USB External Hard Disk Not recognized

[Dan]

Hello,

I have a PC Win XP SP3. I own an external WD USB Hard disk that used
to work perfectly.
Now, when I plug the USB disk, XP recognizes the disk, but doesnt not
assign a drive letter and doesnt not show up on My Computer.

If I click on the Safely remove hardware, it says USB Mass Storage
Device but it doesnt show a drive letter as it does with other disks.

I tried going into My Computer -> Manage -> Disk Management -> but I
dont see the disk listed there.

Any ideas on what is going on or how to fix it?

Thanks!!!

 

[Unknown]

Did you get a driver with the HD? If so, delete it, reboot and reinstall the
driver. Do NOT attach HD until told to do so.

 

[Dan]

I did not get a driver, I just plugged the usb cable and WINXP
recognized the disc in all of the computers around here... until
now...

Any ideas?

 

[Unknown]

Click help and support---type in 'drive letters' It will tell you how to
assign letters.
I did not get a driver, I just plugged the usb cable and WINXP
recognized the disc in all of the computers around here... until
now...

Any ideas?

 

[BILL W]

I have had a Maxtor 3200 USB disk drive working on my laptop for the past 2
years.
Yesterday I booted the laptop and the maxtor was not recognized by
Windows XP when I went to use the data on the USB drive. I tried another
maxtor and under USB devices, I have a yellow warning on the USB Mass
Storage Device and when I opened it, Windows told me that I had an Error
Code 10, device could not be opened. I then restored my system from 3 days
ago and had same problem. I then uninstalled SP 3, which was just installed
3 days ago. No luck with either attempted fix. I deleted all USB devices in
Device Manager and rebooted. No luck again. I looked in Disk Management and
no disk was recognized so I could not change the drive letter, and I have no
drive conflicts. I then took the first maxtor
and mounted it on a non-updated with SP 3 desktop machine, and the disk
came up without any problems or any loss of data.
I am out of options now. I have called the maxtor, no ideas,
or solutions. I have called the computer manufacture and no ideas or
solutions. I am now at Windows XP site and no one here seems to have a
solution.

 

[deadlyquant]

Solution

I had a similar problem.. It occurred due to me not using the safely remove hardware feature before hibernating my comp... and not keeping the USB drive / hard disk plugged on when restarted the next day..
Here comes the solution:

Just turn off the hard disk for 10 min or so (leave the main power supply connected to the USB hard disk) .. and then re connect it and then turn it back on.. It worked for me.. I hope it works fr you..You are rebooting the hard disk completely and resetting its settings to connect back to your comp with all data intact..

Let me know if it worked for you. Good Luck.

--
sharath (dot) sridhar (at) gmail (dot) com