PS. Amazon called it: "Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable Hard Drive 320 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive E05A032BAU2XK Black"
Hard Drive HELP!
#1
Posted 27 March 2012 - 12:39 PM
PS. Amazon called it: "Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable Hard Drive 320 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive E05A032BAU2XK Black"
#2
Posted 27 March 2012 - 01:21 PM
Please provide more details about the notebook itself model name/number etc
Did you format the new external HDD before copying data to it?
Use cloning software to transfer your data across after the drive has been formatted (Free) http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/
#3
Posted 27 March 2012 - 02:11 PM
Secondly:
I should have probabally started by saying that I know VERY little about computers. Just the basics.
That being said, I know my laptop is a Toshiba Satellite. The bottom said "L500" I think thats the model??
I havent coppied any data to the device because I cannot figure out how to, and I have no clue how to format it. I bought it because I thought it would be really simple for someone who doesn't know much. I have another external device that involves installing and whatnot and after owning it for a year and a half I still cannot figure out how to use it.
This one was supposed to be a solution. From what I read online, there wasnt supposed to be any installing or fuss involved. I should have been able to plug it into the USB port and use it. But when I went into MY COMPUTER file it doesn't show up. It does however show up under CONTROL PANEL/HARDWARE AND SOUND/ DEVICES AND PRINTERS as "EXTERNAL USB HDD" but it wont let me copy any files to it.
I am CLUELESS. I don't know how to format it or clone it (I don't even know what that means)
If you know ANYTHING, and can explain it as if you were talking to a TEN year old, I would be SOOO greatful!!
: }
#4
Posted 27 March 2012 - 02:21 PM
Is the notebook @ http://uk.computers....DUCT_ID=1070509 the same as yours?
#5
Posted 27 March 2012 - 07:30 PM
I've had it a couple of years, and I don't think they make this kind anymore.
Looks exactly like this:
http://www.toshibadi...lite&model=L500
Edited by Magma, 27 March 2012 - 07:33 PM.
#6
Posted 29 March 2012 - 11:19 AM
1.Plug in and turn on the external USB hard drive
2.Right click on My Computer
3.Left click on Manage
4.Left click on Device Manager
5.Expand the USB list
6.Find the USB device for your USB Hard Drive
7.Right click - Uninstall
8.Turn off the external USB hard drive
9.Turn on the external USB hard drive and let it find and install the driver.
Let us know how it goes.
#7
Posted 01 April 2012 - 08:58 AM
I got as far as "6.Find the USB device for your USB Hard Drive" and got stuck because I don't know which one is my device. There are a bunch called "USB Root Hub" that I am pretty sure is not it. But there is two that it could be and I'm not sure which one "USB Composite Device" or "USB Mass Storage Device" are either of these correct??
Also, I have a question about:
"8.Turn off the external USB hard drive
9.Turn on the external USB hard drive and let it find and install the driver."
The hard drive that I have does not have an off/on switch. All it has is a plug-in for the USB cord and a light at the top showing if it is on or not(when I plug it into the computer the light goes on, when I take it out, the light goes out). Is there a way I can turn it off on the computer??
Lastly, thank you for the information about "Formatting" but I was wondering if that means that once I can get the computer to recognise the device, will I then have to format it??
Thank you sooo much for looking into this for me and answering my questions. I know I probabally sound painfully simple, but this is all new to me, and I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.
: }
#8
Posted 01 April 2012 - 09:06 AM
: D
#9
Posted 01 April 2012 - 09:33 AM
I think I may have had a stroke of brilliance. I decided to unplug the device and see which of the two is left over. I am now positive it is called "USB Mass Storage Device" !!
: D
You are correct with "USB Mass Storage Device". ( as you have already found for yourself )
For future reference do not disconnect the device before shutting the device itself down manually in My Computer etc or by shutting the whole system down as you would normally, this will help prevent drive failure and data corruption.
This may also help http://windows.micro...-a-drive-letter
#10
Posted 01 April 2012 - 09:20 PM
I think I may have ACCIDENTALLY discovered the problem, and I NEVER would have without your assistance.
I had the "Device Manager" open when I "Safely removed mass storage device from computer" and noticed that "Disk 1" an unnamed drive was removed from the list. I figured that that must have been the mass storage drive and that was why I couldn't figure out how to format it. SO, I connected the drive again and when it came up I noticed, again, that it was different from the other devices because it was called "Unallocated" and that sounded bad to me. I googled what it meant and found a video on youtube that showed me how to fix the problem and it formatted the device as well. YAY!
this video:
I am now able to successfully transfer files to the device and I am sooo happy! I was sure that I would have to return it to amazon and I can't tell you how grateful I am that you helped me avoid that!
: }
Edited by Magma, 01 April 2012 - 09:21 PM.
#11
Posted 03 April 2012 - 09:29 AM
#12
Posted 03 April 2012 - 06:26 PM
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