Solved: USB HDD not working correctly

[Severcool]

OK here's the skinny:

I am using XP Pro w/ SP3. I have a laptop HDD connected to a USB hub via a PATA to USB cable. The OS reads the drive as a USB device. However I can't get it to give me a drive letter so I can transfer files off of the HDD. I have looked in Disk Management and it is not listed as a drive there. AND it is not an issue of drive letters, drive letter E, F, and G are all available.

 

[Elvandil]

How is the drive powered?

 

[Severcool]

Right now it is using the power over the USB cable. I have tried it using an AC adapter as well that came with the PATA to USB cable, but it doesn't make a difference.

 

[Severcool]

Do you know if there is a USB cache that I might need to clear or something? I use this method all the time but only certain drives seem to fail.

 

[Elvandil]

The USB cable is a pretty poor way to power a drive, especially one that was internal and may require more power then USB can supply. The AC adapter is a better idea.

Does the device show up under your USB devices in Device Manager? Is there a tray icon for it?

 

[Severcool]

I have added the AC power to it and reconnected. There is an icon for it in the system tray (USB Mass Storage Device), when I double click on the icon it even recognizes the exact make and model of the HDD: Toshiba MK4025GAS USB Device. But there is no drive letter.

Yes it is listed as a USB Mass Storage Device in Device Manager.

 

[Severcool]

Yea!!!! I figured it out.

There was a drive lock password. I took the password off and it works.
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Thanks for the help!

 

[Elvandil]

LOL. Thanks for following up.