Correct way to add an external USB hard drive into an Enclosure pls??

[psykik]

Hardware
120GB WD 8m cache ata 100
external 3.25 enclosure USB 2

Software
XP and Partition Magic 8

Problem 1: What is correct jumper setting for a hard drive in an external enclosure (the only one) in order to function correctly?
Problem 2 : Using a dell laptop with USB 1. Set external hd jumper to CS or Cable Select. Plugged in back of USB port. XP said hi speed device plugged into non hi speed hub etc..
Rebooted, windows found new mass storage device, format screen came up automatically. Proceeded to format with NTFS as a logical drive. Using Partition
Magic8, converted NTFS to FAT32 for max compatibility. Problem: PM8 gave errors. Now am not able to recognise HD in XP. System Manager says device working
ok USB external HD but my computer shows no hd. Disk Management Shows no external hd. Also red access light on ext USB hd now permanently on. Tried
changing jumpers over to Master and Slave, no progress.

What is the correct procedure to get my external HD working with a FAT32 logical partition? So far, PM8 and disk management wont let me delete the partitions
erroneously created.

THANKS

 

[cz]

I don't think you did anything wrong. But Partition Magic8 crapped on you. I have an identical WD 120G drive in an external enclosure. There are no jumpers needed. I formated it with NTFS and had no problem. I also use a DELL laptop -- latitude c840. Its USB ports are v1.1 ones that go up to 11Mb/s. It is not fast enough for HDs. Lucky that my external enclosures are USB 2/firewire combo. So I plugged it into the mini-1394 port and worked.

In your case, you need to plug this drive into an internal EIDE cable in a desktop computer so that you can use Fdisk to clearup the mass. You might ask your friend to do it for you. Once the partition got massed up you will never see your drive on the external port any more. I am not sure if partition magic8 is compatible with external drives either.

 

[psykik]

hi CZ

Thanks very much for your response

please can you tell me if when you said "No jumpers" on the hd were needed, did you mean no jumper changes or physically no jumper on the back of the hd?

cheers

 

[cz]

NO JUMPER CHANGE ARE NEEDED. I think now days all hard drives are auto-configured for master or slave by default jumper setting. For external enclosure it should be auto or master I think.