I have 2 simpletech external hd 250GB.My boss dropped one of them, killing the hd. The enclosure still works, I tested it out by putting the hd of the other external to the enclosure. However, when I install a different hd, the hardware is recognized by the computer, but not as a letter drive(My Computer). Nothing shows as a letter drive. I tested different types of hd, a formatted with lower rpm/size than the original.Then a unformatted with same rpm but lower size. Both were not recognized as a letter drive. Also, I had the jumpers set as Master...i tried CS too. Nothing I don't know if I have to get a repleca of the original HD which was 250GB 7200rpm, which I don't think I have too. Or am I just missing something? Which I think I am.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Admin tools , computer management and look at disk managment. See what it says.

Thanks, I see the drive, but how do I format it in order to see it as a letter drive? It still doesnt show, its just recognized.

You'll be going round and round in circles trying to assign drive letters to external HDs. The fact of the matter is you cannot. External HDs are considered to be peripheral rather than internal HDs. Internal HDs have to have permanent drive letters assigned to enable BIOS to complete its booting sequences. External HDs will be given its drive letters as Windows see fit. i_XpUser

Can you do any tasks to the drive. Use help in disk managment to try format. I borked a usb drive and xp wouldn't format it. I had to use linux to fix it. If you can't format the drive then you either need a live linux cd or remove the hd and install into a ide chain. Format it then return to usb enclosure.