Help ! Problem with 400gb hard drive =(

Nikelknights · 08-07-2006, 11:37 PM

sup guys i recently bought a 400 gb hard internal hitachi SATA. Then bought a Sata enclosure. They work but when connecting to my labtop m320 gateway for some reason i just don't see the drive. I see that the connection works but it doesn't show a drive letter. i have updated my usb to 2.0. I have created a drive letter but that doesn't do swat cause when i reformat it, i doesn't allow me to do it " it says something like can't format " then it renders it completely useless.

I'm all out of ideas guys could it be the hard drive? or enclosure they were purchased brand new. I figure not i think its the bios not able to read such a big hard drive then again i maybe wrong

help me !! its driving me

MSP · 08-08-2006, 05:45 AM

Windows XP? Do this:

1) Right click on My Computer and select "Manage" (you can get to Computer Management in the Control Panel too.
2) Click on "Disk Management"

It's likely that you will see the drive here and it just doesn't have a drive letter. You may have to shift around your optical drive letters, but it should work.

EDIT: I just re-read your post and completely missed the "I have created a drive letter" part. I dunno man, perhaps it's a limitatoin / flaw in the enclosure? Have you tried it on another PC?

Nikelknights · 08-08-2006, 04:38 PM

MASSCOOL UHB-340U/PS Aluminum 3.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure is the namebrand

i got it tigerdirect it says that it supports up too 500gb. so i don't know wuts wrong i mean my computer detects the hard drive

WoodButcher · 08-08-2006, 05:26 PM

I had the same prob recently with a USB IDE / SATA adapter with a 4GB drive I use for repair. If you restart your PC w/ the drive connected and running it shoud be seen in disc management. R click my comp. If not you should be able to format/ partition the drive with your windows disc. Use care not to reformat your existing HD.

MSP · 08-08-2006, 05:49 PM

How's it formatted? Windows XP doesn't play nice with FAT/FAT16 as I recall.

super_Chris · 08-08-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSP

How's it formatted? Windows XP doesn't play nice with FAT/FAT16 as I recall.

It sounds like it's not formated at all. Do as MSP stated(the my computer manage thing), then find the drive, then delete the partitions, if any, then format through the manage window, then the letter will automaticaly appear in My Computer.

MSP · 08-08-2006, 06:58 PM

On a related note, this thing works great! For 30 bucks I turned every spare drive I have laying around into a USB portable!

WoodButcher · 08-08-2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSP

On a related note, this thing works great! For 30 bucks I turned every spare drive I have laying around into a USB portable!

ditto, flash drives are good for mobile users but shit, for $30 ya can't beat a used hard drive.

funkgab · 08-09-2006, 01:54 AM

you had drives without enclosures just hooked to that thing?

WoodButcher · 08-09-2006, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkgab

you had drives without enclosures just hooked to that thing?

Sure, Why not? If you need to move data between 2 PCs that aren't directly networked, restore or recover data or even just plain old backup, what could be easier?

MSP · 08-09-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkgab

you had drives without enclosures just hooked to that thing?

Oh yeah! It's mostly for data recovery, but I have two drives in particular to which this device is well suited. I have a Segate 20GB EIDE drive and a 40GB laptop drive, both of which are already enclosed in alluminum (aka no circuits showing). So with this I'm able to throw the laptop drive in my tool bag and use it while I'm on the road. It's pretty slick.

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08-08-2006, 05:45 AM	permanent link to #2
MSP Globe Trekker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,846 (#1 ) My photos: 143 Thanked 10x in 10 posts	Windows XP? Do this: 1) Right click on My Computer and select "Manage" (you can get to Computer Management in the Control Panel too. 2) Click on "Disk Management" It's likely that you will see the drive here and it just doesn't have a drive letter. You may have to shift around your optical drive letters, but it should work. EDIT: I just re-read your post and completely missed the "I have created a drive letter" part. I dunno man, perhaps it's a limitatoin / flaw in the enclosure? Have you tried it on another PC? Last edited by MSP; 08-08-2006 at 05:47 AM..

08-08-2006, 05:26 PM	permanent link to #4
WoodButcher Tweak Minion Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT. Posts: 1,567 (#62 ) My photos: 5 Thanked 3x in 2 posts	I had the same prob recently with a USB IDE / SATA adapter with a 4GB drive I use for repair. If you restart your PC w/ the drive connected and running it shoud be seen in disc management. R click my comp. If not you should be able to format/ partition the drive with your windows disc. Use care not to reformat your existing HD.
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08-07-2006, 11:37 PM	permanent link to #1
Nikelknights Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2 (#580 ) My photos: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	sup guys i recently bought a 400 gb hard internal hitachi SATA. Then bought a Sata enclosure. They work but when connecting to my labtop m320 gateway for some reason i just don't see the drive. I see that the connection works but it doesn't show a drive letter. i have updated my usb to 2.0. I have created a drive letter but that doesn't do swat cause when i reformat it, i doesn't allow me to do it " it says something like can't format " then it renders it completely useless. I'm all out of ideas guys could it be the hard drive? or enclosure they were purchased brand new. I figure not i think its the bios not able to read such a big hard drive then again i maybe wrong help me !! its driving me

08-08-2006, 04:38 PM	permanent link to #3
Nikelknights Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2 (#580 ) My photos: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	MASSCOOL UHB-340U/PS Aluminum 3.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure is the namebrand i got it tigerdirect it says that it supports up too 500gb. so i don't know wuts wrong i mean my computer detects the hard drive

08-08-2006, 05:49 PM	permanent link to #5
MSP Globe Trekker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,846 (#1 ) My photos: 143 Thanked 10x in 10 posts	How's it formatted? Windows XP doesn't play nice with FAT/FAT16 as I recall.

08-08-2006, 06:58 PM	permanent link to #7
MSP Globe Trekker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,846 (#1 ) My photos: 143 Thanked 10x in 10 posts	On a related note, this thing works great! For 30 bucks I turned every spare drive I have laying around into a USB portable!

08-09-2006, 01:54 AM	permanent link to #9
funkgab Tweak Minion Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 1,203 (#80 ) My photos: 1 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	you had drives without enclosures just hooked to that thing?

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