| Next: Outerinfo Invasion on my computer! PLEASE HELP! |
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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 Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject: External HD not being recognized |
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Hello,
I have an external, 500GB HD, which was working perfectly until yesterday. The computer won't show it in 'My computer'. It recognizes that it's connected (under the device manager), and says that there is no problem with it. At one point, I got a message saying something like: 'The storage device has to be formatted before it can be used'. And then it didn't appear again, no matter what I tried.
I tried connecting it to another computer, and there was no problem. I'm using a Vista laptop. Other HDs and USB sticks etc work fine.
There doesn't seem to be a troubleshoot option in the device manager, in Vista, or at least, I can't find it.
Do I really need to reformat the HD?
El |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2422
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Depending on the manufacturer of the drive, there are tools to test it.
I'd look for the tools and run them to test the problem with the hd.
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I somehow didn't consider that the registry cleaner could have done something, but I now put the files that were deleted the most recently back in place, restarted the computer, and the HD is working again. Thanks.
El |
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I somehow didn't consider that the registry cleaner could have done something, but I now put the files that were deleted the most recently back in place, restarted the computer, and the HD is working again. Thanks.
El |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2422
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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What registry cleaner are you using?
I always like to note what products cause problems for people. |
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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The one which caused the problem is CCleaner. I think it was under the 'ActiveX and Class Errors' (if that's the correct translation). If not, then under 'Unused File Endings'.
El |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2422
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Thanks. I'll have a look when I run CCleaner later. |
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greyknight17
Joined: Feb 03, 2003
Posts: 5058
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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| Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| This applies to XP, but should be similar in Vista. Right click on My Computer and click on Manage. Then click on Disk Management. See if you external hard drive is listed there. If so, right click on it and assign it a drive letter to see if that helps. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1134
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| el wrote: |
The one which caused the problem is CCleaner. I think it was under the 'ActiveX and Class Errors' (if that's the correct translation). If not, then under 'Unused File Endings'.
El |
With all the internet hype about CCleaner, I installed it and tried it myself.
It would NOT stop removing, or trying to remove things, that I told it to leave alone.
Like so many other programs before it, and since, it's in the bit bucket along with the rest of the garbage. 
The only SAFE registry and HD cleaner combo I've ever found is
"Easy Cleaner 2" from 'Toni Arts'.
"Easy Cleaner 2", the best Registry Cleaner I've found so far.
Can be downloaded from:
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm
Just scroll down to "Download & Installation" and click on the first floppy disk symbol.
Cheers!
The Doctor |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2422
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| Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| I had problems with Easy Cleaner 2 so I removed it. I never had a problem with the original. So, every computer is different and what works for one person might not work for another. |
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:57 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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The HD wasn't listed under 'Disk Management'. Only under the 'Device Manager' and 'Remove Hardware Safely'. I'll bear the 'Disk Management' in mind for future reference. But for now, it's happily up and running again.
El |
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el
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 221
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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The HD disappeared on me again. But it's already running again. Maybe the registry cleaner wasn't the problem. Or only the first time. I'm not sure.
I think the HD doesn't like me unplugging the cable directly from the HD (not from the computer). I think it always happened after I did that. I'd better avoid it from now on! What helped was unplugging the HD from the computer, rebooting, and then plugging in the HD again. After that, it worked.
El |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2422
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Thanks for an update.
Someone asked elsewhere about a registry cleaner and I related your story. I told her to forget about a registry cleaner and instead concentrate on scanning for malware and defragging. |
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