Disfuctional USB ports

[Vardis]

I have a Dell Inspiron 300m lap top and until recently it has worked fine. The HDD is small so I use a 250g SmartTech Smartdrive USB External HDD.

The last time I plugged it in to the USB it came up as 'unknown device' and I couldn't view what was on it. So I powered off everything and restarted and now it doesn't show up at all. I plugged a printer into the other port and that doesn't show up either.

My question is, am I fucked and have to send it into dell? or can I reset them somewhere on the computer or something?

[Avanarius]

You need to go into the device manager and see if theres any drivers currently installed for the usb devices.

To do this:

1. Click Start
2. Right click on my computer and go to properties
3. Click on the hardware tab at the top
4. Click on device manager
5. Look for any yellow "?" question marks in the list of devices specifically the universal serial device list, or any item that looks specific to the hardware you're using.

If you find any question marks on the hardware causing the problem you have no driver currently installed.

[Vardis]

Well I did that and couldn't find the drive anywhere on the list at all...

I did try my printer again and it worked. So I swapped that cable with the USB cable on my HDD and still nothing.
The HDD required no software or driver installation when I originally plugged it in. I haven't had it very long.. and I don't want to send it in without clearing off some of the illegal software on it.

[Avanarius]

Windows is usually pretty good with those kinds of devices and pick it up without an additional driver but sometimes it needs help.

So first it showed unknown device, and then now does nothing at all....I still think its fairly likely it's not picking up a driver for it...

Try this:

1. Click Start
2. Go to control panel
3. Make sure you're on classic view and then click on add hardware
4. Let the wizard scan for new hardware and if it finds something try and let it choose a driver for you.

If this doesn't find a driver but finds the "unknown device" it's likely you need to download another driver somewhere on the web.

*Edit* you also said you couldn't find the drive on the list, but it's likely it'll show up as "unknown device" on the device manager and may not even have a yellow question mark.

[Vardis]

Doesn't find the HDD ; ;

[Avanarius]

yeah I'd swap cables then or keep trying different usb ports until something happens

[Sigi]

try using the drive on another system. That'd eliminate the drive being the source of the problem.

[Vardis]

Well it appears its the HDD itself... so unless someone has a suggestion for a software fix, I'd like to send it in because it wasn't cheap.

Now a new problem arises. I have some games and movies on there that I shouldn't necessarily have.. do you think they'd just trash it and replace it or am I taking a risk in sending it to them (legally?)

[Sigi]

not really. It's an invasion of privacy to poke around on drives. Usually failed harddrives are chipped... UNLESS there's reason to suspect criminal activity.