Member Avatar for dingo61

I have an external hard drive for my my XP based computer when I USB connect my new Win 7 computer to this drive will Picture/video/music files work? What can I do if not?

  • 3 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 63 Views
  • 14 Hours Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by abu taher

Dani AI

Generated

— short answer: usually yes, but check a few things first so your pictures, videos and music are accessible.

First, check the drive format and encryption. Windows 7 natively reads NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT. If the drive was formatted for Linux (ext2/3/4) or is encrypted (BitLocker or third-party), Windows 7 will not show files without extra software or the recovery key. Also confirm the enclosure is just a USB mass-storage device (most are) so no special vendor driver is required.

Practical troubleshooting sequence: plug the drive into a powered rear USB port or use its adapter, wait for Windows to finish installing drivers, then look in Computer/This PC. If you do not see it, open Computer -> Manage -> Disk Management to confirm the disk is present and assign a drive letter if needed. If Disk Management reports RAW or unallocated, do not format if you need the data — try another cable/port or another PC first and consider data-recovery tools or a pro. If files are visible but you cannot open them, check NTFS permissions and take ownership via the Security tab, or supply the BitLocker key. For media that will not play, install codecs or use a player like VLC.

Nice tips from about USB speed and from about testing another computer — use those early to narrow down cable/port vs. drive problems. If anything looks risky, stop and ask before formatting.

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for igen

all external harddisk will work just fine.
The problem only in USB connection, if it's still USB 1.0 it will takes awhile to transfer some files.

Member Avatar for abu taher

for more, you can check it a another computer. I think then u can find your problem.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.