http://www.edgetechcorp.com/storage/combo-hard-drive.asp

I have an Edgetech 400gb external USB/Firewire drive that my home PC recognizes as an unklnown device. Their website indicates no drivers are needed if you are running XP pro, which I am. I tried connecting it to my work laptop and it recognizes it fine (external mass storage device, 372 gb--or something along those lines).

Any ideas why my home PC won't recognize it correctly?

May be dumb question, but is your home PC also XP Pro?

Is your Home PC USB2 or USB, sometimes that may be an issue if the drive is USB2.

Yeah, both are XP-PRO and both are USB 2.0. My home PC recognizes my Seagate external drive just fine but not this one. :crazy:

Does it actually say "Unknown Device"?

Is the portable drive backwards compatible with USB 1.1 only computers?

If you do not specifically see "Unknown device" in a popup balloon or something, then locate your "My Computer" icon, and right-click it then choose "Manage". From the management console that will appear, choose "Disk Management". Please provide a screen capture of what you see in the disk management console.

Does it actually say "Unknown Device"?

Yes

Is the portable drive backwards compatible with USB 1.1 only computers? I'm not certain

If you do not specifically see "Unknown device" in a popup balloon or something, then locate your "My Computer" icon, and right-click it then choose "Manage". From the management console that will appear, choose "Disk Management". Please provide a screen capture of what you see in the disk management console.

I do get a balloon that says unknown device. After it is set up I have unknown device listed in the device manager. Do you still need a disk management screen cap?

nah, don't bother with the screen cap, i think this is a problem with USB compatibility.

that's pretty weird. are you 100% positive that the computer in question supports USB 2.0 and not just USB 1.1? This *should* be listed in Device Manager as USB 2.0 Enhanced, I think. Like this (see picture below).

if it's not listed as 2.0 in device manager on the computer that doesn't recognize the drive, check the other computer and see if that one is USB 2.0.

i checked out the site above and that drive itself only seems to be USB 2.0 compatible, so it won't work on older/cheaper computer hardware that only supports USB 1.1. i have never heard of Edge Tech, so i can't say - most other major name brands are backwards compatible. you might call Edge Tech and ask them.

NOTE: sometimes computers will have multiple USB ports - some will support USB 1.1, some will support USB 2.0. You may also try plugging into different ports.

According to their website it is compatibnle to USB1.1, 2 and the firewrie. The only thing I could find or think of at the moment is

1. They say the drive may hang up once in a while during disconnect. Power unit down for at least a minute with all connectors disconnected from the drive. Power up with onlu the power cord connected. When you get a green light, connect the USB, then connect to computer.

2. How old is your home PC? One thought is I wonder if your home PC won't see it because it won't recognized a HD that large. Since your other one wroks but is larger, I think the USB is good on the computer and they don't mention anything else on the web site, so I'm stuck on maybe the PC BIOS won't recognize that large a HD.

Normally it means your lacking a driver for the Unkown device thing, but they don't list anything on the web site for Edge Tech Corp. Only other though is that if it is an OEM XP PRO disc, that maybe they didn't include all the drviers on a standard install.

Your turn Shifty, I'm drawing a blank now. ;)

Dang ya beat me...I need to type faster or think faster.

Well, you got me on their website 0 I didn't see USB 1.1 anywhere :confused:

:D

I don't think the OEM install thing would make a difference. It probably uses the same core driver XP uses for everything or uses a chipset or microcontroller that XP recognizes already.

I can't think of anyhing else. I would definitely try hooking up the USB cable *then* powering it up. And also try using different USB ports on the computer with the same message.

If the drive itself uses a power cord, make sure it's getting power :D

I saw it in the PDF file for the install/owners manual from their site. I agree it is weird problem. I agree with you, it something to do with the way the home PC USB and MB are setup, I just can't put my finger on what it is.

Well, I haven't been home yet to play with it again. My home PC is an ACER :( P4--about 14 months old--not 100% positive if it's USB 2.0.

The box the Edge drive came in does indicate backwards compatibility with USB 1.1.

Will be home tonight and experiment further.

If it's backwards compatible (the drive) then I don't think that's the problem. I would still try other USB ports on the computer (try the ones in front or back of the machine) and also try plugging in the USB before turning on the power, then try the opposite. Try it on a few ports.

Probably sounds like quack science or something, but I've seen it work.