USB issue - please help

sazza

Hi,

I have a western digital external drive. i can connect it to my work laptop ok only when i do not have any other USB devices plugged in.

But the problem is i cannot connect it to my netbook - it doesnt recognise it. Some guys here in work think it may be the power it requires to work - if so is there any way i will be able to configure it to work on my netbook ?

any help appreciated.

thanks,
Saz

InquiringMind

Not all of the usb ports on laptops can supply power to external devices. Have you tried connecting your hdd to all the usb ports on your laptop?

sazza

thanks InquiringMind

probably have but couldnt be sure il try that tonight and see if it works

yoyo

Does the hdd come with a cable with 2 usb plugs, try plugging both them in

Nick

sazza

oh never thought of that ... D'oh


Funny man ....

yoyo

sazza wrote: »

oh never thought of that ... D'oh


Funny man ....

Trust me, some people wouldnt think of it I've seen those hard drives running off just using one of the 2 usb plugs before, The hard drive should work, if you right click on my computer, choose manage, under disk management do you see the hard drive, it could be something as simple as a drive lettering conflict

Nick

Gurgle

sazza wrote: »

oh never thought of that ... D'oh


Funny man ....

wow, that will really make people want to help you

sazza

ah get the joke gurgle - thought he was telling me to plug both end of the cable in - hence the "Funny Funny smiley face" jez some people are always on the defensive ...

anyways Nick - do you mean you can get a cable with 1 usb on one end and 2 on the other end ?

where would i purchase such a cable ?

yoyo

sazza wrote: »

ah get the joke gurgle - thought he was telling me to plug both end of the cable in - hence the "Funny Funny smiley face" jez some people are always on the defensive ...

anyways Nick - do you mean you can get a cable with 1 usb on one end and 2 on the other end ?

where would i purchase such a cable ?

http://www.insidesocal.com/click/toshiba_usb_drive_with_double_USB_cable_550.jpg

Nah man, some external portable usb drives come with a 2 usb port cable (take up 2 ports on the machine), as you can see pictured, if yours didnt it shouldnt be neccesary to have to use one, I can see where you thought I was being funny now lol,

Nick

tman

yoyo wrote: »

Nah man, some external portable usb drives come with a 2 usb port cable (take up 2 ports on the machine), as you can see pictured, if yours didnt it shouldnt be neccesary to have to use one

That's not necessarily true - some laptops just can't supply enough power for western digital passports (I'm assuming that's the drive the OP has), so you'll need to get one of these;
http://store.westerndigital.com/store/wdus/en_US/DisplayAccesoryProductDetailsPage/productID.106596600/categoryID.13095900

This dual-connector cable is designed specifically for the Passport portable USB drive. Normally, the USB port on the PC provides enough power to operate the drive. However, there are some models of computers that do not supply enough power for the drive to operate. In those rare cases, this cable can be used to power the drive using power from two USB ports on the system.

sazza

oh great - i get myself one of those so ...

Thanks for all your help

Gurgle

sazza wrote: »

ah get the joke gurgle - thought he was telling me to plug both end of the cable in - hence the "Funny Funny smiley face" jez some people are always on the defensive ...

anyways Nick - do you mean you can get a cable with 1 usb on one end and 2 on the other end ?

where would i purchase such a cable ?

hehe, you didn't even understand what he was telling you - now its funny