Maxtor Basics 500GB - not recognized?

[gashler]

I brought a maxtor basics 500GB harddrive a month ago. It was working fine for a couple of weeks, and then I accidently pulled the usb cable while it was active. Since then my computer wouldn't recognize the harddrive, and everytime I plugged it in I would get a little yellow icon on the taskbar saying the device couldn't be recognized or installed properly.

 

I sent it back to Maxtor, and they got in touch with me to tell me the harddrive was working fine on their test computers, and that the fault must be with my computer.

I've checked all through my device manager and i cant find the hard drive at all, and all my USB ports are working fine with the other devices I have.

Ive tried unplugging all my devices and just plugging in the hard drive but that isnt working.

 

I'm completely at a loss as to what to do.. I read on another thread that I could uninstall all the USB ports, restart the computer and let the ports reinstall and see if that helps. But I've lost my XP disc, so if I change anything too much I can't do a repair/reinstall, and i'm a little worried that if I uninstall the USB ports and they're not reinstalled I'll be in big trouble.

 

Please please please help me!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Is it listed in Disk Management Gash?

 

If your unsure how to get there right click My Computer and then choose Manage.

 

Open the storage tree and click Disk Management and see if it's listed there.

[gashler]

Hi Wolfey - no it isnt - If I recall rightly the last time I checked device manager there was something called an "unknown device" with the yellow error icon which I presumed was the hard drive, but when I double clicked it there was no information on what it was, and I couldnt uninstall or update drivers...

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Let us be absolutely clear on this as Device Manager and Disk Management are two completely separate things.

 

Are you definitely sure that it's not listed in Disk Management?

[gashler]

sorry what I meant was I've been right through device manager which also includes disk management. So basically yes I have :p

 

I've been hearing a lot of horror stories about maxtor.. and worst of all the business that sold it to me said if I cant get it working on my computer its not their problem. I hope I can get this sorted..

[Guest Wolfeymole]

sorry what I meant was I've been right through device manager which also includes disk management.

What?

 

Trust me, Disk Management is not in Device Manager.

 

Highlight that entry in Device Manager, Right click it and choose Properties.

 

Click Uninstall.

 

Shut down and attach the Maxtor.

 

Re-Boot and see if it finds it now.

 

By the way is this the one from Tesco at around £45, because if it is I have one and had no problem with it?

[gashler]

lets assume im an idiot :p

 

How do I get to disc management, and how do I get to device manager? (im not sure which one ive been going through)...

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Your not an idiot ok.

 

In XP to get into Device Manager

 

Right click My Computer and choose Properties

 

Then choose the Hardware tab

 

Then choose Device Manager.

______________________________________________________

 

To get into Disk Management

 

Right click My Computer and choose Manage.

 

Click Storage to open if not already open.

 

Click Disk Management.

 

This will then give you a layout of drives attached to the pc.

[gashler]

ok just got it back from maplins and plugged it in. Still not working, Theres nothing in disk management, and under USB controllers in device manager its recognized but comes up as "unknown device." When I open this up it says no drivers have been installed. I tried updating drivers but it cant find anything, rolling back drivers doesnt work, and i tried uninstalling and reinstalling the usb drivers but that didnt work either.

 

According to the guy at maplins, the plug and play device basically uses drivers that are already on Windows XP, and he suggested maybe the drivers the device is trying to use are corrupted. Problem is he couldnt even guess what/where they would be, and maxtor are absolutely useless at helping me...

 

Please help?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Let me ask you a very simple question ok.

 

This is an external Maxtor hard drive encased in a plastic box that has a USB connector to the pc and also has a Power connector yes?

 

Is it this one here?

 

Maxtor Basics Desktop 500 GB : Compare prices and read reviews

[gashler]

yes

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Is it plugged into the mains?

[gashler]

im not that stupid :p

 

yes its all plugged in. Like I said, my computer recognizes it, but only recognizes it as an "unknown device"

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Have you got XP Service Pack 3?

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Try this:

• Right-Click My Computer and select Properties
  
• Click on the Hardware Tab and click on Device Manager
  
• Click the + by Universal Serial Bus controllers
  
• Right-click on each one and select uninstall
  
• A box will appear, just click OK
  
• After uninstalling them all, Restart your computer
  
• Windows should now automatically install the USB drivers again
  

 

 

The chances that windows won't automatically re-install the USB drivers is next to zero ;)

Edited June 25, 2009 by maynardvdm

[I4n]

Gashler, we brought that exact External HD for my son's Xmas pressy last year, from Maplins also, 1st one lasted a month, replacement lasted 3 weeks, Maplins gave me my money back and we now use a Seagate, no troubles at all.

[gashler]

Wolfeymole - no, pack 2 i believe.

maynard - tried it, doesnt work.

I4n - Maplins said because I had already used the hard drive they couldnt take it back or give me refund/credit.

 

I may have to resort to reinstalling windows completely... but that seems such a drastic course of action, I cant believe there isnt a logical way of fixing this..

[Tootech]

Do you have any other USB devices, if so do they work correctly?

 

Try your drive on some elses computer. Then you can see whether or not it works correctly.

 

Have you tried plugging in your drive to all of your USB ports?

 

Also, update your computer to Service Pack 3.

[Cobra]

Maybe I overlooked the post, but have you followed Wolfeymole's advice to:

 

*Right click My Computer

*Left click manage

*Double left click Storage (in the large window on the right)

*Double left click Disk Management (local)

*and check to see if the drive is listed at the bottom of the right side window.

[gashler]

theres nothing in disk management, just drive C. And ive tested all my usb ports with different plug and play devices and they all work fine. The hard drive itself is ok because ive tested it on 3 other computers and it all works fine.

[I4n]

Wolfeymole - no, pack 2 i believe.

maynard - tried it, doesnt work.

I4n - Maplins said because I had already used the hard drive they couldnt take it back or give me refund/credit.

 

I may have to resort to reinstalling windows completely... but that seems such a drastic course of action, I cant believe there isnt a logical way of fixing this..

 

 

Talk to Trading Standards, of course you have used it, the gaurentee for a "fit for purpose" device does not mean you can't plug it in !:rolleyes: Maplins are out of order here :mad:

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Consider reading this also.

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/articles-and-tutorials/7360-sale-goods-act-1979-a.html

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok plug it into another pc that you say it works fine on, take your stuff off it and then format it via that particular box then plug it back into your original box and see if it's seen then.

[daveviren]

Hi,

 

I have same prob but the cause is different. My MAXTOR basic 500g was working fine until I connected to a set up box linked to disc antenna because I wanted to record a TV program. The system asked me to format this hard drive so I did. Then I connected back to my computer but now it does not recognise. It gives me little green arrow at the right bottom (where we click to unplug safely) and also showing me while left click on this arrow to close BUT it does not appear while clicking on MY COMPUTER so I can not save anything. I need to reformat to the acceptable format by my pc but I do not know how? Pls help

[Dak]

Hi. I'm new to this forum. I have had a similar problem with the maxtor. Basically, it is cheap rubbish, but here is a solution that I hope works for you:

 

Get a new USB lead. The one they provide is often faulty.

Once connected, if it is still 'unknown device' in Device manager, briefly disconnect power lead (5 secs) from hard drive. Once reconnected it should come up in d.m. as mass storage device. Right click it and scan for hardware changes.

Then open the drive and copy everything you need before throwing it into the nearest bin! Hope this works for you.