External drive with Vista

Hello everyone,
I just bought a new computer with vista on it,I have a 320 external hard drive that I pluged into a USB port...the problem is that it wont regonize the external drive,,,can someone tell me what going on please?


many thanks,bobbylee

 

Hello bobbylee!

To allow us to help us better, could you tell us more about your
computer, such as your version of Windows (Service Packs installed?),
are you using a 32 bit or 64 bit version of Windows, is this a
branded computer like Dell or HP, if it is, what's its make and
model. Or if you have built the computer yourself, what are the main
components used? Also, are you using any Anti-Virus software? If so,
which one?

 

Does this External HDD have anything on it?

Does it show up in Disk Management

Start>>right click Computer>>Manage>>Disk Management

 

my computer has Windows Vista 2009 Edition, Processor Intel(R) Corel(TM) 2 Duo CPU E7400 @2.80GHZ

Memory (Ram) 4.00 GB

System type 32- bit using Avast Antivirus, brother built this computer for melast week & gone on vacation for 2 weeks...the external drive has about 100 gigs on it..

 

Does it show up in Disk Management

Start>>right click Computer>>Manage>>Disk Management

 

it does not show up in Disk Management

 

Do other USB devices get recognized....and have you tried that HDD on another PC.......when you plug it in does anything happen

 

yes my older computer with windows xp shows up on it without no problem...

 

I even unpluged the keyboard usb port & tried it in that port...no response

 

Do you have all Vista updates?

Does the External HDD have its own power supply?

 

yes I have all Vista updates, & the external drive is plug in & use...thats all I done on windows xp...it work fine

 

Does it have a place for a power adapter that will go into it?

 

yea the power adapter is pluged into a separte surge protcter

 

Did you get a disc with it and what make and model is it?