vista doesn't recognise external usb HDs

[lob_on]

please help i'm pulling my hair out...:furious:


have 3 external usb hard drives i use for my popcorn

1 is western digital
1 is generic
1 is 2.5 pocket drive

all ask for drivers in vista tried different usb slots, have checked web sites to no avail . all work great on my other xp pc first time with no drivers ect.....

so the problem is vista (home premium) ....can anyone help??

[BlackDiamondJr]

USB is flaky technology, at best, with tons of issues and possibilities.

I have a case with USB jacks that will accommodate some devices and not others.
Power issues are also rampant with USB, not to mention chipset issues.

I would recommend the installation of a USB add-in card in an available PCI slot.

Other than that, please ensure all appropriate motherboard drivers are installed, including chipset drivers and USB drivers.

Are there any "Unknown" devices listed in Device Manager?

[lob_on]

thanks will try an add on card and yes they are all unknown in devices manager but seen

[BlackDiamondJr]

and yes they are all unknown in devices manager but seen

Usually an indication that devices were detected but no drivers installed to support them.

First and foremost, ensure that the chipset drivers are installed.

Then I would insert the motherboard disc then check "update drivers" for each "Unkown" device listed.

If you are not in possession of the motherboard disc the option to download from the Internet would suffice for the more important (Common) drivers.
The manufacturer's web site can also provide you with driver downloads.

[Argotrance]

yep i had same problem with my wd hdd. and phil told me to try in mobo usb at the rear and it worked fine for me. so if yours still do not. i would recommend to install all usb drivers for your mobo.:cheers:

[Van Nugent]

yep i had same problem with my wd hdd. and phil told me to try in mobo usb at the rear and it worked fine for me. so if yours still do not. i would recommend to install all usb drivers for your mobo.:cheers:On many cases, mainly the inexpensive ones, cheap wires are used to connect the USB headers on the mobo to the USB front ports. Therefore, we tend to have problems with the front ports, especially insufficient power for the devices that are connected to the front ports. The add-on PCI cards will give us better current to the ports so in most cases, they will work better than the ports on the mobos.

[lob_on]

On many cases, mainly the inexpensive ones, cheap wires are used to connect the USB headers on the mobo to the USB front ports. Therefore, we tend to have problems with the front ports, especially insufficient power for the devices that are connected to the front ports. The add-on PCI cards will give us better current to the ports so in most cases, they will work better than the ports on the mobos.


doesn't work on mobo direct and can't find drivers on asus site as not listed, so have gone down the pci card route...fingers crossed!!

[Van Nugent]

If you're running Windows XP SP1 or later, you do not need the USB 2.0 driver because Windows natively supports USB 2.0. You'll need to update the chipset drivers for your mobo to see if it'll fix the problem. An add-on PCI controller most of the time will work better for the reason I said. Choose a controller with NEC chipset.

[Van Nugent]

have 3 external usb hard drives i use for my popcorn

1 is western digital
1 is generic
1 is 2.5 pocket drive

all ask for drivers in vista tried different usb slots, have checked web sites to no avail . all work great on my other xp pc first time with no drivers ect.....

so the problem is vista (home premium) ....can anyone help??Can you please tell the exact error message. It's odd that Vista was asking for USB driver!

[lob_on]

it says after minutes trying to locate drivers , windows could not find driver software for your device

please check manufactuers web site blah blah

but down in the bottom right it spots the hard drive installed in the enclosure correctly as a western digital drive....

i hope pci card sorts it!

[Van Nugent]

It's not the problem with the USB driver, it's only that Windows could not identify the chipset used for the external enclosure. Did you check Device Manager to see if there's a yellow ! there? If not, it should be fine. Reboot the system while the external drive is still connected to see if Windows still tries to find the driver.

[ADEY100]

We had the same problem for ages .. Finally upgraded to the latest service pack which sorted it straight away :beer:

[Van Nugent]

Hopefully! :tup:

[lob_on]

still doesn't work on any usb slot , i've tried 7 external enclosures and all go un recognised by vista (which it updated )

i have tried an pci card /mobo usb's...all these drive work 100% on my other xp machine.

i own a asus p5v-vm SE DH mobo

[Van Nugent]

Please try the VIA Hyperion 5.23A drivers (http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=36&CatID=3170) (VIA chipset drivers). You'll need to reboot after installing the drivers.

[lob_on]

thanks van on the case right now , will let you know...

also just updated my bio's for good measure , currently not work ...installed and now will reboot....

wish me luck!!:tup:

[lob_on]

no good van still don't work :confused::t_down:

[lob_on]

:beer::beer::beer:

blimey van ...you've cracked it for me !!

ran device wizrd and found a yellow exclamation mark (wasn't there before) . now my pc see drives plugged in , mate many thanks your a star:bang:

[Van Nugent]

Yep, happened to me sometimes. Small things can be overlooked easily. :)

Glad it's sorted. :tup:

Edit: You need to install the VIA chipset drivers (Hyperion) when you fresh install Windows to help the system recognize all hardware properly because you have a VIA mobo.

[lob_on]

think the Hyperion drivers sorted it mate , plagued me for months!