheartened!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a new-to-me refurbished Gateway 4532GB laptop with XP.

I have been using a Western Digital 250GB External USB Hard Drive on my
desktop [Dell Dimension 2400]. No problems. Works fine.

But it will not install properly on the Gateway.

After plugging in the USB and switching on the WD, it 'pings', the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon appears. But it does not appear under 'My Computer'.
And I cannot access the files through applications on the Gateway [e.g. text
files, wma files, etc].

I can see the hdd under Disk Management - it describes itself as 'Healthy'
and 'Active'. [I am glad someone is]. It is NTFS formatted [as is the
laptop's internal hdd].

However, I have to allocate a drive letter to it each time I switch on. This
letter is, by default, 'E'.

Usually this letter does not appear next to the WD hdd in the upper console
window - just the lower one. [But, for some reason just now, for the first
time, it has actually appeared in the upper window].

If I hover the cursor over the WD hdd details and right-click, I can click
Open and see the contents of the hdd. But if the letter 'E' is not assigned
to WD hdd in the top console window, I cannot click on Explore in the lower
console window. I am told that the folder 'E' does not exist.

If I attempt to install the hard disc using the Contol Panel: Add Hardware
facility, I receive the message: "You can only instal one device at a time.
Another device installation is under way; when it is finished, you can try
this wizard again." From this message, I infer that the plug-and-play
installation of the WD hdd has not been completed.

If I click Disk Management: View: Drive Paths, I can see that there are no
drive paths allocated to either of the volumes [internal or external hard
drives] on view in the Disk Management console.

Moreover and finally, the Gateway laptop also refuses to install my
broadband modem [BT Voyager 105 ADSL]. After working its way through 75% of
the program, it finally gives a message to the effect that it is unable to
complete the installation and that I should seek technical assistance.

The people at Gateway are suggesting that I restore the whole system.

I have pored over the Internet over the last couple of days - and it seems
that this USB problem is fairly common, particularly with external hdds.

Has anyone got any ideas?

I am not an expert... by any stretch of the imagination... and I am becoming
more and more disheartened!

The problem with USB drive letters is not at all common. It
can happen when you have networked or substituted drive
letters assigned to the lower letters of the alphabet.

In view of the other problems you report, there is a suspicion
that your system might have been damaged by some malware.
A full re-installation onto a freshly formatted disk, as suggested
by the Gateway helpdesk, will probably solve all your problems.

 

[Guest]

Pegasus, I followed your advice [and that of Gateway].

I re-installed everything.

First, a quick re-install. No good.

Then, a full 'destructive' re-install. And.... yes! It works! The laptop is
loading external devices, including my broadband modem, and I'm back in
business!

Thanks!

During the restoration process, Windows told me that a system 32 kernel file
was 'missing or corrupt'.

It was as you said!

Thanks again!

I have a new-to-me refurbished Gateway 4532GB laptop with XP.

I have been using a Western Digital 250GB External USB Hard Drive on my
desktop [Dell Dimension 2400]. No problems. Works fine.

But it will not install properly on the Gateway.

After plugging in the USB and switching on the WD, it 'pings', the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon appears. But it does not appear under 'My Computer'.
And I cannot access the files through applications on the Gateway [e.g. text
files, wma files, etc].

I can see the hdd under Disk Management - it describes itself as 'Healthy'
and 'Active'. [I am glad someone is]. It is NTFS formatted [as is the
laptop's internal hdd].

However, I have to allocate a drive letter to it each time I switch on. This
letter is, by default, 'E'.

Usually this letter does not appear next to the WD hdd in the upper console
window - just the lower one. [But, for some reason just now, for the first
time, it has actually appeared in the upper window].

If I hover the cursor over the WD hdd details and right-click, I can click
Open and see the contents of the hdd. But if the letter 'E' is not assigned
to WD hdd in the top console window, I cannot click on Explore in the lower
console window. I am told that the folder 'E' does not exist.

