external usb drive not being recognized

[daveh0]

other usb devices are being recognized using the same port. other devices are recognized using the same usb cable. so i know it's not the port or the cable. i tried power cycling, rebooting windows, unplugging and re-plugging in the usb cable... all to no avail. i am not receiving any error messages. the drive just does not show up in 'my computer' and no icon shows up in the tray indicating that a usb device has been plugged in.

it was working intermittently for the past few months but now is consistently not working at all. i get the same results when i try on another computer.

not sure what to do from here. any troubleshooting tips?

[Patonb]

How old is it? The memmory does wear out, and die. Which sounds like what happened.

Solution is to buy another one...

[UncleMark]

It has been my experience that some external (hard) drives require special software to be installed pre-plugin to the USB Drive. Additionally I am aware some USB ports do not have power on one of the 5 wires and some external drives have external power requirements ie:110volt three prong plug (for the huge terrabyte monsters). daveh0 if you can provide a make, model type, manufacturer, or further description trouble shooting is A WHOLE LOT EASIER. Without knowing details of the device it is like saying "I droppie my lappy topy" (in english: "I dropped my laptop" at which time all good technicians or trouble shooters look for the closest trash can target).

[UncleMark]

Hoping details helps

[skippy13]

I use a wireless mouse for my laptop. Sometimes I get that message for the mouse. Try cleaning off the pins in the plug of the device you are trying to connect. That usually works for me for a time. The pins can oxidize.

[daveh0]

it's only about a year old so i'm hoping it's not shot already... it's made by Beyond Micro and the model is the 'Mobile Disk'. http://beyondmicro.com/mobiledisk25.html

[Patonb]

I still think it's shot... In fact most drives fail within a year if theyre going to go. You might be lucky and it only be the enclosure.

You can try taking it to a shop and having the drive checked. Or find/buy a 2.5" enclosure, take yours apart, and plug it in.

Despite being P&P it has a driver, but if it was driver issue, it'd come up unknown device.

[MikeC]

I have the same problem at work because there are a lot of drives that load and my USB was trying to use a letter that was already being used. I'm not a computer guy, but here goes. Click on 'Start' and then Right click on My Computer. One of the options should be 'Manage'. Click on that. Then click on 'Disk Management.' This should show all of the disks including your USB. If you can see the USB right click the drive and select the option to change the drive letter - change it to a letter that isn't being used. An IT guy here at work showed me that trick - hope it helps. Mike

[dan_nc]

Is it under warranty? I'd send it back. If you try it on a different computer, different cable and it's still broken, it's probably the drive.