Why doesn't my computer see my portable hard drive? Why doesn't my laptop show my external hard drive?

Hi all! Today we will consider with you what actions to take if external hard the disk is not detected. This situation is quite common and manifests itself in topics created on the Internet. So I decided to be proactive and write this review. Some might say that with the appearance of hdd problems also appeared. However, like any device, this type drives may fail. Situations arise when the computer does not detect the attached information storage device.

What to do if the external hard drive is not detected?

In a situation where the external hard drive is not detected, it is necessary to determine the reason. It is possible that:

• The disk has failed
• Computer problems

You can start personal diagnostics by checking the USB ports of your PC. Try connecting the device to another computer or use an additional port. If everything worked out for you, then the cause of the problem becomes clear. Well, if your computer also does not see other devices, then you should look at USB support through the BIOS.

It is not uncommon for reasons that lead to difficult determination external media, lie in the drivers. To eliminate it you need:

If the process is unsuccessful, removal and reinstallation computer program.

Change of designation

It is possible that difficulties in identifying a portable storage device arise when the system mistakenly assigned it the drive letter of the connected drive. To fix the problem, go through the start button to control the computer, then:

Click on "Disk Management" and find your hdd.
Select the option to change the drive letter.
Designate the device with a free letter.

Connection and problems arising with it hard drive, similar to those that happen when you connect a flash drive. If the drive does not work, you can apply the methods used to establish the operation of such a device.

Malnutrition

If checking the ports does not reveal any problems, then it is likely that the cause is a lack of power. When you use an extension cord that absorbs some of the energy, it becomes possible that similar problems. To avoid this, you should connect to the computer using the cable that comes with the kit.

power unit

If your drive has two connectors that are used when connecting to two ports, of course you need to connect both. You should also use a power supply if it involves use.

You need to rule out problems with the power supply itself. Its outdated version or a large number of equipment that is connected to it can cause various problems. A reasonable solution would be to install another power supply with increased power.

HDD damage

The hard drive will not be detected due to possible damage. This can be checked by turning on the power. If there is no sound reaction, you are unlikely to be able to solve the problem, since the root of the problem may be hidden in the bearings, magnetic heads, etc. You should not try to turn it on again, because this may completely break it. Better take the device to service center. Repair specialists will help you accurately determine the cause of the problem and assess the chances of eliminating it.

Conclusion:

I hope you will be able to solve the problem if the external hard drive is not detected. Share your results in the comments. Like and press the buttons social networks. Peace and goodness to you all!

External hard drive not detected

External hard drives have become quite firmly established among modern PC users. Having quite impressive volumes, they are used for working with large amounts of data, while being quite convenient to store and carry. But there are also situations in which the external HDD no longer appears among the drives connected to the computer. In this material, I will tell you what to do if the external hard drive does not appear in my computer, what reasons cause this dysfunction, and how to fix it.

In many cases, connected external drive it simply does not appear among the available drives in “My Computer”. This often happens in situations where this disk I connected to the computer before, and it worked until now without any problems.

If you also have problems with this, then follow the link and read the instructions for solving it.

The reasons why the external hard drive is not visible in my computer could be:

• Incorrect assignment of a given drive letter (for example, it coincides with a drive already on the PC);
• The new drive you are connecting is not yet formatted;
• Malignant activity of virus programs;
• For some reason, the operating system does not have drivers that support the operation of this disk;
• The specific USB port through which this drive is connected to the computer does not work;
• The operating system registry is damaged;
• The cord connecting the external hard drive to the PC is damaged.

After we have dealt with the reasons why the computer does not see the external hard drive, let's move on to detailed instructions to solve this problem.

Enable display of external hard drive on PC

What to do in a situation where Windows does not see the external hard drive. I recommend following the following procedure:

1. Try simply restarting your computer, sometimes this may work;
2. Need to use another one USB connector to connect your device (perhaps the previous one is simply damaged and does not work correctly);
3. It is necessary to use a different cord, perhaps the previously used one is damaged;
4. Make sure your external drive is turned on (if it has battery power);
5. Assign the correct letter to the external drive;
6. Click on the Start key, type diskmgmt.msc in the search bar and press enter.

A disk management window will open in front of you, which should display your disk. Hover your cursor over it, right-click, select “Change drive letter...”, and assign your drive a letter that is not used on your system. This must be done to display the external hard drive in My Computer;

• If your disk is not visible in the disk management menu, then it is either physically inoperable, or there are no drivers for it in Windows. Go to Device Manager (click Start, type devmgmt.msc in the search bar and press enter), and check if there are any unidentified devices with a yellow exclamation mark in the list. If there are any, you need to install drivers for it.

