HDD problem

[Knightmare]

I feel stupid. I should be able to figure this out, but I can't.

I finally bought an external HDD. It works fine. The light is on, I can transfer files over, all that jazz.

However, it will not show up under My Computer. All the other drives are there, but not this one.

I installed, then rebooted. Nothing.

I have type run -->K: to access the HDD.

How can I make it appear in My Computer, or better yet, on my desktop?

I feel so stupid. I should be able to figure this out, but am having a senior moment I guess.

[sms001]

However, it will not show up under My Computer. All the other drives are there, but not this one.


Win XP? What's the story when you go to Computer Management - Storage - Disk Management? (Or RUN --> diskmgmt.msc) Do you have any network drives mapped?

[Pedersen]

Stupid question: Have you scrolled down? I've seen XP split the drives into types, and put USB drives way down low.

I doubt that's it, but I hope it is. Would be the easiest fix at least :)

[Knightmare]

Nope, not there. The good news is that I made a shortcut onto my desktop. The bad news is that I don't remember how I made the shortcut.

[draggar]

The only time I've seen that is when the drive itself is bad (and I go though a lot of USB (modified and unmodified) drives a day. They all show up in My Computer.

[Geek King]

Hmm...you've got a wierd one, Knightmare. Congrats! :p

What about copying the shortcut into the My Computer window?

[volatile]

Question: Did you buy a normal external HD with a normal "A to B" USB connection? Or did you buy an NAS external HD?

[Knightmare]

The HDD has a "normal" USB connection, yes (one regular end, one mini-end)
The other day I swapped it out for another one. Brought that one home and hooked it up (after uninstalling the other one).
Same problem

I called Seagate tech support, told them my problem, and then after tier 1 couldn't help, was transferred to tier 2.
He told me that there was probably something wrong with my computer and that I should do a non-destructive system restore. I did that yesterday.
Still won't show up.

*sigh* so there is probably something majorly wrong with my computer. I must have deleted some really important file a while ago.

Maybe I should just backup what I want, and do a full system restore?

Or should I just get Vista? haha! NO.

[Geek King]

There might not be anything wrong with your computer. Other folks have this problem too. Here's some support links provided when I googled Seagate external drive not showing "My Computer":


This first one might be something to look at.
http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t37252.html

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/comphelp/msg082152201553.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=237643&start=0
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=235838&messageID=2312396


Hope something here helps. If not, google the terms I used, there were pages and pages of stuff.

[ahanix1989]

Another idea, is the panel it'd normally be under 'hidden' / 'collapsed'? Look for little downward triangles along the side of My Computer

[Knightmare]

HDD problem fixed!
And all I had to do was back up my pictures, music, files, etc by dragging it to the shortcut for the ext. HDD. Then, I did a complete system ("Destructive") restore.
Some how, some where, some time I must have deleted a file I shouldn't have.

So I now have a empty int HDD and a really empty ext HDD. 750 GB of storage!
Yeah baby!

But thanks for your help and advice everyone. I greatly appreciate it