Can't Install Toshiba Usb 3.0 External Drive Onto Computer

[flobadob]

I have a Toshiba 3.0 USB external hard drive which I'm trying to connect to a Dell Inspiron 3100 running XP, but when I try to it keeps asking to format it, which I don't want to do as there is content on the drive already. During the installation process a message did come up saying that the drive didn't pass XP something or other and I could click cancel or install anyway, and I just kept the install process going.

The Toshiba drive connects easily to my Lenovo PC but not the Dell. Is there an issue because the Dell is around 8 years old perhaps whereas the Lenovo is newer?

Is there a way to connect the drive to the Dell without formatting?

[Old_Geezer]

It sounds as if the existing formatting is not recognised as valid by the PC.

I suspect your best bet would be to back the data up elsewhere, and then afterwards allow the Pc to format the disk, then reinstall your data.

I trust the drive is still readable on whatever it was connected to before ?

[hc4361]

What OS is your Lenovo running?

[flobadob]

The Lenovo is Windows 8 I think

[hc4361]

I suspect this is a very large hard drive in the NTFS format which your XP pc can't handle.

If you want to back up files on your XP try backing up to a usb stick flash drive, copying them to the Lenovo and backing up on your external hard drive from there.

[flobadob]

Yes, the Toshiba is a 1TB drive so perhaps that is causing an issue. I've only ever installed 500GB drives to the Dell before. I know I can take stuff from the Dell onto a 500GB Philips HDD that I have and then use the Lenovo to transfer from the Philips to the Toshiba, it's just that this is much more time cinsuming than if I could just install the Toshiba onto the Dell.

Anyway that is the way I'm going to do it as there doesn't appear to be a way to get the Toshiba drive connected to the Dell.

[hc4361]

Would you consider installing Linux on your old XP? It might extend the usefulness of the PC

[flobadob]

At the moment the Dell PC is rarely used so I probably wouldn't do anything that I'm not familiar with carrying out. If ever it was causing an issue which I needed resolved and Linux was the answer I definitely would try it.

By the way what does installing Linux mean? Is it a different OS or another version of XP?

[hc4361]

It's a totally different and free OS. It works well as a dual boot with XP so you can choose which OS to use. It will be much safer than XP now that Microsoft is no longer supporting XP.

It is not difficult to do and there are plenty of online guides.

Linux comes in many different types and Ubuntu is my favourite for older PCs
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

[flobadob]

Thanks hc, might try and keep that in mind for the future