Old Lap top XP hard drive won't get recognized on new Windows 7 laptop

Hi all,
Old laptop had XP. Died. (no, the issue is not the hard drive).
Got a new laptop with Windows 7. Took out hard drive from old computer (Samsung model MP0804H, IDE PATA 80 Gigs), bought a generic enclosure (that operates of two USB ports for power and data).
Upon plugging it in I get the dialogue box which states “Installing device driver software” “USB Mass Storage Device” which eventually stops showing the pic I have attached.

I can hear it spinning and the red and green light flashes, soon remaining almost only red.
Disk management will not detect it nor does it appear in my computer. But it does appear in Devices and Printers as “Unspecified” (and some weird characters) (see other photo, with highlighted circle).
Cannot for the life of me figure this out, nor can other I had asked.
I thought perhaps I need to install the driver for the Samsung Hard drive but was assured by friend who knows more than me, that isn’t the problem as windows should install a driver automatically,
Please help! Driving me NUTS!

Welcome to the forums, dumbfounded.


1. Computer => Right-Click => Management => Disk Management =>

=> do you see your Hard Drive there ?

2. When windows automatically installs new device, do you get the message that the driver has been successfully installed ?

Did you check the option to search internet for drivers ?

Originally Posted by cybercore

Welcome to the forums, dumbfounded.


1. Computer => Right-Click => Management => Disk Management =>

=> do you see your Hard Drive there ?

2. When windows automatically installs new device, do you get the message that the driver has been successfully installed ?

Did you check the option to search internet for drivers ?

As stated above it is a generic device (no name brand) so I can't find drivers for it, & "no" to the first two questions.

Just a guess, you might have a bad enclosure my first thought if it was a very inexpensive device.
I bought one once and experienced similar issues.

Try purchasing a name brand device.

Newegg.com - VANTEC NexStar3 NST-260U2-BK Aluminum 2.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure - External Enclosures

I've bought products from this maker before and they are good quality.

Something else, some enclosures come with a connecting cord with two connectors at one end,
this is to ensure enough power to the device, the idea being on plug acts a data/power source and the other is power only.

Not likely here though because if a 2.5" drive enclosure doesn't have enough power the indicator light will flash red and you will hear a clicking sound caused by the drive trying to spin up and the read\write head seeking.
Windows won't recognize it and won't even try to install device drivers.

I have a PATA external drive that won't work with a connector cord longer than 12" giving symptoms like the low power scenario above if I use a 1 meter cord.

This regardless if the drive is connected to a my notebooks USB port or a Belkin Powered Hub.

BTW, this is an excelent way to recycle an old HDD, when it works.

Thanks. Yes it is a very cheap enclosure ($7). So will seek a better one. Probably the issue. Will this work with windows 7 ?
Thanks again.

Originally Posted by dumbfounded

Thanks. Yes it is a very cheap enclosure ($7). So will seek a better one. Probably the issue. Will this work with windows 7 ?
Thanks again.

No reason why it won't work with Win 7, after all it's is just another USB mass storage device.

The Vantech device I linked to is very affordable and it has good reviews.

Originally Posted by fjgold

No reason why it won't work with Win 7, after all it's is just another USB mass storage device.

The Vantech device I linked to is very affordable and it has good reviews.

Well I need to pay via paypal. Hopefully they have an eBay store.
Thanks again for your help.

Newegg does PayPal.

Originally Posted by fjgold

Newegg does PayPal.

Cool. I'm in Canada so hopefully that doesn't screw me over (as is often the case).
Found two others. I may go for it as long as shipping is reasonable.

Excellent! Just make sure the enclosure you pick is for IDE drives and not SATA.
The ones you linked are IDE.