Windows 8 USB HDD issue

bhdavis1

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Dec 4, 2007
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Brand new WD 500gb internal HDD to be used as an external drive. I have a USB SATA adapter. One end connects to both the power and data connectors on the HDD and the other end has 2 USB connectors.......one for power and one for data. I have used this adapter many times successfully on my old XP computer so know the system works.

On the new Windows 8 computer though when I use the adapter to plug in a new HDD I get the following results:

1. The HDD does not shop up in File Explorer.
2. The HDD does show up in Device Manager.
3. The HDD does show up in Disk Management with a drive letter assigned.

HOWEVER..........in disk management it is listed as having NO MEDIA. Since it sees the HDD as having no media I cannot format the drive.

When I right click on the left side of the drive listing I get CHANGE DRIVE LETTER, PROPERTIES and HELP as active selections. EJECT is greyed out.

When I right click on the right side of the drive listing (which is blank) I get nothing.........as vs. all the formatting, partitioning, volumes etc. choices when right clicking on the other hard drives on the machine.

I have identical results with another internal 160gb HDD when I tried to connect it to the Windows 8 PC via the USB adapter. That drive has a fresh install of Windows XP on it so I thought maybe the XP MBR might be interfering somehow.

Can someone tell me what I'm missing here?

Thanks,
BH
 

vnnky

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Jun 4, 2013
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R u trying to connect the E.drive in front usb fanel?
if ur ,some time in front panel connection won't work..try to connect in back of the pc.
and be sure ur drive is not has set to optimization in "device manager".
 

bhdavis1

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Dec 4, 2007
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I've tried front, back and a separate 4-port hub also hooked through the back USB ports. Same in all situations.

Thanks,
BH