external HD missing from PC, sort of...

[rcs99rcs]

Hi... i've recently run into a most frustrating problem.... looking for some help...
I have IBM/Lenovo T61 laptop.. XP with SP3...

recently, I was saving a file to my Maxtor 200gb HD, and during the process something happened and the saving became "no longer responding"... I waited and waited for it to respond, and it never came back around....

after that, I could not access that Maxtor One Touch III 200gb, and had the "Device Cannot Start (Code 10)" error...

I then tried Maxtor on a different PC, new usb-cable, installed/uninstalled/reinstalled, restarted PC, etc etc... all with no luck

I then got a USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA adapter kit, removed the HD from its casing and tried to install back to PC.... got semi-good results...
device manager shows:
"USB Mass Storage Device"
"the device is working properly", and
"use this device (enable)"


however, i can't seem to find it in "my computer"... it was not assigned a letter....
when i look in "safely remove hardware", it is listed - but again, no drive letter

when I go to My Computer (right click) > Manage > Disk Management is does not show up (or else, I don't see it)

so, those external HDs are kind of there, but not accessible....


I've tried the USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA connection on 2 separate laptops, with 2 separate maxtor HDs (40gb, 200gb) and getting the same results....

I'm searching for a solution, and any ideas to help sort this are welcome...

I'm optimistic I can recover the files/data on the drive.
thanks in advance!!!!

(I hope I posted this to the correct thread)

[Atlantix]

I'm afraid your drive went belly up. Do you hear it spinning when turned on and connected?