Backing up - ext HD

castle96

Hi,
I wish to back up to an ext. hard drive (rather than discs). The HD does show up as plugged in (Drive Z). I have done this before but years ago.
I go into Control Panel > Back up, but it only gives me the option to back up to discs. The HD is not showing/is not an option.

Any ideas please

grumpycrab

Start -> type diskmgmt.msc
Find the Z: partition. What does diskmgmt say about it? (Active, Primary etc?)

castle96

Healthy (Primary Partition)

also says above that it is 100% free space . Strange as I am sure I loaded 1000 photos on there (how do I check if anything is on it). Maybe that never worked

forgotmyname

double click the drive letter assigned to it in Computer or My Computer.

castle96

yes, it is showing in my computer, but nil on 2 x click (just egg cup and "computer not responding"

grumpycrab

castle96 wrote: »

Healthy (Primary Partition)

also says above that it is 100% free space . Strange as I am sure I loaded 1000 photos on there (how do I check if anything is on it). Maybe that never worked

(** not my fault if you lose data**); can you see the 1000 photos at all e.g. in windows explorer? Or by plugging it into another computer?
If not try formatting the drive TICK QUICK FORMAT should bring the drive back to life OR run file recovery software if you need those photos back.

castle96

after waiting a long while.
"Z is not accessable, the device is not ready"

does not open (so cant click on any options there may be

castle96

"mark parition as active" (an option shown.) Would that help ?

grumpycrab

castle96 wrote: »

after waiting a long while.
"Z is not accessable, the device is not ready"

does not open (so cant click on any options there may be

There's obviously a problem with the disk - hopefully minor. If you've 8,8.1 or 10 a reboot with the drive plugged in should fix it automatically OR in diskmgmt.msc, right-mouse-click the drive (as before) and select Properties then select Tools -> Check Now.

If there are still problems you may have to remove the disk from its case (tell us the model number of the external disk).

littlerock

I needed to back up to an external disk. Bought an external "WD My Passport"(1tb) from Curry PC World, plugged it in, and the pc found the driver, and recognised it. I did not need to go to Control Panel/Backups as it then appeared as an external drive on my pc and I just copied the files I wanted to back up, directly onto it from "My Computer".

castle96

it is a Evesham 3.5 Ext. HD bought for £5 inside which I slotted an old HD from a defunct computer (5 yrs ago).
Seems like a load of junk. I think the answer is to buy something new.
Disk Management is SOOOOOO solow to open/do anything. Then.... it doesn't
Off to Currys