HDD working on 2 PC out of 3

[Ratatapa]

Ok i am 90% sure that the problem is my USB port that starting to die, but i want a 2nd opinion.

Just bought a 1 Terrabyte External HDD for 129$, and received it today.

When i plug it on my Personal PC, it does the Ding when windows XP discover a USB device but doesn't pop so i can't access it.

When i plug it on my Laptop or my dad's PC it works #1, so it's not the HDD problem.

I have 4 USB behind the PC and 2 in front. I have a mouse + Keyboard plugged in my USB device, If i plug mouse or kayboard in any USB ports, it works but HDD doesn't work in any of the 6.

My conclusion my USB ports starting to die out and doesnt recognize my HDD that takes too much power.


My solution.

1) buy a USB hub (but if my USB doestn work normal i doubt it will work with a hub )

2) Return my HDD and get money back since i got it today

3) Buy new mobo + processor (since i have an old Pentium 4)

but before i do any i wanna know what people think about it.

Thx

[Shuemue]

4) Build a whole new PC because it's fun

[Voltorb]

If your motherboard has any PCI Slots available, you can buy one of those USB PCI cards.

[Luciola]

you said old pentium 4... which leads me to wonder: Is the port you are trying to plug the external hdd into a usb 2.0? If not, there's your problem. There is no problem with the port, its recognizing the drive, but you cant access it, so its not broken. If its just too damn slow, it wont work. Obviously, the above option (pci expansion) is the best bet.

[Ratatapa]

i mean old Pentium IV but it'S a 3gig so yes it got 2.0 USB slots

[Norellicus]

There's a good many times back on those ye olde P4 boards that you aren't getting 2.0 on all your slots. If you're sure it's 2.0 somewhere then try another slot. Also check the BIOS and make sure you're not running in 1.1 compatibility mode.

Also if you're plugging into a USB hub anywhere, don't. Needs to feed directly off the mainboard.

[Ratatapa]

Ok i bought a PCI adapator with USB slot and still no good, here's the picture i took PS it's in french but i will try to convert the most i can

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/489/hdd1zm8.jpg

This picture says that the HDD is formatted in NTFS and it is healthy from My computer-manage-disk management. If i right click on it, the only options i got is Delete partition, format, proprieties and Set this partition as Active.

I tired formating and it gives me the error that my disk is not active, to reboot the PC. (so i formatted it on my laptop and it went #1)


#2

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4839/hdd2ob6.jpg

Remarked that #1 had no letter on it?, Well for #2 i putted myself a letter to the drive.

Now as you can see i can use Open and Explore when i right click on it, and if i do it work #1 from disk management, but nothing from My computer (it doesn't appeaR). And if i click start --> run and right K: (my drive letter) it gives me the error it doesn't exist

#3 http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5333/hdd3te0.jpg

This is what happens when i do right click--> open from disk management, i can access my disk, but there is no address bar :O, the folder test is a folder i made on my laptop (the drive appears in my laptop my computer)

#4
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8889/hdd4xh8.jpg

From This picture it says that all my USB are correctly installed, but when i hit the button to safly remove the USB device it gives this ?

The 2nd one is my HDD but the 3rd one says Perepheric unkown in Disk MAnagement.

#5 http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8796/hdd5ok6.jpg

This is my USB configuration in my BIOS, thank you Cell phone

It says USB Function Enabled
Legacy USB support AUTO
USB 2.0 Controller Enabled
USB 2.0 Controller mode HI speed

Hi Speed is 480mbps and full speed is 12mbps




So to review. My HDD works #1 on laptop.

On PC, it sometimes appear in Disk MAnagement but i can't access it unless i give him manaualy a letter, but still doesn't appear in My computer, my USB setup is on and all

Please help me Thx

[Ratatapa]

Just updated my Bios and still no good.


New info : When i plug my HDD it appears in manage, but not in my computer, if i right click start and browse it also not appear BUT if i save a file from Firefox (aka download a file) when i go to change the path it appears there WTF someone help me lol