hdd issues via sata>usb adapter

quicksilver · 18 Oct 2009 at 22:11

Been given a 40Gb Western Digital WD400JD that a mate wants stuff backing up from, and I've plugged it into my laptop via a SATA>USB adapter which I purchased for backing up my Xbox360 hdd.

Anyway, the Western will not appear via My Computer or in Device Manager.

I am assured that the hdd does work - it had Win XP installed (Pro I believe).

Any suggestions? I have tried all the usb ports on my laptop with no luck.

Laptop is running Win XP Home.

Sasahara · 18 Oct 2009 at 23:24

USB powered adapters for 2.5" hard drives can be a pain if the Hard drive requires more power than the USB(s) can provide.

So yeah, maybe a power issue.

quicksilver · 19 Oct 2009 at 08:41

it's a 3.5" hdd....I can get other 3.5" hdd's showing via the same adapter but not this particular Western....

Could it be the whole XP Pro install on the hdd but XP Home on my Laptop?

the adapter has it's own power supply so power wouldn't be an issue...

AbsenceJam · 19 Oct 2009 at 09:28

Not every drive works with these USB adaptors, but then again the drive may be dead.