You mean that the new laptop did not detect the external HD? Strange .. Did you try to open the 'Computer Management' under the 'Administrator Tools' and look into the 'Disk Management' to see if you can see it? If this is the case then assign it a new letter and it would open. If you attach the EHD and can't hear the Hard Drive at least working .. then it would lead us to another to options. Your Hard Drive is dead or the encloser of that hard disk need to be replaced ..

Did not get the complete idea .. hope to hear from you again .. you can also try to change the USB cable .. it might be unusable too ..

Best Regards