External Drive Problem

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:36 am

I plugged in a LaCie external drive to my computer. It seems to recognize it alright from the device manager, drivers are up to date, but how am I supposed to actualy access it to write files to it? (Running Vista.)

bcnipod · Post by **bcnipod** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:39 am

MaestroMan wrote:I plugged in a LaCie external drive to my computer. It seems to recognize it alright from the device manager, drivers are up to date, but how am I supposed to actualy access it to write files to it? (Running Vista.)

Have you formatted it since you plugged it in? First thing I did to mine was to erase and format it to my liking.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:42 am

That's partially the problem. I can't access/write or do anything to it. I can only see that it's plugged into the computer via FireWire from the device manager.

bcnipod · Post by **bcnipod** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:51 am

MaestroMan wrote:That's partially the problem. I can't access/write or do anything to it. I can only see that it's plugged into the computer via FireWire from the device manager.

Then i would say try using it on another machine and reformating it there.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:35 am

I don't think that's the problem. I'm sure it's just a matter of locating it.

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:44 am

You shouldn't have to 'locate' a hard drive, if it's not coming up on the Computer screen, then there's a problem... try another machine.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:50 am

All the other machines are Mac's and it comes up fine on their desktops, as usual with everything plugged in. I really don't know what the problem is, all I need to do is get 20-30 GB of files so I can reformat the Hard Drive (billions of viruses and Vista sucks the big hairy one). If it all fails I'll just fuck it out and get an iMac or XPS 420 :/

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:53 am

So it's not formatted to work on a PC, just a Mac?

bcnipod · Post by **bcnipod** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:56 am

iGeo wrote:So it's not formatted to work on a PC, just a Mac?

no, I don't think so. All External drives I have ever seen when you get them are windows formated, so they can be read on Macs and on Windows machines. If the drive was Mac formated, it would appear under "My Computer" but when you tried to open it, Windows would tell you that it cannot be read, and ask you if you want to format it to be read correctly.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:58 am

yeah, it's supposed to work on both. The drivers for it are installed on the pC but I just can't find the actual drive in Computer/anywhere only in device manager which doesn't let you do anything

ares-erus · Post by **ares-erus** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:56 am

in the device manager does it have a little yellow warning sign next to the device?

kibito87 · Post by **kibito87** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:04 am

Go to your control panel and then to your administrative tools. Then click the computer management shortcut. From there on the let side, try clicking Disk Management. It should display all your disk space. See if your external hdd shows in here.

HPDarkness · Post by **HPDarkness** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:55 pm

Follow what kibito said, but partition it. http://articles.directorym.com/Partitio ... 00439.html

This will allow it to work in Vista. I always partition my drives when i get a new one.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:41 pm

Okay thanks for the help so far guys, but where do I go from here to write to the drive?

kibito87 · Post by **kibito87** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:47 pm

That means it hasn't been partitioned. Just partition the hardrive using Windows and it should show up just fine in your "My Computer" area. It's been awhile since I used vista...I can't remember if it's the same. So click on the "unallocated space" Then click where it says "more actions". It should give you the option to partition and/or format it.

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:49 pm

Ok, thanks. It's formatting then I guess it can be partitioned? Problem solved?

kibito87 · Post by **kibito87** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:35 pm

MaestroMan wrote:Ok, thanks. It's formatting then I guess it can be partitioned? Problem solved?

Indeed! You should be all set. Let us know how it works out and if you need anymore help!

MaestroMan · Post by **MaestroMan** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:11 pm

Awesome, thanks, it worked! But now I just have the slight problem of transferring the files onto XP which has just been installed, I'm aware I probably need to format the drive again? But will this erase everything on it?

kibito87 · Post by **kibito87** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:46 pm

MaestroMan wrote:Awesome, thanks, it worked! But now I just have the slight problem of transferring the files onto XP which has just been installed, I'm aware I probably need to format the drive again? But will this erase everything on it?

Yes formatting WILL erase everything on the drive. You could also split the hardrive to be partitioned twice so it's like having two drives. That way your files could be backed up. Otherwise you may need another device to hold all your files and stuff.

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:06 am

do you know what file system you formatted it to? i'm assuming NTFS or one of the FATs, in which case XP can read it just fine. if it doesn't work in XP, try formatting it with XP. it would make sense for vista to be backwards compatible and read from whatever filesystem XP formats things to by default.

but the way it is now, i'd imagine XP could read it jut fine.

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