My Computer Doesn't "See" External Hard Drives

Fizz wrote:
My HP laptop is very slow in showing external hard drives. Whatever it has to do depends on how large and full the drive is. I usualy walk away for a minute or two.

My situation is not with my HP laptop. It's with my Toshiba, which otherwise work well and recognizes other USB items, like thumb drives. It just has to do with external disks. I'll try Mr. Wizards suggestion next. Thanks for your input. I also wonder why the external disk doesn't show up in my PC