External Hard Disk problems

Fingers crossed, here goes!
My current problem is that I am attempting to Back up onto an external hard disk, without success.
O/S is W98SE. The hard disk is an ExcellStor esj880s. 80 GB SATA. It was bought 'ready to use'. SumVision case with fan, USB connection, separate power supply.
Problem. Plug it in and swith on. Load the supplied Driver. In system Informatio, and My Computer, it shows as USB Mass Storage Device, and Removable Disk(F respectively.
However, it is not shown in FDISK, neither can I access it. Any ideas please?
Mike Weller

 

If you have an older computer - ( windows 98) usb devices do not power on in dos.
Pentium 4s onwards most do.
Older computers and early p4s don't
It is more a function of the devices being controlled in windows.
Easiest way to backup would be to slave a drive where the dvd or cd is.
Use an older copy of Norton ghost which creates a bootable disk or at the worst you boot with a windows 98 boot disk and start a created norton ghost disc.
You can also backup this way to dvds but be carefull. DVDs scratch easily . All you need is one non readable dvd and the backup cannot restore.

 

Thanks People,
Like me, my computer is indeed old! All your points apply. Is it possible to back up onto a primary slave HD?
Mike Weller

 

cannot do it - simple as that
Older computers ( most likely those running win 98) do not power up the usb devices by the bios.
Windows powers the usb devices
To back up your hard drive the easiest way is to use Norton ghost .
If you can slave up a ide ( standard) hard drive to where your cd / dvd is you can ghost ( backup) to a hard drive or a dvd or cds
Note: dvds are very deliicate so if you backup to dvds make a couple of copies and put the discs in sleeves - not loose.