External HDD not working

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by vietspeed86, Sep 27, 2010.

  1. vietspeed86

    vietspeed86 Member

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    Hi, I would like to offer my thanks for any help ahead of time.

    I have a WD Passport usb powered external that was just working yesterday. Now when i plug it into my pc I hear the chime but no autoplay pops up, nothing shows in My computer and its doesn't show up in Disk Manager neither. I always here the chimes when I unplug and replug it into the pc. I even removed it from the casing and plugged it directly into my laptop nothing still shows.
     
  2. attar

    attar Senior member

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    Have you tried leaving it plugged in and powering off/on the PC.
    I have a WD external drive that sometimes does the same when it's connected through it's eSata port.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2010
  3. vietspeed86

    vietspeed86 Member

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    hey attar, just tried that rite now. still nothing. any other suggestions? thanks
     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    if doesn't showup when directly connected to laptop then get a new drive as that is now a paperweight.
     
  5. attar

    attar Senior member

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    For my own information (I've never "directly connected" an external drive to a PC) - does that mean there is an IDE/sata and power connector that has to be made?
     
  6. vietspeed86

    vietspeed86 Member

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    that's one costly paperweight ;'(

    If you take the shell off of an external hdd its just as the same as a internal b/c the pc powers the hdd instead of an external power source so you would connect it regularly as an internal.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2010
  7. attar

    attar Senior member

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    I thought this drive drew it's power from the usb?
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    laptop drives only need 5 volts to spin the motors wereas 3.5" drives & bigger need 12 volts.
     

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