No idea why my laptop won't recognize the external HD. I am going to clean the ports with canned air and cross my fingers that dirty USB ports are the problem.
Try it with a different USB cable as well. Cable ends, where the cable goes into the (usually) cast plug, get a lot of wear, and can fail.
 
				
		 
 
		 
 
		


 
 
		


 
 
		 
 
		
 
  
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		