External hd: access denied, just explore

My usb external HD (not flash memory) show a strange behaviour. In Explorer (Xp Sp3) they appear as folders, not as disks, and when I click open, “access denied” appears. I can only open them with right-click and explore command. The data transfer is also very slow and with a beep from the unit (maxtor one touch mini 2.5”/120gb). The same occours with a packard bell (2.5”/120gb). I’ve runned chdisk and other Hd reapair tools through System Mechanic 8, but the troubles persists (more with desktop, less with laptop). I’ve reinstall Os and check for viruses several times (ZoneAlarm antivirus and online) and I’ve updated everything, but the bug is till there. I don’t know what else to do. Anybody has a suggest? Thanks.

Ut, florence, italy

Or worse, some malware with an autorun component snuck onto your hard disk. It's possible that it's causing access to fail when you try to open the disk. What files are on the main directory of the drive?

I don't know what you mean for management software.
I only use System Mech 8 with several tools (registry, hd integrity etc).
I came from a long series of virus search and reinstals (the last 24h ago).
The pc seems works fine, but every time I connect usb ext hd,
I found folder icons instead drive icons, open denied (only explore)
and the data transfer damn slow. I'm repearing right now file system
and index of maxtor though a second pc and I'll format too.
Of course I'm thinking of an outorun malware, but I've make a lot of debugs,
even online and everytime I reinstall I format everything.
After two months I'm really tired. Do you know a paper
with detailed instructions to make a deep debug of an xp pro machine.
What hell are all these antivirus and win update for !
Thanks everybody.
ut

Yes, the maxtor and now it appears correctly in explorer, both in desk and lap (but it's empty !). Tomorrow I'll try to empty the big one and format it too. I'll see. The registry repear tool in System Mech works fine in lap, but non in desk. I'll see

To this day any ext drive appears in expl as a folder, not as a disk, open denied, just explore. Apart from that pc is fine. For sure it's a virus, but I don't know where hell it is (after six or seven reinstall). Antivirus/firewall is Zonealarm and every microsoft patches are on. Strange that nobody talk about that on google (for my searches). thanks again.
ut

In Drive Management everithing ok. The ext drive appears corrtectly as volume K, the only difference is the icon (folder non drive) and that I can only explore it, if I click open it replies access denied. I can even assign a different letter but what changes ?
Thank for your patience.
ut

Hello,

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but this is the exact same problem that I am having. Googling for advice everyone says to take ownership of the drive. I think I have ownership but I still get access denied.

This problem started for me when I was reinstalling my Windows XP. After installation, it said that there was some problem with Explorer (I think I saw it said a problem associated with a file called BX(?)). But I continued to connect my external USB HD drives. The second first one got the usual HD icon, but the second external drive became a file icon.

And that I got access denied. Oddly, when I turn off the drive and turn it back again, after autoplay, I can ask to open it with explorer. But directly accessing it is denied.

I believe the original person and I are having similar problems.

I would like to get this fixed without having to format the entire drive (its 240GB full of my data).

Any ideas?

W.

you can formate it

This has been driving me demented for the past couple of days and EuSnake has got it absolutely right!

You're a star man, thank you very much indeed.