Why is Windows 7 unable to recognize my external hard drive?

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Why is Windows 7 unable to recognize my external hard drive?

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate

External Hard Drive: HP SD320A


NOTES:

- It works on other computers.
- It works on another computer that is also running Windows 7 Ultimate.
- Formatted as NTFS.
- Connects to computer via USB
- Had HP Software installed prior to format and errors.
- Device is not recognized in Disk Manager
- Device is recognized as a Mass Storage Device in the Control Panel

Thank you.

Answer
Hi:

When Windows 7 start up. The first thing it does; is to send out a request to your Drive Manager and ask Hey buddy what drives do we have and the drive manager tell it, this what we got Drive C: Drive D : and Drive A ( if got that ( a Floppy disk drive) ). when you connected it to the USB port The USB bus should send a Request to Windows and say we got a New piece of Hardware and windows 7 should send a request to the New hardware asking what are you? and if your new drive has a plug and load program - it send a request to Windows 7 saying I'm a New disk drive and I want to load my drivers ( the interfacing program that enable windows 7 and the New drive to talk to each other) into you and please put my Id in your Disk Manager So I will recognize via my coded input code. And Windows will either say "go ahead" or No, because I don't recognize you HP code however sometime Windows 7 will recognize it - only after you restarted your again with the USB still plug in to it in both your drive and it. than it will recognize your external hard drive. to initialize the drive program

I hope this helps

How can I access my External Hard Drive on Windows 7?

Johnny B

I have a WD 500GB External Hard Drive and used it for my Windows Vista. However, I recently upgraded to Windows 7. I have all of my information and everything on my hard drive and when I plug it in, it says that I can't access it unless if I format my External Hard Drive. Is there a way to accessing my files on it without formatting it?

Answer
Hello Johnny,

I would look for an updated driver for your External Hard Drive. Do not reformat it- you will erase the data on the drive. Go to the manufacturer of the drive and find updated drivers if they have any, otherwise try the other methods here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Tips-for-fixing-common-driver-problems.

Tara
Windows Outreach Team

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