I have an external USB hard drive I've been using for about a year with no problems, and Windows XP suddenly can't install it anymore. I plug it in and the "Found new hardware" noise plays but I receive no notification of the hard drive being installed. When I go to "Add Hardware," to try it that way, it says another device is installing (the hard drive, obviously).

So it seems it keeps trying to install the hard drive for endless amounts of time but it never finishes, so I can't use it. I would really like to copy some files to it.

Thanks to anybody who tries to help,
Wolf

Hello and elcome to PC Help Forum.Does the drive show up in my computer?

Thanks.

No, it doesn't show up there. Also, when I go to Device Manager all the things in the list are blinking, as if the list is continuously refreshing. This stops when I unplug the hard drive.

Have you tried a diffrent USB port?or updating USB have you tried any other USB devices in the same port?Have you tried the Hard drive on another computer and does the same thing happen?

It works on USB ports on the back, but not on the front. Interesting... either way, thanks for the help. It works now.

Your welcome I would test your USB ports on the front or an update driver,there is a problem with them.