Looking for an External Hard Drive that will work on my Dell

Question

I want to know if anyone can tell me if there is an External Hard Drive that will actually work with a Dell Dimension 3000. A couple of weeks ago, I went out and purchased a brand new SimpleTech SimpleDrive External Storage 250GB USB device with seperate power source. When I plug it into the Dell (XP Home), I immediately get hit with a message that says: 'USB Devise Not Recognized' Then: 'One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it. For assistance with this problem, click this message' I click, then a window appears' 'USB Device Not Recognized' and repeats the exact same message above. Then under that lists 'The location of the device is shown in Bold Type' I have 8 ports, and the item in bold said 'UNKNOWN DEVICE' At the bottom it says: 'Recommendation: Try reconnecting the device. If windows stsill does not regocnize it, replace the device.' I tried the USB ports in the back that I knew worked (printer, webcam, etc.), and the ones in front too... still no luck. So, later on, I unplgged the SimpleDrive since it wasn't working. Then my Dell kept asking to to plug it back in. Soon as I do, the Dell recognizes the SimpleDrive and immdiately starts up the StoageSync software that came with the SimpleDrive. I was able to back up data to it and after 4 hours of that (albeit only a 1/4 of what I wanted to backup), I went to bed, at which point I turned off the computer. Next morning, I reboot my Dell, and the hard drive didn't show up AGAIN. So... I call SimpleTech's fabulous support line. They tell me one thing... 'install the chipset driver from Dell.com' I installed the chipset, rebooted, plugged the SimpleDrive in again and got the same Error message above. Called support tech at SimpleTech again, and their only advice now is to buy a USB HUB. Note: I verified and updated windows, went to Dell and verified I was up to date there too... still not working. The next day, I carry the SimpleDrive to my work office, where I have a generic PC (with XP Pro) that a friend re-built for me. I plug it in and BINGO... it works like a charm! I'm able to view the data that I was able to backup. So, I found a forum online that suggested unplugging the Dell from the back of the comptuer, and the power strip and from the wall and wait 30 minutes. Before I did that, I deleted all the items from Device Manager under 'USB'. I unplugged everything and then came back 30 minutes later and powered on, allowed Windows to install everything again, Printer, Web Cam, Wacom Tablet. I then plugged in the SimpleDrive and then received the same message as before. BUT... I unplugged the SimpleDrive and immediately plugged it back in, and the StorageSync Software opened and the SimpleDrive was showing up again with the data I had backed up. Not for long... as soon as I powered off, the SimpleDrive disappeared from My Comptuer, even while keeping it plugged in and powered on. I haven't been able to reproduce that again. I've tried several times deleting all instances of USB's and still get the same error messages. So, I need to find an External Hard Drive that will actually WORK... all of the time... on my Dell Dimension 3000. My CD-R is also not operating, and hasn't been for some time. It says the drive is empty, even when I have a blank CD ready to burn... I've tried several different blanks too. So, I have to have and prefer an External Hard Drive, I'd prefer to get the Dell to recognize my SimpleDrive. HELP! Heidi

tphillips63 · Answer

U use western digital external drives with very good luck. I have a 500GB My book and a 250 that I use on a lot of Dell's from servers, notebooks, and all kinds of dimensions, and workstations.

ronaldson1 · Answer

I also use a Western Digital My Book, and have never had a problem.....

klbf · Answer

it could be a usb driver thats causing the problem... i have a webcam which ever since installed on the same usb2 port than my external drive runs on gives a error every once in a while... but any usb2 external drive should work

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appleseeds73 · Answer

Soooo helpful! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Heidi

appleseeds73 · Answer

Thought I'd post an update for anyone else that might have the same issue I had. I have completely resolved my problem thanks to this forum and am delighted by the plethora of information available and thought I'd give a little back to perhaps help someone else in the future.

See previous post for background.

1. The problem was not my USB ports... I didn't need to buy a HUB.
2. The problem was my Dell Dimension 3000 that wouldn't recognize SimpleTech's Drive
3. The SimpleTech Drive worked fine on another (generic) comptuer and I was able to backup to it and restore information from the SimpleTech Drive. Dell just would not recognize the drive and instead kept telling me that the drive malfunctioned. SimpleTech had only a single suggestion... update the chipset. Well, that did nothing, nada, zip, zilch.
4. I purchased, after suggestions from tphillips63 and ronaldson1 (Thank you both), a 250GB My Book Western Digital External Hard Drive from Circuit City today (Great price at $99.95). Brought it home, plugged it in... PRESTO!! I GOT BACK UP BABY!!!

So, despite Dell and SimpleTech, my problem is resolved.
Thanks Dell and SimpleTech for cooperating on this problem... yeah, right!! (As both parties keep pointing fingers at the other guy... scratching their heads and exclaiming, "Not my fault!!!").

Heidi

ronaldson1 · Answer

Great to hear your problem is solved, it always nice to hear SUCCESS stories:smileyhappy:

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