External Hard Drive

[DaisyHawkins]

New to Virgin Media, previously broadband user via BT phone line connection.

I have plugged my existing external hard drive that I was successfully using with my old set up into one of the Ethernet ports on the new VM box. The only device I see on the network, from my PC, is my PC. How do I open up the network? 

[Bolehill]

Check that network discovery is turned on:

In Windows 10 thats Settings - Network and Internet - Advanced Network Settings - Advanced Sharing Settings - Network Discovery

You should then be able to see anything thats connected to the Hub

[DaisyHawkins]

Thanks. I had already checked and it is on.

[Tudor · Accepted solution]

Where you plug the drive socket should have flashing LED to show it’s active. If not a) possible cable fault b) hub fault. For a) change cable or try reversing it, b) try another port or do a pin hole reset of the hub.

[DaisyHawkins]

Thanks. LED is flashing. I will try a different ethernet slot. What is a "pin hole reset"??

[goslow]

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@DaisyHawkins wrote:

Thanks. LED is flashing. I will try a different ethernet slot. What is a "pin hole reset"??

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How did you have the drive set up on BT? If you used a fixed IP address, I think the BT hubs may operate on a different IP address range to VM.

Many of these types of drive come with a setup/configuration utility program which should allow you to detect the drive on the network via the program and allow you to set it up on the VM hub.

[Tudor]

You do not need to do a pin hole reset, but for clarification it’s pushing a button on the VM hub that resets its configuration and is known to fix the old problem.

[DaisyHawkins]

Thanks. Your suggestion re changing the port worked. I hadn't noticed before that there was no light on at the port, switched to a different one, all lit up and now connected to the external drive ok. I only need 2 ports so can manage without the duff one.