How do I reset an usb stick ( or usb external hard drive) to function as an usb stick( or usb external hard drive) ?

I unwisely install bootstar while my usb external
hard drive was attached to the computer.
after I rebooted the computer it no longer pick up external hard drive icon.
however in 'disk management' it recognize it as disk 1 basic unallocated drive instead of disk 1 removable drive. I tried to create a new partition with it but it return a error message.

please help.

Is this a physical IDE HD in an external USB case?

M2

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

It does not appear to be. But I am not 100% sure. the original box does not mention anything about being enclosure.
At the back is a warranty sticker that warn if it is broken warranty is void.
my external hard drive is 80 gig maxtor personal storage 3100.

Please Help!

I'll assume it's an IDE drive. 80Gb of 'stick' if there is such a thing, would cost a fortune.

In w2k, my ext USB HD is reported in 'disk management' as disk 1 and NOT removeable.

So I think you're OK there.

What error msg do you get trying to create a partition?

And what is BootStar?

M2

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

before the incident on xp it reported my external hard disk as disk 1 removable now it report it as disk 1 basic.

and I could get in and out of the external hard disk perfectly before and of course not now.

Boot star allow you to manage more than one os in your computer.

the error message is:
heading logical disk manager
an unexpected error has occured check the system event log for more information on the error. close the management concole, then restart disk management or restart the computer.

the system even log says the parameter is incorrect (80070057)

please help!

Hi,

Two things.

Is your XP at the same SP [service pack] as before, when the USB worked OK?

If so, I would have to assume that BootStar is getting involved somehow.

In that case, you may get out of the woods by re-running BootStar and looking for some option that essentially says to ignore / exclude that drive.

Let us know.

M2

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

Hi,

The service pack has not been alter in anyways before or after, on both computers.

I tried with the bootstar to exclude my external hard drive on the original computer 1, but it still the same. so I took it over to my 2nd computer 2, still xp but without the bootstar, however I still get the exact same result. No icon, can't get into the external hard drive, but found in disk management as disk 1 basic and unpartitionable. Basically the same results.

please help!

Hi endlight,

I'm about out of brilliance here.

Unless somebody has a better plan, I would get USBinDOS boot disk and boot up and delete the partition and recreate.

I know this sounds like a can of worms, but that's what I would do.

HTH

M2

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.