Are you saying the PC never recognizes the USB hard drive, even before you try to back up?

Is that USB drive recognized on some other PC? That will tell us if the problem is with your PC or with the USB drive.

Open Windows Device Manager and see if anything is marked with a red X or yellow !

Still awaiting recommendation(s) to resolve noted issue. I have replied to your email messages, however, I receive return messages that my replies not sent ? I am aware my warranty has expired and I DO NOT plan to renew. I should not have to pay for assistance to a problem that has existed since I acquired my PC. I hope that my PC never crashes to the point that my on recourse would have been a backup to my PC on an external device, be it a hard drive or a flash/thumb drive !! Please review and advise. Regards.

Latest version of win10  1809 1903 1909 is too big to fit onto FAT32 media

@Redlats  - If you're trying to respond to Private Messages (PMs) sent through the forum, you have to log in here and click the Envelope icon in upper right corner near your avatar to respond. You can't reply to the email alerts you're getting about PMs. You can only respond through the forum.

You never answered the questions I posted above....

And if this problem "existed since you acquired this PC", why didn't you follow up before the warranty expired?

Hello. I had tried numerous times over the past months and any/all suggestions weren't worth a damn. Various means of communication ( emails, text messages, chats ) proved unsuccessful. By-the-way, why do bother sending email messages; if not a means of communication directly, at least note must reply via " Community Forum. "

Regards

@Redlats  -  Saying you "tried numerous times over the past months and any/all suggestions weren't worth a..." doesn't help.

Have you:

1. Cleared BIOS
2. Reinstalled Intel chipset driver
3. Reinstalled Intel management engine driver
4. Reinstalled Intel AMT-HECI driver
5. Performed an Win 10 repair
6. Tried an externally powered USB hub
7. Etc...

The emails you get from the forum are only alerts that you have a PM or there's a new post in your thread. You follow the link to review/reply. That's standard forum practice...

And watch the language or this thread might be removed...

Thank You for your reply and suggested procedures. Having completed them all, including restart as prompted, again, no success. I plugin my external hard drive to the USB port and my PC system is not recognizing the drive/connection. So now what ?

Thanks and Regards

Did you test this USB drive on some other PC to make sure the drive isn't the problem? Is it a USB2 or USB3 drive?

Are you sure the USB cable is okay?

Are you connecting the USB drive to one of the two front USB3.1 ports or to one of the four rear USB2 ports? If only trying the front ports, try rear ports.

With the drive connected, open Device Manager and see if there's any "Unknown" device listed. Then expand the list under USB and look for any odd or "Unknown" device listed there. If you see one, right-click and Uninstall it. Then disconnect the USB drive and reboot before connecting the drive again.

Did you try using an externally powered USB hub, one with its own power brick, and connecting the USB drive to the PC through the external hub?

Did you try repairing Windows?

The forum sends notifications.

Nobody does private email outside the forum because nobody is obligated to provide free direct email support for dell.

Too many people also try getting support for non dell products and software.

Dell and microsoft provide one to one support but its not free.

https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/services/support-services/index.htm

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4467230/assisted-software-support-options-assure-premium

Hello. I have tried various USB ports on my PC, accessed Device Manager, looked for " Unknown, " expanded on USB categories, all indicated " working properly. " I only have one cable to connect external hard drive via USB port(s).

At this point, as I am not technically adept to continue this dialogue, I believe I will need to secure local professional assistance to resolve. This is very frustrating and I am rather disgusted that Dell Support could not provide better assistance in the past. This will be my last Dell PC or any other Dell product.

I wish to Thank You for your assistance and patience with me.

Regards

.