Running HD24tools under Windows 7

From Windows Vista and onwards, Microsoft have made a few changes to the default permissions of users running Windows.

Instead of logging in with superuser permissions, users are now logged in with 'regular' user permissions. One difference is that software running under 'regular' user privileges does not have permissions to read and write drive sectors directly. This is a good thing: It means that a lot of malware and viruses no longer have the power to corrupt your drives.

Unfortunately, this also prevents HD24tools from detecting drives, as it uses raw sector access to read and write HD24 drives. As such, to run HD24tools under Vista and Windows 7, a few extra steps are needed. One user, Chris, has kindly outlined the following steps for Windows 7:
  1. Right click on the hd24connect.exe file and select "Properties".
  2. Select the "Compatibility" tab.
  3. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and select "Windows XP(Service Pack 3)
  4. At the bottom of the tab under "Priveledge "Level", check the option to "Run this program as an administrator".
Another user, Bob Merrill, states he needs to "scan for hardware changes" under disk management: 
I have to scan for hardware changes in the Device Manager whenever I insert
the disk in the caddy.

I haven't done it in awhile, but I think I did this:

1. With the caddy power off (mine has a switch) insert the caddy.

2. Turn the caddy power on.

[2b. Connect the USB cable to the computer, as appropriate]

3. Scan for hardware changes (=do a hardware rescan from the device manager).

4. Run HD24Connect.
Hope this helps! Enjoy!

Best,
Marc