Error sayin, "the device is not ready"

I am trying to recover data from an external USB drive from windows XP (I know, I know, but I refused to go to Windows Vista, or 8 and just couldn't pull the trigger on 7). I am using the free version of Recuva and everything ssems to show up fine. When I use the restore on a file, the window comes up with the status bar moving across is for a bit like it is doing it's recovery, but then I get the message, "the device is not ready". Anyone no what this means?

Some bits of info here which may give you some ideas

http://forum.piriform.com/?showtopic=37942

I confirm the same malfunction, despite having installed windows 7. The hard disk to be recovered is about 3 terabytes. No help from the link you posted, hazelnut, but thanks anyway... :(

Hi, I'm having the same problem I have been through all of the suggested solutions. The destination drive is working & not sleeping the files say they are recoverable but after clicking recover. Error message comes up Device is not ready. I have ensured the external hard drive from which I am trying to recover having accidentally formatted it & my file on my laptop that I have created to try & put the recovered files into are both working...but no success. I am simply a user so don't understand complicated instructions, they need to be spelled out <_< :) I cant even get the screen copy to post here! :(