Help -Computer wont read external hard drive

[Thunder]

Need some suggestions from those in the know, my PC running Windies XP is no longer recognising my Maxtor External hard drive.

The drive appears in My computer but when I try and open it it either hangs or once has given me a message that the drive i not formatted.

Any thoughts on whats up?

thanks in advance.

 

[hops]

no expert

but if poss try to open it from another PC. That way you will know if the drive is faulty or your PC is the cause.

 

[dragontest]

Taking you have XP.. and not Vista
If you right ckick on my computer you should get the option to "manage" this will allow you to see the "Computer management console", under "storage" you should see disk management, when you ckick on it it will show all of your connected drives take care as you can make changes that can knacker your pc in here. If it appears you can change the drive letter and paths etc. by right ckicking and selecting an option...

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Duff power supply??

Had Exactly the same problem
Turned out, after much gnashing of teeth and wailing to be a shagged power supply, It powered up and spun the drive, but as soon as you tried to open it, it disappeared from the 'pooter as the power supply had inadequate amperage to run and read it
One new power supply FOC from Envisage2000 and Bobs your sisters brother..
according to them, it's not uncommon