Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive

Kurt · 10-05-2009, 06:47 PM

I just bought a new external USB hard drive for back up.

Problem is, it seems Vista thinks it's a CD drive. Any time I try to copy something to the hard drive, Vista tells me to insert a CD.

How do I make Vista see it as a hard drive?

Kurt · 10-06-2009, 09:25 AM

Anyone have an idea? Thanks.

Bev Clement · 10-06-2009, 09:40 AM

No idea, but Rob suggests you reboot and then update with all the latest Vista updates and see if that helps.

Bev Clement · 10-06-2009, 09:53 AM

Kurt, Rob just suggested go to My Computer, and right click on the drive. Check the properties and see what driver it there. He thinks it might have the wrong driver

frans240 · 10-06-2009, 08:45 PM

Hi Kurt...

I am pretty new to the Warrior forum, and stumbled on your question.

I had this happen 2...and also with Vista, as a hobby I repair pc's and laptops ..so the first thing that I would do is the following.
1) If you have the brandname of the USB drive..then go check their site and search for specific Vista drivers, it might also be that you will only have access to the USB drive as an administrator..
2)Format the USB drive as an NTFS partition instead of the probably formatted FAT32 (which Vista does have problems with)

Let me know if this helped..I will look for more info for you ..maybe give me the name of the USB drive...

Cheers
Cor

johnlagoudakis · 10-06-2009, 08:55 PM

The first thing I would do is go to the external hard drive's site and check out their support knowledge base. If that doesn't help, email or call them.

Doing a search on Google with the model name and "showing up as CD" might find you a solution.

Kurt · 10-06-2009, 09:10 PM

Thanks everyone...

I did format it as NTFS...It seems the problem is, Vista assigned the "virtual" CD (which contained the installer/drivers) as drive L and assigned the hard drive as drive:M.

Problem is, I don't have a drive:M show up in MyComputer, it only goes up to L.

ttelrocj · 10-06-2009, 09:13 PM

Kurt,

Need more info to troubleshoot your issue:

1) Post the model number of your drive
2) Do you have access to another computer where you can plug the drive into? Does it do the same thing?
3) Hit the Vista start button - and then click on the word Computer. That should open a window showing all of your drives
4) Click ONE time on your problem drive, and look at the bottom of the window. You should see a summary telling you info about the disk drive (if it's working) What does the 'File System' say if anything?
5) Do you see any type of light on the drive? If so, what color is it and does it blink or stay lit?
6) Check your packaging for a CD or go to the manufacturer's web site and look for diagnostic utilities and drivers.
7) Is this a laptop or a desktop computer? Some laptops don't push enough power over the USB port to power a full-size drive....try a different USB port.

Reply with these details and I'll try to help you out.

JAC

SurviveUnemployment · 10-06-2009, 09:53 PM

That's why I use Linux. Everything just works... and keeps on working.

Well, that's not the only reason...

Anyway, did you test the external hard drive in another computer to make sure it's not a problem with the drive? Did the drive come with a CD that has the drivers? Did you use that CD to install the drivers?

If you answered all the above questions "Yes," all I can say is that Vista is retarded. Contact the drive manufacturer because they have certainly heard this many times before.

frans240 · 10-13-2009, 01:38 AM

Hey Kurt, me again..did you try the following?

Solution 1
Try another USB plug. Use one on the back of the computer, it would be the best. This has been known to sometimes work.

Try to plug in the USB drive before you turn on the computer. Or if you've done that - try to plug in the USB drive after the computer is on.

Go to device manager , open the USB controllers ,
If you find one with a yellow check mark, uninstall it , then rescan for
hardware changes - Windows should reinstall the USB driver at this point.

Solution 2
Go to Start/Administrative tools/computer management/disk management and right click on the drive and select "mark partition as active".

If these do not work, please post the info on the HD.. is it IDE or SATA and what is the brand?? This might help solve it quicker

Greez
Cor

Kurt · 10-13-2009, 01:41 AM

Thanks Everyone...

Actually, a reboot did the trick. Everything seems to be fine now.

Thanks again...

frans240 · 10-13-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt

Thanks Everyone...

Actually, a reboot did the trick. Everything seems to be fine now.

Thanks again...

Awesome.. good job!!