To do this, do the following:

A) Click on the “Action” option at the top and select “Update hardware configuration” there;

B) Use special programs for automatic installation drivers (level DriverPack Solution), which will automatically select required driver to your device and install it on your PC;

C) Use the device's unique identifier to search for drivers for it on the network. Go to Device Manager, right-click on the unidentified device and select “Properties”. In the properties menu, go to the "Details" tab, select the "Hardware ID" property, copy the longest bottom value and try to search for the driver by entering given value to a search engine;

D) Run the command prompt as administrator, and there enter:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

Then go to Device Manager, click on “View” and select the option “Show hidden devices" If your device appears among such devices, try right-clicking on it and selecting “Delete.” Then turn off your computer, unplug your devices, turn your PC back on, let the system boot, and then try connecting your device again;

D) If you are having problems connecting the USB, then go to Device Manager, remove all devices under the “USB Controllers” option, and then reboot the system. These controllers will be reinstalled, and it is quite possible that the OS will see your external drive.

Conclusion

If the external hard drive does not appear on my computer, then it is worth following the entire set of tips I listed above. Please note that if the disk has just been purchased, it is necessary to format it and assign the correct letter to it; in the case of a previously used disk, it is worth checking the physical functionality, starting from the USB socket and cord, and ending with the device itself. In some cases, the latter may require major repairs at the nearest service center.

In contact with

Problems with external hard drive may arise at the very inopportune moment. Therefore, every owner of a hard drive, especially if he stores important files on it, needs to know what to do when the computer does not display the storage medium.

If the external hard drive is not displayed at all, then you need to do the following:

This is easy to do if you have another USB device nearby. We connect it to desired port, and if it works, then that's not the problem. Remember: To work, the drive needs power, and if the computer does not see the hard drive via USB, then it makes sense to disconnect other devices connected to the computer. You also need to connect all the wires included with the HDD.

Next steps if the port is not working:

1. Checking its drivers. We type in the start search: “Device Manager”, go to the “USB Controllers” section and if there is a yellow exclamation mark next to the devices, then through the properties we update or reinstall the drivers.
2. Check for availability physical breakdown port. If you can disassemble the mechanism and see the status of the USB, then this should be done. It may turn out that the wires have come loose from the port, it has burned out, etc.

Wires are not particularly reliable, so if Windows does not see the external hard drive, you should check the cable. If it becomes disconnected, replace it with another one and check the functionality again.

When you've tried everything you could, and the computer doesn't see the removable hard drive, look at all the ports, plugs, and wires for damage. If the drive stores very important data, and none of the methods described above helps to find the problem, feel free to take the external drive for repair.

Detects but doesn't launch

You connected the drive, heard a familiar sound, saw a familiar icon in the tray, but the device is not visible in the “My Computer” folder? Don't rush to take it to the master. In most cases, the problem can be solved at home. You just need to follow simple instructions.

Device drivers

Drivers are needed so that the computer can interact correctly with the device. They can be installed from the device itself, from the Internet or from Windows libraries 10. If for some reason this did not happen, then you will have to do all the work.

Before you begin installation, you need to check their availability. Go to “Device Manager”, open “ Disk devices» and check if there is a exclamation point. If available, you can install drivers in two ways:

1. Through the device properties, clicking on the button: “Update drivers”.
2. Download from the Internet.

In products from companies such as WD, the drivers are located on the media itself. And if your computer does not find them, then you can try to copy them using another computer. If there are no signs, then the drivers are installed correctly and you can move on to the next step.

File system

External media can use something different from the computer file system. In this case, it will not be readable and will have to be formatted. You can do this by searching for “Disk Management”. Enter it, click on your external drive and select a file system, such as NTFS or FAT32.

Don't forget to save the important data that is there because formatting will destroy it. This can be done from another device, even from a tablet that has a suitable file system, or at any service center.

Drive letter conflict

The external media sometimes receives the same letter as the internal one. In this case, in the “My Computer” folder there is only internal storage. In this situation, change the name of one of the partitions of the external disk.

To do this, go to “Disk Management”, click right click mouse over your device and click on “Change letter...”. In the window that opens, enter any letter different from the letter of the main hard drive.

Viruses

This item is suitable for those whose drive is displayed, but does not start. In this case, there is a possibility that there is a virus on it, and most likely on the computer itself too. You can fix the problem by anyone free antivirus with updated databases.

Dr. is good for this. Web Cureit, which will scan the entire computer without installation and will be deleted at the end of the scan. Formatting will also help against viruses, so if your device does not have important files, then this is a good option.

Easier with devices that have been around for a while worked, and then suddenly stopped working. In this case, some problems are eliminated:

• The disk name is appropriate, otherwise it would always conflict;
• the file system is the same as on a computer;
• If the drivers have not been removed, then they are installed.

