USB HDD prblems

I have an ACOM Data 160 Gb External USB HDD and about 2 hours ago I disconnected it from my PC, via the Safely Remove Hardware function in Win XP, and when I got back to work and tried to connect it it is no longer being recognized by my PC. It's not giving me pop-ups that it detects it or anything, it just doesn't do anything. I have it plugged in to my PC's USB port and it's plugged into it's PSU which in-turn is connected to the wall. It's turned on and everything is hooked up but my comp just will not recognize it. Also when I checked the Device Manager my USB Ports needed to be re-installed. Is there anything that you know of that could cause this? BTW I have a VIA Rev 5+ Enhanced USB Host Controller. Thanks for your time and help.

 

Try doing a System Restore to Rollback to a day or so from today and see if it may correct it. Sounds like a possible driver issue.

 

I tried it but I still can't get it to recognize ;.;
oh and Also I remembered on my lunchbreak I took it home and hooked it up to my other comp I was installing windows on >< but Windows was still installing so I just turned it off and then disconnected it and brought it back...could that be the problem?

 

Yep. If it was not done installing Windows, that would be why it went the way it did. Time to do a repair and format the drive. The manufacturer of the external drive should have a Repair tool download.

 

Oh and I just remembered I had it hooked up last night before I started installing windows, AND this afternoon on my lunchbreak during the installation finalization. I had it here on my work computer between times. after the first time I had it on the other PC and before the second time it worked fine. But now it doesn't. and the company has no repair util on there website

 

You may have to crack the case to find out what manu. of the Hard drive, and download their tools.

 

I got the prob figured out. I called the Manufacturer and got info, they don't make a fix but they pointed me to get an HDD Recovery progy and that's gonna let me recover and copy my stuff before I format. Tahnks for your help ^^.