10-05-2009, 06:47 PM	#1
Kurt Boom Boom Boom Boom! War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 4,632 Thanks: 159 Thanked 460 Times in 237 Posts Social Networking	Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive I just bought a new external USB hard drive for back up. Problem is, it seems Vista thinks it's a CD drive. Any time I try to copy something to the hard drive, Vista tells me to insert a CD. How do I make Vista see it as a hard drive?
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10-06-2009, 09:25 AM	#2
Kurt Boom Boom Boom Boom! War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 4,632 Thanks: 159 Thanked 460 Times in 237 Posts Social Networking	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Anyone have an idea? Thanks.
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10-06-2009, 09:40 AM	#3
Bev Clement Writer War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,417 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 338 Thanked 829 Times in 285 Posts	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive No idea, but Rob suggests you reboot and then update with all the latest Vista updates and see if that helps.
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10-06-2009, 09:53 AM	#4
Bev Clement Writer War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,417 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 338 Thanked 829 Times in 285 Posts	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Kurt, Rob just suggested go to My Computer, and right click on the drive. Check the properties and see what driver it there. He thinks it might have the wrong driver
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10-06-2009, 08:45 PM	#5
frans240 Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Hi Kurt... I am pretty new to the Warrior forum, and stumbled on your question. I had this happen 2...and also with Vista, as a hobby I repair pc's and laptops ..so the first thing that I would do is the following. 1) If you have the brandname of the USB drive..then go check their site and search for specific Vista drivers, it might also be that you will only have access to the USB drive as an administrator.. 2)Format the USB drive as an NTFS partition instead of the probably formatted FAT32 (which Vista does have problems with) Let me know if this helped..I will look for more info for you ..maybe give me the name of the USB drive... Cheers Cor

10-06-2009, 08:55 PM	#6
johnlagoudakis JohnLagoudakis.com War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 231 Thanks: 26 Thanked 31 Times in 27 Posts Social Networking	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive The first thing I would do is go to the external hard drive's site and check out their support knowledge base. If that doesn't help, email or call them. Doing a search on Google with the model name and "showing up as CD" might find you a solution.
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10-06-2009, 09:10 PM	#7
Kurt Boom Boom Boom Boom! War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 4,632 Thanks: 159 Thanked 460 Times in 237 Posts Social Networking	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Thanks everyone... I did format it as NTFS...It seems the problem is, Vista assigned the "virtual" CD (which contained the installer/drivers) as drive L and assigned the hard drive as drive:M. Problem is, I don't have a drive:M show up in MyComputer, it only goes up to L.
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10-06-2009, 09:13 PM	#8
ttelrocj I actually was a warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kent, OH Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts Contact Info	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Kurt, Need more info to troubleshoot your issue: 1) Post the model number of your drive 2) Do you have access to another computer where you can plug the drive into? Does it do the same thing? 3) Hit the Vista start button - and then click on the word Computer. That should open a window showing all of your drives 4) Click ONE time on your problem drive, and look at the bottom of the window. You should see a summary telling you info about the disk drive (if it's working) What does the 'File System' say if anything? 5) Do you see any type of light on the drive? If so, what color is it and does it blink or stay lit? 6) Check your packaging for a CD or go to the manufacturer's web site and look for diagnostic utilities and drivers. 7) Is this a laptop or a desktop computer? Some laptops don't push enough power over the USB port to power a full-size drive....try a different USB port. Reply with these details and I'll try to help you out. JAC

10-06-2009, 09:53 PM	#9
SurviveUnemployment Glad I Got Canned Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 509 Thanks: 260 Thanked 53 Times in 39 Posts Social Networking	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive That's why I use Linux. Everything just works... and keeps on working. Well, that's not the only reason... Anyway, did you test the external hard drive in another computer to make sure it's not a problem with the drive? Did the drive come with a CD that has the drivers? Did you use that CD to install the drivers? If you answered all the above questions "Yes," all I can say is that Vista is retarded. Contact the drive manufacturer because they have certainly heard this many times before.
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10-13-2009, 01:38 AM	#10
frans240 Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Hey Kurt, me again..did you try the following? Solution 1 Try another USB plug. Use one on the back of the computer, it would be the best. This has been known to sometimes work. Try to plug in the USB drive before you turn on the computer. Or if you've done that - try to plug in the USB drive after the computer is on. Go to device manager , open the USB controllers , If you find one with a yellow check mark, uninstall it , then rescan for hardware changes - Windows should reinstall the USB driver at this point. Solution 2 Go to Start/Administrative tools/computer management/disk management and right click on the drive and select "mark partition as active". If these do not work, please post the info on the HD.. is it IDE or SATA and what is the brand?? This might help solve it quicker Greez Cor

10-13-2009, 01:41 AM	#11
Kurt Boom Boom Boom Boom! War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 4,632 Thanks: 159 Thanked 460 Times in 237 Posts Social Networking	Re: Windows Geeks? Trouble with hard drive Thanks Everyone... Actually, a reboot did the trick. Everything seems to be fine now. Thanks again...
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