External Hard Drive

[derke92]

Hi all,

I have a problem on my desktop and I have lost the ability to get IE. I have tried Firefox but that does not work either. I can get Outlook Express for emails.

I also have a couple of old thinkpads and I can get straight on to the internet on them. It looks like I have got to back up my desktop, re-install windows, and load my files back.

Some time ago I purchased a 2.5" hard drive case and during backup I thought I would use the HDD from my 600E and put it into the HDD case and backup to the HDD. When I plug the extenal drive into either my other laptop, or desktop, it is not being recognised by either of them. I had no installation disc with the enclosure as it said I do not need it for XP.
I have tried backing up to CD but that does not work.

Can anyone help me please and tell me where I am going wrong (it is bound to be me)? Or can you suggest another way I can back up, considering I need to save about 16Gb of data and flash drives are not big enough.

Regards,
Derek.

[silver]

the HDD case, does it have an external power supply? might be worth checking that it's powered up ok

depending you could somehow connect the non working PC to the laptop, are they all on wireless or perhaps via ethernet?

[derke92]

Hi Silver,
The HDD case is connected via USB and it is powering up OK as the power light is on and I can hear the HDD spinning.
I am on wireless with the laptop and ethernet with the desktop.
I can make the desktop wireless with a dongle I have but I cannot connect via eternet to laptop as there is no socket for the lead.
So how can I connect via wireless?
If you have any more ideas I will be pleased to hear from you.

Regards,
Derek.

[Memfis]

Would help if we knew what operating system you where running, would make writing instructions easier.

External Hard Drive:
Do you get an error message when plugging in the external hard drive? Something like 'Device not recognised' ?
If not, right click on 'My computer' and select 'manage'. Then click 'Disk Management'.
Is the device listed here? If so, right click on the device and assign it a drive letter.
If not, have a look in control panel, 'System' Then 'Device Manager'. Is it listed here?
If not, the drive may not be supplied with enough power and you may need to use a 'Y' lead and plug it into two usb sockets to supply sufficient power. Just because the led come on and the hdd begins to spin does not mean it has sufficient power to operate.

Wireless Backup:
Can the laptop see the desktop? (both need to be powered on)
Go to 'My Computer'.
In the folder pane on the left somewhere near the bottom should be 'Network' (vista) or 'My Network places' (XP).
If XP, now click 'Entire Network' then 'Microsoft Windows Network'.
If one of the the PC's can 'see' the other then you can create a shared folder and copy your data over.

[derke92]

Memfis you got it in one!!!
I read your note about the double USB cable and remembered I had one with the drive. I had completely forgotten about it.
Anyway I plugged it in with the double feed and it kicked straight away. I then checked the My Computer page and it was showing.
At the moment it is backing up to the HDD so I hope all will be well.
BTW I am running XP Pro. SP3.
I will post later and let you all know how it goes.

Regardss,
Derek.