My friend has an internal 3.5" IDE drive that he put into an external USB case. The drive worked fine for two weeks. All of a sudden, Windows stopped showing the drive in my computer. It also doesn't access the drive when the drive letter is typed. The drive does spin up when it is power on. Any ideas on why this is happening and how to fix it? Maybe if we could just get it to appear in "My Computer"...
![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
Navigation
Install the app
How to install the app on iOS
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
More options
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Windows Doesn't See Hard Drive
- Thread starter PC_User
- Start date
Have you checked under
Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Storage Manager
If the drive is not listed under there, it most likely is a hardware issue. Plug the drive in without the external USB case and see if it detected then.
The drive is detected when connected via IDE (to another computer) and it does show up in disk management. It still cannot be accessed when connected via USB.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2009
- Messages
- 100
Any " ! " in device manager? If not, sounds like a bad controller card.
So, to confirm-
When you plug the drive in via IDE cable, it works fine. You can read and write files to it without a problem, correct?
When you plug the drive in via the USB enclosure, it doesn't get detected by windows, and does NOT show up in Disk Management?
Can you try another drive in the USB enclosure?
Have you tried any other USB device on that USB port you're using? Have you tried another USB port on the computer?
When you plug the drive in via IDE cable, it works fine. You can read and write files to it without a problem, correct?
When you plug the drive in via the USB enclosure, it doesn't get detected by windows, and does NOT show up in Disk Management?
Can you try another drive in the USB enclosure?
Have you tried any other USB device on that USB port you're using? Have you tried another USB port on the computer?
So, to confirm-
When you plug the drive in via IDE cable, it works fine. You can read and write files to it without a problem, correct?
Yes
When you plug the drive in via the USB enclosure, it doesn't get detected by windows, and does NOT show up in Disk Management?
It doesn't get detected by Windows (in My Computer) but DOES show up in Disk Management.
Can you try another drive in the USB enclosure?
No other drives available.
Have you tried any other USB device on that USB port you're using? Have you tried another USB port on the computer?
Tried other devices on that port (they work fine) and tried all other USB ports.
That being the case, and if you can't get you're hands on any other USB enclosure to test, you're going to have to buy a new enclose if you want to continue to use the drive externally.
What could be the problem? Disk management sees it and the enclosure worked fine for 2 weeks... I think its a problem of Windows seeing the drive, rather than a problem with the enclosure...
There's not a whole lot of other options that will keep your data intact. If the drive works fine plugged in through IDE, then that means the drive is fine. And if your USB port is confirmed to work fine with other devices, then that means your USB ports are fine. The only other thing I can think of is that the USB drive is fighting for a Drive letter that is already used up.
For example, your USB enclosed drive might be trying to use drive letter I:, but something else, such as DVD drive is using that letter. Did you add any new hardware to your computer? Any new media readers?
How many drive letters are in use, or listed in My Computer?
For example, your USB enclosed drive might be trying to use drive letter I:, but something else, such as DVD drive is using that letter. Did you add any new hardware to your computer? Any new media readers?
How many drive letters are in use, or listed in My Computer?
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2009
- Messages
- 100
How does disk manager see the drive (size and format)?
What could be the problem? Disk management sees it and the enclosure worked fine for 2 weeks... I think its a problem of Windows seeing the drive, rather than a problem with the enclosure...
The USB chipset in the enclosure can go bad. Try another drive in that enclosure.