portable hard drive can not show in "My Computer"

[Liu]

Hi,

I just got a SimpleTech (SimpleDrive) Portable hard drive (80G) and
tried to use it in my IBM ThinkPad T42 laptop. However, I can not find
it in "My Computer". I checked Device Manager. It showed that the
SimpleDrive work properly. In the Disk Management, I could find the
hard disk. After I gave it a drive letter, I can use "open" to open the
hard drive and write to or copy from the hard drive. If I use
"explore", it go to "My Computer", which showed drives C:, D:, E:, but
not the portable hard drive. When I tried to format the hard drive, the
computer said it is not complete because the partition or volume is not
enabled. Can any one help me?

Thank you!

Shijing

 

[Rod Speed]

I just got a SimpleTech (SimpleDrive) Portable hard drive (80G) and
tried to use it in my IBM ThinkPad T42 laptop. However, I can not find
it in "My Computer". I checked Device Manager. It showed that the
SimpleDrive work properly. In the Disk Management, I could find the
hard disk.

You're supposed to partition it there and then it will show up in My Computer too.

After I gave it a drive letter, I can use "open" to open
the hard drive and write to or copy from the hard drive.

Not clear what you mean by that sentence.

If I use "explore", it go to "My Computer", which showed drives C:, D:, E:,
but not the portable hard drive. When I tried to format the hard drive,

Where did you try to do that ?

 

[ducky]

Do you have any mapped drives? if your HDD is trying to grab the same
drive letter as a mapped drive or another device, the disk will mount
but not show up in 'my computer'. the solution is to unmap the drive
letter (if that is the problem) or assign a new drive letter to your
HDD. do you hear the 'ding-dong' noise when you plug in and the
'dong-ding' when you take it out?

AR

 

[JAD]

formatted and partitioned?

 

[Liu]

Thank you for answering my questions.

I am sure that the hard disk is there. It has two partition: partition
1(Extended) and partition 2(Logical). It is formatted (file system is
NTFS). It is shown in the "Safely remove Harddrive" sign (right bottom)
and I can remove it from the sign. In the Disk Management, the hard
disk is shown without drive letter but I can add drive letter. After I
add the drive letter, I right click the portable hard drive and then
select open, the hard drive appears on the screen. Then I can drag
files from desktop to the hard drive or from the hard drive to the
desktop. But the hard drive can not be shown on My Computer. One
possible problem is that the hard for my laptop is similar to the
protable hard. In the device manager, they are shown as TOSHIBA
MK4026GAX and TOSHIBA MK8026MAX USB Device, respectively. It is not
because the USB drive has not enough power. After I use AC adaptor, the
portable hard drive has the same problem.

I really don't know what's wrong. Any way I can use it through disk
management. just take a little more time.

Thank you for your help.

Shijing