Author Topic: vista won't read fat32 external drive (Read 19633 times)

blazingeagle2c · « **on:** May 25, 2008, 07:13:06 PM »

I have a external drive that is formatted fat32. when I hook it up to my vista computer it won't read it. I can find it in device manager and have tried updating the drivers and it says that it has the newest drivers. help.

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2008, 07:22:44 PM »

Has it worked on your computer before?

Try it on an other computer and see if you can get it to be read.

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2008, 07:25:11 PM »

I have hooked it up to a xp computer and it worked and i hooked it up to my ps3 and it worked. I was able to put stuff on it and delete some stuff. so it works but not with my vista computer.

Broni · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2008, 08:24:22 PM »

Check here: http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=232154&messageID=2347946

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2008, 08:51:08 PM »

I deleted that file and vista still doesn't see the external hard drive. what else can I do?

Broni · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2008, 08:56:02 PM »

Another option: http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/01/16/help-vista-won-t-let-me-write-to-my-external-hard-drive.aspx

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:04:07 PM »

I looked at that but the drive isn't even showing up under My Computer I can only find it under device manager. When I connect the external drive formatted fat32 to the computer it shows a usb device being connected in the tray at the bottom corner but that is all.

Broni · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:10:02 PM »

Did you try different USB port? Are you using front one, or back one?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:15:23 PM »

I tried connecting it with 2 usb ports in the front and all six in the back. It makes a sound saying it is connected every time i connect it . it just isn't showing up in my computer.

Broni · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:16:29 PM »

Is that drive self-powered?
Also, in Device Manager, when you right click on that drive, then Properties, is it set like this:

Broni · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:19:25 PM »

Is it formal external HD, or internal-turned-external?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:25:28 PM »

I checked and it was checked optimized for quick removal. I changed it to optimize for performance and it still isn't shown under my computer.

I got this harddrive out of my old computer that died. It is a 3.5 in. western digital 80gb harddrive. I put it in a external case. It worked on one of my xp computers and works perfectly with my ps3. I don't see why it won't work with my vista computer.

thanks a lot for your help

Broni · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:27:13 PM »

I assume, it has own power, right?
What is the jumper set to?

Broni · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:32:15 PM »

Does it show in Disk Management?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:35:06 PM »

lol. The power is on.

What is a jumper?

It shows up under device manager, then under disk drives.

Broni · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:39:47 PM »

You mean, it has own power cable, not powered through USB?
Control Panel>Adm. Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management....listed there? recognized?
Hard drive jumpers:

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #16 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:53:46 PM »

yes I have to plug it into a outlet for it to turn on. it is an old desktop hard drive.

It is listed under Disk management. it doesn't have a name. but it says it is online. it has a 2.75 gb healthy (primary partition), a 63 mb healthy (EISA Configuration) and a 74.5 gb partition.

Broni · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2008, 09:56:15 PM »

What about jumpers?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:07:53 PM »

it is using the part circled in blue and the part that the blue misses to the right. it is just one connector that connects to the drive

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Broni · « **Reply #19 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:19:58 PM »

No. These are for data cables.
Jumpers are here:

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blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #20 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:21:19 PM »

oh okay. Well then I don't have anything connected there so I guess I'm not using jumpers.

Broni · « **Reply #21 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:24:49 PM »

Nothing connects there, but look at that section, if you have any little clip, which braces two connectors together, like this:

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #22 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:31:25 PM »

I do not have anything bracing the connectors at all. $:-\$

Broni · « **Reply #23 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:36:13 PM »

It looks like I'm out of ideas for tonight. Maybe after good night sleep.....

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #24 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:37:59 PM »

thanks a lot for all of your help.

Broni · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2008, 10:48:41 PM »

I hope we can solve it tomorrow with fresh mind, and maybe some help from others.

Astoria · « **Reply #26 on:** May 25, 2008, 11:13:41 PM »

Are you using a HD enclosure like this one?

Broni · « **Reply #27 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:04:52 AM »

This reminded me something. Some of those enclosures have a switch on the back ESATA\USB. Do you have one of those?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #28 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:33:08 AM »

this is my enclosure. except for the part circled in red mine doesn't have that.

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blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #29 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:33:48 AM »

It only has a switch to turn it on and off.

Broni · « **Reply #30 on:** May 26, 2008, 10:17:28 AM »

Re-check connections inside. It happened to me, some cable got lose.

Astoria · « **Reply #31 on:** May 26, 2008, 10:25:25 AM »

Quote from: blazingeagle2c on May 25, 2008, 09:53:46 PM

yes I have to plug it into a outlet for it to turn on. it is an old desktop hard drive.

It is listed under Disk management. it doesn't have a name. but it says it is online. it has a 2.75 gb healthy (primary partition), a 63 mb healthy (EISA Configuration) and a 74.5 gb partition.

What does it say about the 74.5 Gb partition, is it healthy?

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #32 on:** May 26, 2008, 11:06:38 AM »

under disk management it doesn't say anything about the 74.5 gb part. The 74.5gb part isn't listed as a volume when I click on it like the other two parts.

patio · « **Reply #33 on:** May 26, 2008, 11:50:40 AM »

Download and run the FREE diagnostics from the drive manuf. website...

Broni · « **Reply #34 on:** May 26, 2008, 11:55:28 AM »

patio, do something, because I'm out of options here...

truenorth · « **Reply #35 on:** May 26, 2008, 04:58:19 PM »

blaziingeagle2c, This reminds me of a similar problem i had a while back that was solved by CH members (think it was either Broni or Patio). I believe Broni has actually pointed you in the right direction but to my observation the required action has not been executed yet. The problem is the placement of your "jumper pins" The fact that you have "none" in evidence where there are pins for the "connectors" leads me to believe that the drive (internal in an external case) is not jumpered properly. I have forgotten where i ended up having to configure mine (it's an age/memory thingy). But no harm would be done in placing it in the locations usually imprinted on the drive (not the case) and trying them one at a time. Also a call to the drive manufacturer and?or the case MFGr. should help.I would try the case Mfgr.1st as they should be the most knowledgeable.good luck and keep us posted. truenorth
P.S. i am not (yet) a Vista user so i don't know if that adds any other dimension to this but certainly the "jumper "location will.

blazingeagle2c · « **Reply #36 on:** May 26, 2008, 08:30:54 PM »

I tried all the possible combinations of connecting the jumper but it still isn't showing up under my computer. Any other ideas?

truenorth · « **Reply #37 on:** May 27, 2008, 09:23:45 AM »

blazingeagle2c,I want to stay with the "jumper" aspect of this just because in my case there were other contributing factors re the "external cases'. I actually had 3 ,all the same make,all new.Of the 3 only 2 would work with the pin configuration as stated by the case mfg. Wouldn't you know the 1st one that i tried when i set the jumper pins was the one that DID NOT work. Of course that caused me to question the jumper solution. Fortunately i tried the other 2 and they both worked (and continue to work).I say this only to apprise you of my own experience in case it leads to solving yours.If you have not contacted the case mfg. i urge you to do that if possible.truenorth

etch · « **Reply #38 on:** October 08, 2008, 07:19:30 PM »

I have the same problem with my 60gb external hdd formatted with fat32 and it wouldn't mounted on my computer. The same hdd I formatted with ntfs volume and it would recognized it. I guess there is still some bugs in vista need to be fixed.

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #39 on:** October 08, 2008, 10:54:27 PM »

Start a new topic, please.

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Author Topic: vista won't read fat32 external drive (Read 19633 times)

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