160 GB USB External HDD-t22 won't recognize it!

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seahawk · #1 Post by **seahawk** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:41 pm

First, let me say thanks to this forum for helping out so much. You guys are really knowledgeable and helpful. Hopefully you can help me again!

I bought a new external hard drive from best buy today, it's a Simpletech SimpleDrive USB 2.0 160 GB. Windows is supposed to recognize it when I plug it in, but I'm having troubles.

First, if I plug it directly into the (only) USB port on my T22, the HD just spins and Windows doesn't even pick it up.

If I plug it into my 4-way (unpowered) USB port that is plugged into the T22's USB port, windows picks it up and it is listed under My Computer as Disk Drive E. If I try to open it up from My Computer, I get a message to "Please insert disk into Drive E."

I have checked all the Windows updates and BIOS updates. I am up to date. I am running Windows XP.

The hard drive is picked up right away by my roommate's Dell desktop if I plug it into a USB port on that machine.

The cable for the hard drive has 2 USB male connectors, one is for data and power, and the other is a supplemental power to plug into a second USB port on the computer (which I don't have).

The hard drive itself has a jack for an AC adapter, but the adapter did not come with the hard drive.

Help me! I am trying to store all of my music (about 250 CDs) on this drive, and I have started to do so using my roomie's Dell desktop. But, I really need to get this thing working on my trusty T22 because I am leaving town for the summer in 3 weeks!

dsigma6 · #2 Post by **dsigma6** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:00 am

Perhaps the ThinkPad isn't supplying enough power, or at least as much as the Dell? I hate these types of issues. Pure BS!

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:09 am

Your 2 options are:
- buy the AC-adapter for the external HD, or
- buy a PCMCIA card with 2 or 4 USB2.0 ports or a combo USB2.0/Firewire card. Look for ones with an NEC chipset, rather than VIA.
That card slots in the side of your laptop.

seahawk · #4 Post by **seahawk** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:13 am

Hey thanks guys. After I posted this, I plugged the USB power/bus into my USB port on my thinkpad, and the aux USB power into a port on the Dell, and the thinkpad picked it up just fine. I guess I will have to get a PCMCIA USB card, something I wanted to get anyway because it's really annoying when I am away from home and want to use a flash drive and my external mouse at the same time...

Thanks for the help, rock on.

seahawk · #5 Post by **seahawk** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:36 pm

well, i want to buy the PCMCIA card with the USB ports, but I want to make sure I get the right one. I need one PCMCIA slot for my wireless card.

Can I fit both the wireless card and the USB card in at the same time?

Also- I have read that some require external power, and I want to avoid this, otherwise I would just buy the AC adaptor for the external HDD.

Reading another post, it looks like this is the one i need:

http://www.cablegear.com/USBG2UE.html

#6 Post by **schen** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:58 am

seahawk wrote:well, i want to buy the PCMCIA card with the USB ports, but I want to make sure I get the right one. I need one PCMCIA slot for my wireless card.

Can I fit both the wireless card and the USB card in at the same time?

Also- I have read that some require external power, and I want to avoid this, otherwise I would just buy the AC adaptor for the external HDD.

I've unfortunately gone through the same song and dance as you on the USB external drive when I had a T22. I then had a T23 which had 2 ports so that resolved the issue, but that beside the point. I ended up buying an Adaptec which has a flat bottom on the part that hangs out so it should be fine with most wireless cards. I suspect that most USB 2.0 card will be like that.

However, I have another solution that worked for me that you could try. I put one of those USB to PS/2 adapters that come with a lot of mice on the end of the second USB connector and plugged it into that to pull enough power to run the external HDD. It worked for me without the hassle of an added card so it's a cheap solution that you can try. The downside is that you still have the USB 1.1 throughput.

zone · #7 Post by **zone** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:48 am

seahawk wrote:well, i want to buy the PCMCIA card with the USB ports, but I want to make sure I get the right one. I need one PCMCIA slot for my wireless card.

Can I fit both the wireless card and the USB card in at the same time?

Also- I have read that some require external power, and I want to avoid this, otherwise I would just buy the AC adaptor for the external HDD.

Reading another post, it looks like this is the one i need:

http://www.cablegear.com/USBG2UE.html

It should work with wireless card together. That PCMCIA looks similar to IBM USB 2.0 P/N 33L3245, FRU 32P5080, you may find it on ebay.

160 GB USB External HDD-t22 won't recognize it!

160 GB USB External HDD-t22 won't recognize it!

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