HELP! Cannot access new USB disk
HELP! Cannot access new USB disk
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Discussion

Ubernoober

Original Poster:

534 posts

240 months

Saturday 4th November 2006
quotequote all
Hi Guys, I have just received a new 60Gb USB disk - but when I plug it in, I can't 'see' it - it is present on Device Manager, but I can't get to format it or label it or (why I got it) access it to back up my system. It hasn't got a drive letter nor does it appear on 'My Computer'

What do I need to do to get to it to format it etc and get it recognised??

MAny thanks

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

261 months

Saturday 4th November 2006
quotequote all
As long as there's nothing on it already, then pop into Disk Management and have a pootle round there. You may need to create partitions etc and format the disk before use.
I'm assuming you are using XP, by the way

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

265 months

Saturday 4th November 2006
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
As long as there's nothing on it already, then pop into Disk Management and have a pootle round there. You may need to create partitions etc and format the disk before use.
I'm assuming you are using XP, by the way


XP & 2K are pretty much the same.

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Manage Computer > Media.

The disk will be shown as a large unavliable drive. Right click, Format. Select NTFS and go make a cuppa whilst it slowly formats.

That'll give you 1 large drive that'll work on any other Windows 2k or XP computer. If you need a chunk of it to appear in Win98/WinME then format a chunk of it (less than 32Gb) as FAT32.

Ubernoober

Original Poster:

534 posts

240 months

Saturday 4th November 2006
quotequote all
Excellent - thanks guys - appreciated