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uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 15:28
i got a dell 4700 for gift for christmas, i remember the ports are usb2 but i plug my usb drive in and it says unknown device?? i tested the drive on another pc and the usb drive is working. any ideas?:confused4
T^2
February 3rd, 2006, 15:51
Update driver? Also when requesting for help from anyone on something like this always state all software details (what OS and etc) and sometimes hardware details (in this case ur mobo would be helpful) of your system.

Oh and you might want to check how big the cache is for your removable HD because if its like 8 MB or something high then most likely you computer can't power it efficiently.
uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 16:00
dell 4700
256mb ram
80gb drive
winxp home

external 250gb is a westerrn digital 8mb cache, but the enclosure have its only power adapter so i dont think power is a problem.

btw, dell technicians couldn't help
maxout
February 3rd, 2006, 16:22
try to install it manualy. like install new hardware. that might work. are you sure ur USB is working?

DELL=JUNK

my first pc dell cost me $1700
than can't upgrade and start acting i just junk it and build my own for only 800$ topnoch stuff.


build your own. save some $
Decker
February 3rd, 2006, 16:42
You should have a basic driver or software for the USB drive, XP 'should' pick it up as just a generic storage device (but XP home is a crippled version of Pro), win2000 might, before that anyones guess, MAC/OS & Linux flavours same.

What OS was on the other PC?

Do other USB devices work ok, have a look in 'Device Manager' and see if there are any problems (if it's a windows system).

There's a couple of things to try :)
Brandon
February 3rd, 2006, 17:31
Try popping in the cd that came with the Usb hard drive.
uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 17:57
the other pc is also running winxp

but the funny thing is if i delete the usb hub from device manager, it will recognize the usb hard drive but it only operate at usb1.1

after i reinstall the drivers for the usb hub, it goes back to usb2 but it dont recognize the hard drive. i don't know maybe there's something wrong with the usb hub, sometimes i plug in a usb device and i get a blue error screen.
Decker
February 3rd, 2006, 18:18
Yep - USB hubs are pretty notorious as they use the power from one port for usually 4 - it ain't gonna work, the ports are limited on ability to supply.

USB 1 & 1.1 made less power available than USB2 (for good reason - you'll burn it out)

Have you just tried it without the hub?
uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 18:21
these are not really usb hubs, it is the 2 front usb port for the dell 4700 but for some reason device manager list them as usb hub, but the usb hard drive have its on ac adapter so its not pulling power from the pc
Decker
February 3rd, 2006, 18:43
Ah - it's not an external, but the extended USB ports.

Again do other USB devices work OK?
uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 19:04
all other usb devices work ok, sometimes when i plug in a thumb drive it give me a blue screen and have to restart computer
Decker
February 3rd, 2006, 19:14
Do you have a specific build of the OS or is it just from a cd/dvd some will miss files required (if it's a Dell build then it won't know anything apart from Dell hardware) so it'll be looking for Dell hardware only.
uploadready_500mb
February 3rd, 2006, 22:31
i am using the winxp home that came with the dell system, when i delete the usb hub, the front usb port becomes usb 1.1, if i hit refresh in the device manager they automatically find the usb hub drivers and reinstall it back to usb2 but then it wont recognize the usb hard drive anymore. its taking me over 10 minutes to move 500mb of data, too slow..
Decker
February 4th, 2006, 07:22
Hang on the 4700 is a laptop right?

What is the full description of the machine (as in is an inspiron ....yada)

Could be powersaving settings in BIOS.
T^2
February 4th, 2006, 09:01
Why don't you take the portable HD back to where you got it and ask for the store's assistence?

Or did you just buy a normal IDE HD and a enclosure and made it a protable yourself?

This seems like a very odd problem, I am thinking that you messed something up. Like a very small something. It happens a lot :p.
Nug
February 4th, 2006, 11:44
try to install it manualy. like install new hardware. that might work. are you sure ur USB is working?

DELL=JUNK

my first pc dell cost me $1700
than can't upgrade and start acting i just junk it and build my own for only 800$ topnoch stuff.


build your own. save some $
Dell isnt junk, I know lots of people that have Dell. And the really nice computers..
uploadready_500mb
February 6th, 2006, 11:22
still don't work, i give up, will just use usb 1.1
dell is not junk but obviously mine is