If I attempt to install the hard disc using the Contol Panel: Add Hardware
facility, I receive the message: "You can only instal one device at a time.
Another device installation is under way; when it is finished, you can try
this wizard again." From this message, I infer that the plug-and-play
installation of the WD hdd has not been completed.

If I click Disk Management: View: Drive Paths, I can see that there are no
drive paths allocated to either of the volumes [internal or external hard
drives] on view in the Disk Management console.

Moreover and finally, the Gateway laptop also refuses to install my
broadband modem [BT Voyager 105 ADSL]. After working its way through 75% of
the program, it finally gives a message to the effect that it is unable to
complete the installation and that I should seek technical assistance.

The people at Gateway are suggesting that I restore the whole system.

I have pored over the Internet over the last couple of days - and it seems
that this USB problem is fairly common, particularly with external hdds.

Has anyone got any ideas?

I am not an expert... by any stretch of the imagination... and I am becoming
more and more disheartened!

The problem with USB drive letters is not at all common. It
can happen when you have networked or substituted drive
letters assigned to the lower letters of the alphabet.

In view of the other problems you report, there is a suspicion
that your system might have been damaged by some malware.
A full re-installation onto a freshly formatted disk, as suggested
by the Gateway helpdesk, will probably solve all your problems.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the feedback.

Pegasus, I followed your advice [and that of Gateway].

I re-installed everything.

First, a quick re-install. No good.

Then, a full 'destructive' re-install. And.... yes! It works! The laptop is
loading external devices, including my broadband modem, and I'm back in
business!

Thanks!

During the restoration process, Windows told me that a system 32 kernel file
was 'missing or corrupt'.

It was as you said!

Thanks again!

I have a new-to-me refurbished Gateway 4532GB laptop with XP.

I have been using a Western Digital 250GB External USB Hard Drive on my
desktop [Dell Dimension 2400]. No problems. Works fine.

But it will not install properly on the Gateway.

After plugging in the USB and switching on the WD, it 'pings', the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon appears. But it does not appear under 'My Computer'.
And I cannot access the files through applications on the Gateway

[e.g.
text

files, wma files, etc].

I can see the hdd under Disk Management - it describes itself as 'Healthy'
and 'Active'. [I am glad someone is]. It is NTFS formatted [as is the
laptop's internal hdd].

However, I have to allocate a drive letter to it each time I switch

on.
This

letter is, by default, 'E'.

Usually this letter does not appear next to the WD hdd in the upper console
window - just the lower one. [But, for some reason just now, for the first
time, it has actually appeared in the upper window].

If I hover the cursor over the WD hdd details and right-click, I can click
Open and see the contents of the hdd. But if the letter 'E' is not assigned
to WD hdd in the top console window, I cannot click on Explore in the lower
console window. I am told that the folder 'E' does not exist.

If I attempt to install the hard disc using the Contol Panel: Add Hardware
facility, I receive the message: "You can only instal one device at a time.
Another device installation is under way; when it is finished, you can try
this wizard again." From this message, I infer that the plug-and-play
installation of the WD hdd has not been completed.

If I click Disk Management: View: Drive Paths, I can see that there are no
drive paths allocated to either of the volumes [internal or external hard
drives] on view in the Disk Management console.

Moreover and finally, the Gateway laptop also refuses to install my
broadband modem [BT Voyager 105 ADSL]. After working its way through

75%
of

the program, it finally gives a message to the effect that it is unable to
complete the installation and that I should seek technical assistance.

The people at Gateway are suggesting that I restore the whole system.

I have pored over the Internet over the last couple of days - and it seems
that this USB problem is fairly common, particularly with external hdds.

Has anyone got any ideas?

I am not an expert... by any stretch of the imagination... and I am becoming
more and more disheartened!

The problem with USB drive letters is not at all common. It
can happen when you have networked or substituted drive
letters assigned to the lower letters of the alphabet.

In view of the other problems you report, there is a suspicion
that your system might have been damaged by some malware.
A full re-installation onto a freshly formatted disk, as suggested
by the Gateway helpdesk, will probably solve all your problems.