How do i get a hard drive recognised on a computer?

Question

I have an iomega portable hard drive, it will work on one computer but no on another computer. In fact it comes up as an unrecognised device, it also shows up as an unknown device. How do i fix this.

Answer 1

Are you connecting it via USB?

If so...you could be connecting it to a USB 1.1 port, and in this case you will need a cable that will join two usb ports to one, where you then connect the portable drive to. When these portable disks do not get enough current to run with (only 0.5A from each port on usb 2.0), and I forget, but I think even less with usb 1.1, then the device will often show as unrecognised.

This problem I've seen with usb music devices also. Joining two ports fixed this also.

My 2c

Answer 2

It's probably a driver issue - you need to install them - you might find them online if it's for a vista machine rather than on XP

Answer 3

ask a computer man

Answer 4

unless you have master and slave system, usually hard drives are plug and play, specially USB 2.0 ones, I suggest that you ask the manufacturer

Answer 5

if its usb AND it comes up as a unknown device then there isnt a driver installed in the pc that recognises it...eith that or the pc hasnt got the correct usb drivers or mainboard drivers installed.

Answer 6

unrecognized means drive can't sync or can't operate by pc .it may be fault in the usb cable,port or controller chip.and some times it could be speed in your usb controller .1.1 controller can't get data from 2.0 or 2.2 device.

To check the usb port install usb mouse or printer if you can.

and check the hard drive connect to another pc .

if you have driver disk install it.

change usb cable.