New external drive not recognized

[friesian]

I just got a new external hard drive. It is a "My Passport" 250 GB
drive.

It works fine with my desktop, but I can't get it to work with my
laptop. Sometimes it comes up with the window for found new hardware,
and it asks to go online to find software. This is a plug and play
drive. Most of the time, it shows no sign of even noticing I plugged
it in.

My laptop has win xp which is what it says it needs. But it is older.
I have to use a pcmia card for usb 2.0 ports because the internal usb
is 1.1. I did read that it may have trouble with usb hubs, so this may
be the problem.

Any suggestions? I do have a new laptop on order, and it should work
fine with this. But it will be another 3 weeks or so before it
arrives. I would like to use this drive to take off all the files I
want rather than doing it in smaller batches.

 

[GT]

I just got a new external hard drive. It is a "My Passport" 250 GB
drive.

It works fine with my desktop, but I can't get it to work with my
laptop. Sometimes it comes up with the window for found new hardware,
and it asks to go online to find software. This is a plug and play
drive. Most of the time, it shows no sign of even noticing I plugged
it in.

My laptop has win xp which is what it says it needs. But it is older.
I have to use a pcmia card for usb 2.0 ports because the internal usb
is 1.1. I did read that it may have trouble with usb hubs, so this may
be the problem.

Any suggestions? I do have a new laptop on order, and it should work
fine with this. But it will be another 3 weeks or so before it
arrives. I would like to use this drive to take off all the files I
want rather than doing it in smaller batches.

It might be incredibly slow, but have you tried it on your build-in USB 1
port? If it works and is only a one-off, then just leave it to copy for a
while and go out to the pub.

 

[friesian]

It might be incredibly slow, but have you tried it on your build-in USB 1
port? If it works and is only a one-off, then just leave it to copy for a
while and go out to the pub.

I tried plugging it into the old USB a couple times, but it didn't
seem to notice it. Perhaps I should try leaving it in for several
minutes and see if t comes up.

 

[GT]

I tried plugging it into the old USB a couple times, but it didn't
seem to notice it. Perhaps I should try leaving it in for several
minutes and see if t comes up.

I would expect it to recognise the device within a few seconds (normally
instantly) on either USB speed. Did it come with any device drivers? Perhaps
you need to install them first.

 

[friesian]

I would expect it to recognise the device within a few seconds (normally
instantly) on either USB speed. Did it come with any device drivers? Perhaps
you need to install them first.

It didn't come with anything or mention anything. It just says plug
and play. And it did work fine on my desktop (also win xp).

Would it be possible that windows needs to be updated? I know the
desktop does it automatically. I don't think my laptop does.

 

[Mike Walsh]

I would expect it to recognise the device within a few seconds (normally
instantly) on either USB speed. Did it come with any device drivers? Perhaps
you need to install them first.

You can update WinXP by installing service pack 3. I don't think it will fix the problem because USB works well with service pack 2.
If you use a pcmia card you should disable the built-in USB in the BIOS.
Some USB ports don't supply enough power for a hard drive. You could use a Y cable to get power from two ports.

 

[friesian]

You can update WinXP by installing service pack 3. I don't think it will fix the problem because USB works well with service pack 2.
If you use a pcmia card you should disable the built-in USB in the BIOS.
Some USB ports don't supply enough power for a hard drive. You could use a Y cable to get power from two ports.

I think that is it. There was one time I got an error that mentioned
something to do with power. It crashed the computer, so I did not get
a chance to write down the error, and I forgot about it. This drive
does not have a sepearate power cable. Would the y cable be at most
electronic stores? I normally shop at Fry's but I won't be able to go
that way. I know there is a Best Buy near another store I need to go
to.