External hard disk is not showing as drive on my computer is difference b/w operating system is the cause?

Question

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:Table Normal;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;} I have hard disk which was used for laptop having Windows XP operating system installed on it but I wanted to use it on my laptop (having Windows 7 installed on it) as an external hard disk. In My Computer it does not show but in Control Panel -> Device and Printer -> It shows but when I right lick it it shows only Eject Create Shortcut Troubleshoot and Properties but does not show Explore or Open. Hard disk is not showing as a drive is there a problem of the difference of operating system between the external hard disk with the laptop's operating system? Or what the problem is why it's not showing as a drive? Please do check the snap shots of the showing of hard disk.

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

@Frogleg: thanks for ur answer it worked; but I have to format all of my external hard disk's drives.

Frogleg · Answer

Open calculator select view then scientific Click hex radio button and enter 3FE34FD click decimal radio button add 1 click hex button and there's your answer I came up with 3FE34FE

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

I have one internal that is of hard disk and other is external hard disk both disk is showing 3FE34FD the last digit is D how can I change it (increase or decrease it) as it's not 1 or 2 as the last digit any Idea CERTAINLY without losing data.

Frogleg · Answer

Did you enter list disk to show all your disks ? Make sure you identify correct disk

Frogleg · Answer

DISKPART> uniqueid disk ID=[NEW SIGNATURE] instead of [New SIGNATURE] type in the disk id an increment last number by 1 IE 123456 will be 123457

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

DISKPART> uniqueid disk ID=[NEW SIGNATURE] The arguments specified for this command are not valid. For more information on the command type: HELP UNIQUEID DISK and when I typed HELP UNIQUEID DISK it gives information that I did not understand. Pleae do check the attachment.

Frogleg · Answer

Try this http://www.howtohaven.com/system/change-disk-signature.shtml

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

When I used this external hard disk on a PC having Windows XP operating system installed it detects the hard disk in the first place but then the system hangs. & how can I change SIGNATURE any Idea CERTAINLY without losing data.

Suthish Nair · Answer

Sayed me too want to know the solution. Please share here if your problem got resolved.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Does this help?

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

@Suthish Nair: In the following link http://www.laurentkempe.com/post/Windows-7-Disk-is-offline-because-it-has-a-signature-collision.aspx two disk have the 00024A91 signature hence the collision so they changed it 00024A90 by decreasing from 1 unit. But in my case both disk is showing 3FE34FD the last digit is D how can I change it any Idea CERTAINLY without losing data. Check the attachment.

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

@Frogleg: In Disk Management I can see that external hard having this message The disk is offline because it has a signature collision with another disk that is online. I am also attaching a snap shot of this.

Suthish Nair · Answer

Sayed Try this article.. http://www.laurentkempe.com/post/Windows-7-Disk-is-offline-because-it-has-a-signature-collision.aspx I need to try this also might helps me.

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

@Mahesh Chand: The pack of external hard disk says that it does not need a software for any operating system other than windows 98. My laptop has Windows 7 whereas on external hard disk has windows xp operating system is this the problem?

Syed Arbab Ahmed · Answer

@Sam Hobbs: There is no physical problem as it is showing in Disk Management the external hard disk is of ID.

Suthish Nair · Answer

It seems a bug/problem in W7. Same issue happened with me long back i tried some settings but no way. I suggest you post this to Microsoft blog hope they already fixed it or have a solution.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

In addition to all above suggestions sometimes you need to install a software to see an external hard drive while some hard drives install this automatically for you. Also you need to make sure the external hard drive is supported on that Operating System.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

It is caused by a problem we cannot see. It is probably caused by something you can see yet assuming that it is not the problem. That is my guess based on many other similar problems I have seen. My guess is that there is a physical problem. Are you sure that the cables are connected? Is there a power switch? Please check everything such as that. You give us extremely little information so we can only guess and give vague answers.

Frogleg · Answer

Got to control panel \ Administrative Tools\Computer Management\Storage - disk management and see if the disk is there

External hard disk is not showing as drive on my computer, is difference b/w operating system is the cause?