DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

external HDD

8 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/external-hdd.63642/

chicha
chicha Original post #1
Jul 23, 2007 at 11:55 AM
i got a IDE hard disk seagate 160GB i used it for some time.
and then when i got a new mother board which had only one IDE slot. i got a external case for the disk. as you know it has a usb to connect to the cpu and a power cable.

the problem is that my pc recoganize it as a mass storage, it even shows the serial number for the hard disk. but my hard disk is not shown in my computer area.
The operating system is on another hard disk connected internally along with a dvd writer using a IDE connector.

and also when i connect the hard disk and switch it on before the pc boots, it hangs.

my mothere board is
MB K9MM-V from MSI
PR AMD AM2

Please help.
Quiz_Master
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Awe.. Strange problem. Do your PSU have enough power? How much power can your PSU supply?
I think your HDD is not getting enough power it needs.
chicha
chicha #3
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:12 PM
how do i check that?

the power cable which goes to the hard disk is connected directly to the mains. and the cable has i think a set down transformer or some thing like that.(not much of electrician i am). :)

But i think if it shows me what it has detected correctly to the serial number, it should not have problem showing the drives in my compurter.
infra_red_dude
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Quiz_Master said:
Awe.. Strange problem. Do your PSU have enough power? How much power can your PSU supply?
I think your HDD is not getting enough power it needs.
not possible, otherwise the hdd won't get detected firsthand.

check if usb is the first boot device in bios. change it to ide.

secondly, plug in the device. windows will detect it. check in device manager if its properly setup. if it is. then goto my computer>manage>disk management and look out for any invalid partitions.
chicha
chicha #5
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:19 PM
i did all that.
and the os is in the hard disk which is connected internally using IDE.
Does it matter if that hard disk is master or slave?

and device manager does show my external hardisk "ST316021 2Q USB"
hemant_mathur
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
I don't know if it will help but try to make the hard disk as master with ntfs as file system.
infra_red_dude
Jul 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
exactly, the order in which the boot devices are searched.... change it so that the first device is ur internal harddisk.

also, does the usb disk get detected in disk management?
chicha
chicha #8
Jul 23, 2007 at 5:04 PM
it shows it in the device manager, but not in disk management.
as i type this it showed only one drive out of 5. Very strange.
but the computer hanged.
oh and the internal HD is dual boot with mint and XP SP2.