Searched everywhere. Can't solve. Windows can't see external HDD files/partition.

[KlokWyze]

I've hooked up 3 different external HDD's that all work in other machines. When I hook it up to my primary PC, Windows detects it and then tells me I need to format the drive in order to use it.

My primary rig: Windows 7 64 bit, Biostar A785G3, 2x500GB in RAID1...

I've tried running SFC /scannow. It doesn't detect anything.

I've tried connecting one of the ext. HDD's in EVERY SINGLE USB port. Same error everytime.

I've searched quite a bit via google and here and I see this is a very common problem, but I can't find any solutions. Has anyone seen this before or solved it?

 

[KlokWyze]

Anyone?!?!?!?

 

[curlysir]

Are the external drives using power from the USB port or from an external power supply? If they are powered by the USB cable you might try an external hub with its own power supply.

Also try a different cable, I have had problems similar to this where the cable was bad especially with USB 3.0

 

[Level_1]

Test it with a ubuntu live disc or any that have usb support to rule out your windows driver/software.

 

[KlokWyze]

I just copied the data I needed onto another PC that could properly detect it and reformatted BOTH drives with the Windows 7 computer. Now it recognizes them... I've read on a Microsoft forum thread that external hard drives formatted on other systems can't be read by other Windows 7 systems AND it must be used through the SAME USB port. This is FROM a MS employee.... pretty outrageous if true.

It seems to be related to the drive letter designation. Like whatever system formatted the drives originally own that designation or something.....

 

[Voo]

I've read on a Microsoft forum thread that external hard drives formatted on other systems can't be read by other Windows 7 systems AND it must be used through the SAME USB port. This is FROM a MS employee.... pretty outrageous if true.

Uh source for that? You either misunderstood the guy or ..well no idea. Because that's absolutely not true (well that is, as long as the drives had some FS windows understands to begin with)

 

[curlysir]

I just copied the data I needed onto another PC that could properly detect it and reformatted BOTH drives with the Windows 7 computer. Now it recognizes them... I've read on a Microsoft forum thread that external hard drives formatted on other systems can't be read by other Windows 7 systems AND it must be used through the SAME USB port. This is FROM a MS employee.... pretty outrageous if true.

It seems to be related to the drive letter designation. Like whatever system formatted the drives originally own that designation or something.....

I have never had a problem reading external hard drives formatted on other systems with Windows 7 and I switch USB ports without problems. Anyway, glad you solved your problem.

 

[KlokWyze]

Uh source for that? You either misunderstood the guy or ..well no idea. Because that's absolutely not true (well that is, as long as the drives had some FS windows understands to begin with)

I searched a little couldn't find it. I probably did misinterpret part of what he said, but I think that this particular bug has never been fixed outside of reformatting the drive, losing info, etc.

I found 20+ threads with people having the exact same problem as me and no solutions. It's not common enough to be dealt with by Microsoft I suppose. No matter I got the data off using my Windows XP PC. :thumbsup:

 

[KlokWyze]

double post

 

[nanaki333]

sometimes you have to go in to disk management and import other drives that are set as dynamic disk. i've had to do it a few times, but that was for internal drives. just a thought...

 

[Emulex]

the most obvious would be if the drives were mapped to say D: and you already had D: then they would not show. also server o/s will never automount drives due to the damage that could occur if they took a position of a drive letter than might be used for network mounts. can't have two devices on D:..Z: ya know?

 

[Hyperlite]

the most obvious would be if the drives were mapped to say D: and you already had D: then they would not show. also server o/s will never automount drives due to the damage that could occur if they took a position of a drive letter than might be used for network mounts. can't have two devices on D:..Z: ya know?

D:

 

[curlysir]

D:

What is it with these D: , I posted in another topic and these D: showed up randomly. I did not insert them and had to edit my post to remove them D:.