External USB HD won't initialize

[abdulthekewl]

Hi there,
I am running Windows Vista SP2.
I have an external HD connected through a USB cable.
The HD is Western Digital WD 800 with 80 GB capacity.
When I plug the HD into the computer it starts installing the driver but it doesn't show in My Computer.
When I checked the Disk Management under Computer Management it showed that the HD is not initialized.
When I try to initialize it it gives me the error message "Incorrect Function".

The HD has been used before and it had data on it.

Does anyone have any idea what to do?

Thank you in advance.

[Saaarc]

When you get this error message are you logged in as administrator?
Is the device functioning well on any other machine?
Try to format the drive.
Check this:
Select Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Information - Open Components - System Summary - Problem Devices
Do you see anything here?

[ApPy10]

Download a diagnostic from the hard drive manufacturer's web site and run it. I hope you have a floppy drive.

[RoninBlade]

Connect you hard drive and right on My computer. Go to Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. In the Device Manager look for the new hardware. If it shows any yellow exclamation mark then update the driver by right clicking on it. Once the hard drive is installed properly in the system you will not receive any error.

[abdulthekewl]

When you get this error message are you logged in as administrator?
Is the device functioning well on any other machine?
Try to format the drive.
Check this:
Select Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Information - Open Components - System Summary - Problem Devices
Do you see anything here?

Yes I am logged in as administrator.
The device kind of crashed before, am just trying to save the data. That's why I don't wanna go for the format option.

After doing that, I saw 4 entries:
Two of them are Bluetooth peripheral device, 3rd one is Cisco any connect..
and the 4th one is Microsoft 4 to 6 adapter.

I don't see any relation to that HD.

what do you suggest?

Connect you hard drive and right on My computer. Go to Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. In the Device Manager look for the new hardware. If it shows any yellow exclamation mark then update the driver by right clicking on it. Once the hard drive is installed properly in the system you will not receive any error.

it is successfully installed and showing as a USB WD hard disk.

Download a diagnostic from the hard drive manufacturer's web site and run it. I hope you have a floppy drive.

I will start working on that now

[abdulthekewl]

here's the test results:
Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number:
Unit Serial Number: N/A
Firmware Number:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
SMART Status: Not Available
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Read diagnostics sector error!
Test Time: 00:15:11, July 10, 2009

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number:
Unit Serial Number: N/A
Firmware Number:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
SMART Status: Not Available
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Read diagnostics sector error!
Test Time: 00:15:18, July 10, 2009

[RoninBlade]

See this thread for more help : Hard Disk Not Appearing
http://forums.techarena.in/hardware-...als/466661.htm

[johnequickiii]

here's the test results:
Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number:
Unit Serial Number: N/A
Firmware Number:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
SMART Status: Not Available
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Read diagnostics sector error!
Test Time: 00:15:11, July 10, 2009

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number:
Unit Serial Number: N/A
Firmware Number:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
SMART Status: Not Available
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Read diagnostics sector error!
Test Time: 00:15:18, July 10, 2009

I'm having the SAME issue, and need a little help. Please reply to this if you know anything about why info would be missing like this.

[timon]

Check that cables are working fine where morly its looks like your hard drive problem so check for warranty and if you have warranty claim it that would be best option

[Rawko]

In the disk management console you can format/partition (initialize) the drive.If the hard drive gives you any more trouble, download the hard drive manufacturer's utility to write zeroes to the drive and to test for bad sectors.