Why doesn't my laptop recognize the Thermaltake Blacx hard drive docking station?

On Windows XP I've seen external drives try to take a letter that is already in use by another drive, possibly even one that isn't even hooked up at the time (don't recall for sure).  I've never seen this issue on Windows 7, but it may still be possible.

To check, do the following:
Open Disk Management (Start >> Run >> diskmgmt.msc)

See if you can find the Blacx listed in there.  If so, right-click it and go to "Change drive letter and paths"

Assign it a letter that isn't in use.

Hope this help.

WP

It says 931.51 GB (that should be the one) Unknown Not Initiallized Unallocated I don't see where I can assign a letter when I right click.

Thank You
Art

Ah, ok.  That's a bit odd, as opening Disk Management normally asks you immediately to initialize the disk if it's brand new (assuming it is).  Is there an Initialize option when you right-click?

Yes, there is an initialize option. Is that what it needs?

If this is a drive that has data on it, there's something wrong and initializing could make data recovery more difficult.

However, if it's a brand new drive, yes, initialize it.

It will take you through a few prompts, and might ask you something about whether to make it a dynamic disk.  Personally, I'd say no to that.

Next, you may have to right-click it again and format.

Post back if you run into anything I didn't anticipate.

WP

It is a fairly new drive with not much on it at all and not important. I was used before in a WD Essential My Book but the ports broke so I just removed it.

When I first run the diskmgt it ask: you must initialze the disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it MBR or GTP

Disk 1 (My new disc) is checked

If you're not concerned about losing the data, I'd initialize it.  The disk that's checked is fine.

If you don't want to lose the data, try hooking it up directly to a SATA port inside the computer and then boot up to see if the data shows up.  Beyond that, it's a data recovery issue, for which I can try to offer suggestions.

WP

Now when I try to initialize, is ask convert to dynamic or convert to GPT.  I do dynamic, right?

I would go with GPT.  All I know about Dynamic is that you can use it to create spanned volumes, which I've never tried.

I just know that I've never gone wrong with GPT.

WP

I should probably add that either one will work.  I just don't know much about the benefits or drawbacks of dynamic disks.

Done, but it still says unallocated. No other options other than New simple volume

Cool.  Create the simple volume with the NTFS file system and Default allocation unit size.  Volume label is purely cosmetic.

WP

Quick format is fine.  Only uncheck if a quick format fails, as a normal format can take a while.

Don't enable file and folder compression.

Well Done! It recognizes it! (I don't have to do this every time do I)
Thanks for staying with me.

Good deal!

Thanks for the patients. Stayed with me the entire process even tho I needed to try several processes.

Too late -- but for future reference, when it asks if you want to convert to a dynamic or GPT volume you do NOT want to do either.    It's much more compatible to simply leave it as a basic volume.    Just initialize the disk -- nothing more.

To recover from that (if you want), run Western Digital's Data Lifeguard utility; select that drive (be SURE you've selected the correct drive);  and then run the Write Zeroes function on the drive ... selecting a full erase.    This will take a few hours ... but when it's done, the next time you look at the drive with Disk Management it will ask you to initialize it again -- this time don't check any of the conversion choices.

Another question:   Is this by any chance an EARS series drive?    The advanced format on these drives is not well tolerated by XP.    Install a jumper on pins 7&8 BEFORE you zero it and re-initialize it -- this forces the sector alignment to be compatible with XP.

Wow, good info garycase.  Guess that's why you're ranked Genius.  :-)

By compatible, I guess you mean easy portability between different operating systems?

WP