External HD from a PC to a MAC

Hey guys.. so I have a nexstar external 2.5" HD that I pulled my files of my PC (windows 7) and stored to put on my macbook pro.

WELL,

I plugged the HD into the mac (running snow leopard) and the light on the HD came on (so it's getting power).. but it doesnt show a drive on the desktop.

I went and plugged it into my PC and the light came on as well but didn't recognize it (didn't pop up)..

what's happening here?

Whether it's plugged into a PC or MAC it runs (I can hear the external HD spinning).. but that's it.

I've used this HD on a mac before as well (running leopard) and it seemed to be fine.

I dont have my laptop running windows 7 around anymore so I can't see if that works or not.

it's just a few pictures but I'd love to have them opposed to hunt through my inbox.

Thanks guys and gals!

A quick explanation might be that the drive died. Is it recognized when you use Disk Utility from the Mac or Disk Manager from the PC?

Regards.

2.5" HD's are usually powered directly from the USB port.
For some HD/PC combinations there is insufficient juice to do this (particularly on laptops running off battery). Even if it shows a light it may still not be getting enough power.
If the drive has an external power adapter try that.
Otherwise it is possible to get USB cables with two plugs at the computer end specifically for powering 2.5" HD's suffering from this issue.

Boybland said:

2.5" HD's are usually powered directly from the USB port.
For some HD/PC combinations there is insufficient juice to do this (particularly on laptops running off battery). Even if it shows a light it may still not be getting enough power.
If the drive has an external power adapter try that.
Otherwise it is possible to get USB cables with two plugs at the computer end specifically for powering 2.5" HD's suffering from this issue.

Click to expand...

Not to mention that iMacs have the USB ports on the back - people might get lazy and connect their drives to the keyboard ports which never have enough power.
One USB port on the side would have been nice, Apple. Just saying...