External USB / Firewire HDD does not show up

[Guest]

I have an external 120GB Western Digital HDD that connects via USB (2.0) and
Firewire. I am running MS Windows XP Home SP2 on an E-Machines laptop.

When connecting the ext HDD (either USB or firewire) nothing happens. This
HDD does not show up anywhere. I can connect the HDD to another computer and
it works fine.

Any ideas on where I should start to fix this problem and get the drive to
show up so I can access it and use it for storage.

 

[Kevin]

What about drivers?

 

[Guest]

When I purchased the HDD it came preformated and ready to connect to a MS
Windows machine, so it didn't come with any. However, since the issue, I have
checked the manufacturers web site and downloaded everything they had.
Nothing worked. I've checked my BIOS and I have the latest.

Frankly I'm totally out of ideas.

 

[menac20]

mount it
computer administration => give drive letter for usb drive