I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Then UNhide the drive letter with TweakUI.

oliver wrote:

> I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

"oliver" wrote:
> I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Seagate support can be right sometimes?

--PA

Oliver,
Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
OEM's web site..?
A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en
j;-j

"oliver" wrote:

> I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Yes, I formatted the drive from Disk Management originally.
No, there are no updated USB drivers. According to Seagate, Windows XP SP2
should recognize the drive without drivers. I updated to the latest MS
Windows version including the altest drivers.
I'll try the diagnostic tool.

Thanks for your help.

"Jaymon" wrote:

> Oliver,
> Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
> Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
> OEM's web site..?
> A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
> http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en
> j;-j
>
> "oliver" wrote:
>
> > I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> > 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> > listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> > is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> > "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> > letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> > contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> > drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> > computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> > was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> > without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

What do you mean? Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the
registry. I tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any
suggestions?
Thanks.

"Pavel A." wrote:

> "oliver" wrote:
> > I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> > 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> > listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> > is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> > "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> > letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> > contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> > drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> > computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> > was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> > without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
>
> Seagate support can be right sometimes?
>
> --PA
>

I tried the lavalys.com program.
Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
computer" still doesn't.
Thanks,
Oliver
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
Generator Owner
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-11-17
Time 17:53


--------[ Summary
]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904
(DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
computer)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
2000 MHz (20 x 100)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
Communication Port Communications Port
(COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port
(LPT1)
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
free)
F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
free)
G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
free)
Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
free)



"Jaymon" wrote:

> Oliver,
> Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
> Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
> OEM's web site..?
> A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
> http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en
> j;-j
>
> "oliver" wrote:
>
> > I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> > 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> > listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> > is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> > "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> > letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> > contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> > drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> > computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> > was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> > without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.

"oliver" <oliver@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:BFDD07F1-44F7-4EB4-BD1E-7FBAFD9C4B5C@microsoft.com...
> What do you mean? Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the
> registry. I tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any
> suggestions?
> Thanks.

Since the disk works well in other computer, most likely it is good,
so the Seagate folks can wash their hands.

The problem sits somewhere in your computer. Now, there are nasty
stubborn Windows problems that are just impossible to fix with a reasonable effort
and in reasonable time. You tried... it didn't help... this just happens.

--PA

>
> "Pavel A." wrote:
>
>> "oliver" wrote:
>> > I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
>> > 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
>> > listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
>> > is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
>> > "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
>> > letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
>> > contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
>> > drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
>> > computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
>> > was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
>> > without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
>>
>> Seagate support can be right sometimes?
>>
>> --PA
>>

Thanks for your help. I guess there isn't much I can do about it except to
re-install windows XP on my computer.

"Pavel A." wrote:

> "oliver" <oliver@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:BFDD07F1-44F7-4EB4-BD1E-7FBAFD9C4B5C@microsoft.com...
> > What do you mean? Seagate support suggested it was a problem with the
> > registry. I tried to clean out the registry and had no success. Any
> > suggestions?
> > Thanks.
>
> Since the disk works well in other computer, most likely it is good,
> so the Seagate folks can wash their hands.
>
> The problem sits somewhere in your computer. Now, there are nasty
> stubborn Windows problems that are just impossible to fix with a reasonable effort
> and in reasonable time. You tried... it didn't help... this just happens.
>
> --PA
>
> >
> > "Pavel A." wrote:
> >
> >> "oliver" wrote:
> >> > I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
> >> > 300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
> >> > listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
> >> > is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
> >> > "healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
> >> > letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
> >> > contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
> >> > drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
> >> > computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
> >> > was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
> >> > without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.
> >>
> >> Seagate support can be right sometimes?
> >>
> >> --PA
> >>
>
>
>

Use TweakUI to UNhide "G"

oliver wrote:

> I tried the lavalys.com program.
> Here's the report. It sees the G: external hard drive. But Windows XP "My
> computer" still doesn't.
> Thanks,
> Oliver
> --------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.
> ]------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Version EVEREST v2.20.405
> Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
> Report Type Report Wizard
> Computer S0026157848 (desktop
> computer)
> Generator Owner
> Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
> Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
> Date 2005-11-17
> Time 17:53
>
>
> --------[ Summary
> ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Computer:
> Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
> Home Edition
> OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
> DirectX 4.09.00.0904
> (DirectX 9.0c)
> Computer Name S0026157848 (desktop
> computer)
> User Name Owner
>
> Motherboard:
> CPU Type Intel Pentium 4,
> 2000 MHz (20 x 100)
> Motherboard Name Intel Maryville
> D850MV (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
> Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850
> System Memory 256 MB (PC800 RDRAM)
> BIOS Type AMI (01/07/02)
> Communication Port Communications Port
> (COM1)
> Communication Port ECP Printer Port
> (LPT1)
> Partitions:
> C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (18082 MB
> free)
> F: (FAT32) 16104 MB (6661 MB
> free)
> G: (NTFS) 286157 MB (285268 MB
> free)
> Total Size 332.4 GB (302.7 GB
> free)
>
>
>
> "Jaymon" wrote:
>
>
>>Oliver,
>>Did you format the drive from Disk Management originally..?
>>Have you checked for any updated USB drivers for your computer from the
>>OEM's web site..?
>>A nice diagnostic tool, might help.. It's free..
>>http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en
>>j;-j
>>
>>"oliver" wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I tried to connect a Seagate
>>>300GB external hard drive using a USB connector. The hard drive is NOT
>>>listed on "My computer." It is listed correctly on the "device manager" and
>>>is "working properly." Using "disk management", it is listed as a 280+GB
>>>"healthy" NTFS drive without an assigned drive letter. When I assign a drive
>>>letter, I am able to open the drive using "disk management" and access its
>>>contents (read/write), but the drive remains unlisted on "My computer." The
>>>drive is properly listed on "My computer" when I connect it to my laptop
>>>computer. Seagate customer support couldn't fix the problem and suggested it
>>>was a Microsoft Windows registry issue. I tried to cleaning out the registry
>>>without any success. Any thoughts? Thanks.