[Jbasto]

Ok im trying to access my external hdd and crapy vista wont reconnize it for nothing just keep looking for drives,aint it plug n play !?

I went to the WD site and there's nothing about vista drive

[Bob Cerelli]

Does it work on another computer with XP? Perhaps the problem is with the hard drive and not the computer or not even with Vista.

Does Vista not recognize any external hard drives or is the problem with just this one?

If it is an external USB drive, do other USB devices get recognized and the problem is just with this particular one?

[Jbasto]

yeah it works on my xp but not on crapy POS Vista ... and there no drivers it allways ask for drivers

[cuttlefish]

Either turn the hard drive OFF or unplug it when you reboot your PC.

Then after it has started up OK, reconnect the external HDD.

Hopefully it will then be recognized by Vista!

[Bob Cerelli]

What about the rest of the questions?

[Jbasto]

nope still wont work @ well i think ima downgrade myslef agian to WXP

[Bob Cerelli]

The last two unanswered questions were:

Does Vista not recognize any external hard drives or is the problem with just this one?

If it is an external USB drive, do other USB devices get recognized and the problem is just with this particular one?

For example, if the USB ports on the motherboard don't work, changing to XP will not resolve the problem.

[cuttlefish]

Have a look in Device Manager under Disc Drives and see if it is shown anywhere there!
There may be a yellow exclamation mark near it if Windows detects a problem with it!
If you do find it there, you can always right click on it, select uninstall and then reboot.
Don't quit yet, someone will come up with the answer!

[ultirian]

Due to similar problems with mass storage devices I recomend that when your computer is searching for drivers get vista to look in C:/Windows

I bet you this works

Hope it helps.

If anyone does have driver problems I suggest you try this first, Vista dosnt point to the windows folder where a big libary of standard drivers already are!

very simple and obvious but usualy works Edit* Well not so obvious you think wondows would look there first.

[prm]

Ultirian,

I quite agree, you would certainly assume Windows would search in C first, but no doubt, Vista has presumed drivers are not currently installed.

Had similar problems with 4-5 year old scanners, cameras and HDs.

I removed every trace of previously downloaded drivers for the hardware, which in several cases, were duplicated from alternative sites in an attempt to get this equipment operating.

Downloaded, mainly manufactures drivers, saved to C drive, connected hardware then searched in C. To date, all are working fine.

Simple- but initially, very frustrating.

[ultirian]

Agreed!

Thats the main problem with windows, they like to dash into full sprint before they can even run never mind walk...

When will MS learn to develop anything properly?

[Jbasto]

well did all that and nothing works !!! and my usb's works, all of them do !!! but thanks guys but i have to say that vista kinda sucks !!! will wait till they fix massive bugs

[Bob Cerelli]

For clarification, what were the other external USB devices that were tested and working with Vista when plugged into the same USB port?
What other external USB hard drives were tested and working using the same USB port?

And it never shows in the Device Manager as previously asked?

Again information is being asked about your computer but they don't get answered. Makes finding a solution much more difficult. It may not be that "crapy vista" or "crapy POS Vista" or even "vista kinda sucks !!!" isn't the real problem. But just like with XP, it may be a simple simple setting on the computer that needs to change.