WinXP can't recognize external USB hard drive

[Linda Amar]

This computer came with enough bells and whistles to take me through my
graphics and sound programs without a hitch. After four exchanges with
Gateway support, I'm being told I have to seek a BIOS update on the web.

Here's the problem:

I have an external USB hard drive that has my backup files from my old
computer, which I want to selectively restore to this new computer.

The drive is recognized and accessible by my laptop computer, but the
new desktop can't see it in File Manager. It can see it in Device Manager.

I have a guess: This computer comes with a built-in removable media
reader that scans as four separate "storage drives." The slots are for
CF and SD cards and related removable media.

I wonder whether Windows XP (this machine is running Windows XP Media
Center Edition) limits the number of "storage drives" to, say, four?
I'm sure Gateway's right, it's a BIOS problem, but they should have had
a fix for it, I believe.

I do not need these card readers. I would gladly disable them--and
have--but of course Windows politely reinstalls them upon reboot. If I
could selectively disable one or two of them, then if the problem is too
many "storage drives," that should free up whatever is necessary to see
and read the external hard drive.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions. I'm not having any luck searching
for solutions online.

Linda Amar, Shelton WA

 

[AJR]

Hm -"File Manager" - from Win 3.0 days I believe! One possibility if the
drive is not listed in "My computer" or via "Windows explorer" may be lack
of available drive letters (even though possibility of 26 letters). For
example, my computers are set to limit drive assignments up to "H"
(supposedly saves memory).
I would deactivate/remove a media drive and see if the external drive is
assigned letter.

 

[John Wunderlich]

This computer came with enough bells and whistles to take me
through my graphics and sound programs without a hitch. After
four exchanges with Gateway support, I'm being told I have to seek
a BIOS update on the web.

Here's the problem:

I have an external USB hard drive that has my backup files from my
old computer, which I want to selectively restore to this new
computer.

The drive is recognized and accessible by my laptop computer, but
the new desktop can't see it in File Manager. It can see it in
Device Manager.

I have a guess: This computer comes with a built-in removable
media reader that scans as four separate "storage drives." The
slots are for CF and SD cards and related removable media.

I wonder whether Windows XP (this machine is running Windows XP
Media Center Edition) limits the number of "storage drives" to,
say, four? I'm sure Gateway's right, it's a BIOS problem, but they
should have had a fix for it, I believe.

I do not need these card readers. I would gladly disable
them--and have--but of course Windows politely reinstalls them
upon reboot. If I could selectively disable one or two of them,
then if the problem is too many "storage drives," that should free
up whatever is necessary to see and read the external hard drive.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions. I'm not having any luck
searching for solutions online.

Linda Amar, Shelton WA

See:
"New drive or mapped network drive not available in Windows Explorer"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297694/en-us>

HTH,
John

 

[Anna]

This computer came with enough bells and whistles to take me through my
graphics and sound programs without a hitch. After four exchanges with
Gateway support, I'm being told I have to seek a BIOS update on the web.

Here's the problem:

I have an external USB hard drive that has my backup files from my old
computer, which I want to selectively restore to this new computer.

The drive is recognized and accessible by my laptop computer, but the new
desktop can't see it in File Manager. It can see it in Device Manager.

I have a guess: This computer comes with a built-in removable media
reader that scans as four separate "storage drives." The slots are for CF
and SD cards and related removable media.

I wonder whether Windows XP (this machine is running Windows XP Media
Center Edition) limits the number of "storage drives" to, say, four? I'm
sure Gateway's right, it's a BIOS problem, but they should have had a fix
for it, I believe.

I do not need these card readers. I would gladly disable them--and
have--but of course Windows politely reinstalls them upon reboot. If I
could selectively disable one or two of them, then if the problem is too
many "storage drives," that should free up whatever is necessary to see
and read the external hard drive.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions. I'm not having any luck searching
for solutions online.

Linda Amar, Shelton WA

Linda:
I don't think the existence of the media reader is at the root of your
problem. Unfortunately, the non-recognition of USB devices has become a
too-common occurrence re the XP operating system.

Here are some general troubleshooting tips to try...
1. Access Disk Management (Start > right-click My Computer - Manage -
Computer Management > Disk Management) and see if the USB device is listed.
If so, and there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive
letter to the device.
2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
Hopefully, Windows Explorer (I assume that's what you meant by "File
Manager") will open and the device will be listed along with its
files/folders .
3. If your USB device is connected to USB hub, connect it instead *directly*
to a USB port on the computer.
4. Try different USB ports if your computer has more than one.
5. Do not use a USB extension cable in the event you're using one.
6. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
*after*
the system has booted to a Desktop.
7. Try a different USB cable.
8. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
controllers listed and reboot.
10. If practical, access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device
to determine if there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're
experiencing or there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might
be defective.

We'll assume that the HD is non-defective but that's always a possibility.

Did Gateway give you what seemed to be *definitive* information that a BIOS
upgrade affecting USB device recognition was necessary? And in doing so, did
they not indicate that the BIOS update could be downloaded from their
support site? While it's unlikely you need a BIOS upgrade to solve this
particular problem, it *is* possible that this may be necessary.
Anna

 

[Linda Amar]

Windows Explorer is probably the correct term currently. I've been
around the block for a number of years.

I seem to have an abundance of available drive letters. I suspect
you're on the right track, however. Is there a place, possibly in
device manager, where I can actually assign it a drive letter?

I did remove the media drives, both by disabling the software drivers
("uninstall"). When the computer is restarted, it immediately
identifies and reinstalls the media drives. This morning, I unplugged
the module containing the media drives from the motherboard. I
restarted the computer and no luck on the external drive.

Again: the drive is visible to Device Manager; it is invisible to
Windows Explorer/My computer. And it works plug-and-play on my much
older laptop.

 

[AJR]

You can try the following : Control panel>Admin tools>Computer mgt>Disk
mgt>Rt.click drive for opportunity to assign letter providing it is listed.

 

[Anna]

Linda:
(I sent this out a couple of days ago but I've been having problems with my
news server so I'm not certain if it actually got out. If you've already
seen it, just disregard).

I don't think the existence of the media reader is at the root of your
problem. Unfortunately, the non-recognition of USB devices has become a
too-common occurrence re the XP operating system.

Here are some general troubleshooting tips to try...
1. Access Disk Management (Start > right-click My Computer - Manage -
Computer Management > Disk Management) and see if the USB device is listed.
If so, and there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive
letter to the device.
2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
Hopefully, Windows Explorer (I assume that's what you meant by "File
Manager") will open and the device will be listed along with its
files/folders .
3. If your USB device is connected to USB hub, connect it instead *directly*
to a USB port on the computer.
4. Try different USB ports if your computer has more than one.
5. Do not use a USB extension cable in the event you're using one.
6. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
*after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
7. Try a different USB cable.
8. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
controllers listed and reboot.
10. If practical, access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device
to determine if there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're
experiencing or there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might
be defective.

We'll assume that the HD is non-defective but that's always a possibility.

Did Gateway give you what seemed to be *definitive* information that a BIOS
upgrade affecting USB device recognition was necessary? And in doing so, did
they not indicate that the BIOS update could be downloaded from their
support site? While it's unlikely you need a BIOS upgrade to solve this
particular problem, it *is* possible that this may be necessary.
Anna