Cannot access my old hard drive via USB external

Cannot access my old hard drive. I installed my old hard drive in an external usb case and connected it to my new computer in order to gain access to my previous files. It shows up in Device manager and Disk manager as healthy and active, but with no drive letter. It does not show up in MY Computer. The jumper is set to master . How do I access this drive? I do not want to format it, as I'll lose all files.

 

Set as slave.

 

Thanks, I tried that and nothing. I tried evy setting possible and changed USB ports as well. Even tried a differnt computer. The sytems sees the drive, but does not assign a drive letter, so it does not show up in MY Computer.

 

As you have had no other replies, yet, I have done a little research for you.
You may have tried some of these, but persevere.

1/ Check motherboard chipset drivers.Might need updating.
(Under Universal Serial Bus Controllers, a Universal Host Controller
and/or an Enhanced Host Controller should be listed. The name listed
for the controller should be the manufacturer of the USB chipset)

2/ Check all cable connections to the drive and reboot the computer.

Select the ‘My Computer’ option of the Windows Start menu.

Double-click the usb drive

See if your system automatically assigns a drive to the external hard drive

3/ Is the drive letter that was assigned to the USB drive conflicting with an existing mapping on their computer?

Have you tried attaching an additional power supply?
4/ This could help.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/12/no-drive-letter-for-usb-or-firewire-drive/
5/ If all else fails, and no-one offers other advice, Have a look here.
Small fee for
USBDLM V3.3.0 - USB Drive Letter Manager for Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003 and Vista
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html

 

thanks again. I checked the USB likstings and here's what showed up. standard openhcd usb host controller, 2 listings for enhanced PCI to USB host controller and 3 listings for USB root hub. All drivers are assigned by Microsoft dated 2001. I tried to update and the message that came back said evrything was current and best available. I checked all connections and they are ok. The hard drive case has a separate power supply. The operating system does not assign a drive letter in My Computer, nor does the USB drive even show up. I can find it in disk/device manager, that's it.

 

Try the drive as a slave in the computer. Also, can you verify that the drive enclosure works? I got a USB enclosure that was DOA. I see backlogic is on the case, so you are in good hands.

E

 

Yes, i tried it in the slave configuration, no luck. the enclosure lights up, so i assume it works.

 

You stated it shows in device manager. Does it show a file format listed? I know you said it shows as healthy, you may try right clicking in disk management and using change drive letter and paths to assign a drive letter to the drive.

 

there's no file format listed and i tried the right click, but it will not give me the options you mentioned. the only thing i have is to partion the drive which will wipe out the data and programs

 

Sorry, I meant try the hard drive installed in the computer using the IDE cables in the computer, and just make sure the drive is working. Just the lights coming on the enclosure does not mean it works. My suggestion is to make sure the drive works properly, then make sure the enclosure works.

Sorry if my previous post was confusing. Or even this post!:cool

Eliminate the simple and obvious, then go farther.

E

 

thanks for the reply. It was working when i took it out of the previous system. What confuses me is that I cannot assign or change a drive letter to this drive. I'm only allowed to delete the partition which I don't want to do. I tried this on a 3 rd computer and once again, it was seen by the system, it's found in disk manager, but the system does not assign a drive letter and it cannot be seen in my computer. I'm lost at this point

 

What kind of computer did it come out of, if its only giving you the option for new partition, your probably out of luck. Does it say what file format is on the drive?

 

It came out of a system i built 2 years ago with an asus mb and a new wd hard drive. the file system is ntfs. the hd locked up with N goback, so i took it out and reinstalled the os and programs on a new drive. now i'm trying to get at some of the old files, like my tax records for the past 2 years. if i can get this drive to be recognized i should be able to get into it.

 

I see the hard drive played up the last time in the old computer.
I would suggest it has now got a faulty mbr.
As your data is important, this can save it, and make it possible to copy off.
If you have a look at super fdisk

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Super_Fdisk_d4985.html

 

The only other FREE little program that I can think off, is NTFS READER
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2036

Also
This is a time limited demo, but might help
GetDataBack for NTFS 3.03
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2773

 

Thanks for all the help folks, i surely appreciate it. I'm going to try several things suggested and go from there. One item i read on another web site regarding Norton's Goback. If it locks up, as mine did, the person said that i have to clear that by running the old drive as the primary, hit space bar while the drive is loading and disable N GoB, then boot to safe mode. Put the new drive back in and run the old one as a slave. Supposdly that will allow me to assign a drive letter to the old one and be able to search the old drive. He said N GoB screws up the MBR. Does that sound right?

 

Norton goback - mbr corrupted, sounds the perfect culprit, and let us know if it fixes it, for others with that problem.

 

Will do. Maybe you can help on an additional step. If i'm able to get it into the safe mode, do i disconnect the drive while it running? Doesn,t sound right to me . Do I shut it down and if so, will it boot back into the safe mode as a slave, after I reconnect the new primary drive? Thanks for your gracious and excellent help.

 

I would never disconnect a drive while it is running, as it could destroy the data on it.
I would think that ideally, you shoud put it back in the old computer to run the fix.

 

Otherwise , leave the slave drive connected, and try for safe mode .

 

I am assuming you have it rigged as a slave drive at the moment

 

I'll try it over the next day or two and let you know what happens. Thanks.

 

With a different version of an operating system, I would not expect it to work in your computer.

 

That last comment was meant to be the corrupted drive as Master

 

Sorry, that does not read right, I would say use as a slave in the computer you are working with, now, as it would not work as Master, with a different version of the operating system on it. But otherwise try the repair process Norton) in the computer the drive came out of.

 

Both hard drives have win xp pro from the oringinal disk that purchased. When I reloaded the second new disk, I got a new key from Microsoft. The old one came out of my current computer. If I run it as a slave would I be able to get into it and delete Nor GoB? It appears that that software may have started this.

 

Unless you used the operating system on the same computer/motherboard, and so on, you will get windows no go screen. You will get away with a different number, but it would be a minor miracle if microsofts mathematics (the keys that they use to verify the op, in your system matched those from adifferent motherboard/ system.

 

If you try running it as master,in safe mode, you may be able to get the fix done, so try it all ways.