A portable drive is more susceptible to breakdown than an internal drive, primarily due to active use. It may be shaken, dropped, or subject to temperature changes. All this must be taken into account when trying to identify the cause of the breakdown.

As you know, computer memory fills up over time. various information, for example your favorite movies or music. And then the time comes when you have to delete them because you no longer have them on your computer free space to download new files. But what to do if you don’t want to delete the files you need or your favorite movies?

There is a way out of this situation, you just need to buy an external hard drive. On portable hard disk, you can always move files that are important to you and thereby free up computer memory.

But unfortunately, not all people know how to install external hard disks and what they Personal Computer does not see the drive, they begin to blame the seller for selling them a non-working device. Take your time and read the installation instructions external hard disk, and if you don’t have these instructions, read this article to end.

So, if your computer does not see the external hard drive, you need to do a few things simple steps described below.

Step by step plan

1. Place the mouse pointer over the “My Computer” shortcut and click on the right button; in the list that appears, you will need to select “Management”. Next, you should see a window similar to mine:

2. Now click on the “Disk Management” item as shown in the screenshot and find “Disk 2”.

3. Right-click on it and you will see a list in which you need to select “Create a simple volume” and then follow the instructions of the simple volume creation wizard.

4. After you have completed all these steps, go to “My Computer” and you will see your external hard drive. If nothing appears there, then the problem is really in the drive itself, and in this case, I recommend immediately running to the store to exchange it for a new one. And the steps listed above should always be performed when connecting a new external hard drive.

As usual, you can ask your questions in the comments and by the way, don’t forget to subscribe to updates on our website.

Hard drive in the form external device has become a familiar device for many. In this case, situations are possible when the computer does not see it for one reason or another. This is exactly what we will try to figure out, that is, we will determine what may hinder normal operation the mentioned type of storage device.

Cable

The external hard drive and the computer are connected via a USB cable, the functionality of which may be impaired from a physical point of view. For example, there was a loss of contact. To check this, just use a different cable or connect another device to it instead of the hard drive. If it works, then the problem is in the cable, and not in the external drive itself.

USB port

A problem with USB port may vary: the connector is damaged or there is not enough power. In the first case, everything is solved simply. If for some reason your computer no longer sees the external hard drive, you should first try connecting the drive to another USB port.

In the second case, we can assume that specific port experiencing nutritional deficiency. This is possible, for example, if you use the connectors located on the front panel of the system unit, or external hard drive connected via a USB splitter to which other devices are connected.

To solve the problem:

• use one of the rear ports;
• connect external storage directly, that is, bypassing the USB splitter.

Drivers

The likelihood that the reasons why the computer refuses to see the external hard drive is due to a lack of drivers or driver conflicts is quite low. Although it should be excluded. Usually OS automatically recognize the connected gadget of the type in question and install necessary drivers. If this did not happen due to any circumstances, then the situation must be corrected.

To update drivers, you can:

• take advantage special program, For example, ;
• solve the problem online using DriverPack Solution;
• visit the official website of the external hard drive manufacturer, where you can download the required driver;
• Open the "Device Manager" tab and find your hard drive in the "Disk devices" section. It can also be found in the “Other devices” section. Use the right mouse button and select “Update Drivers”. In Windows 10, the mentioned tab is found in the following path: “Control Panel”, “Hardware and Sound”, “Devices and Printers”, “Device Manager”.

Drive letter

Sometimes a so-called drive letter conflict may occur. This type of phenomenon is not very common, but it does happen.
Windows assigns the external hard drive wrong letter, which leads to the invisibility of the drive. We must try to eliminate this type of problem.

To do this, you need to reassign the drive letter:

• open the “Run” window using Win + R;
• enter diskmgmt.msc in the field and click OK, which will cause the “Disk Management” window to appear;
• select the required drive and use the right mouse button;
• choose from those that become available context menu the line “Change drive letter...”;
• use the “Change” button and set the required letter.

File system

In order for the computer to be able to see the external hard drive, the latter must be formatted in accordance with one or another file system. Some manufacturers choose not to carry out this step. As a result, the computer does not see new hard disk, and the user is faced with information that says “Not allocated.”

This message is available if you open the Disk Management window, which you can do as explained earlier. After which you will need to do right click mouse and select “Create a simple volume...”. Then specify the drive letter, file system, for example, NTFS, and confirm starting the formatting process.

Important! Formatting a disk destroys all data on it. In this regard, it is necessary to carefully approach this process. If the disk was previously "breathing" and you wrote something important to it, then try to correct the disk errors first. This will allow you to pull out the necessary information.

It is also possible that the hard drive may not be turned off correctly. For example, pulled out of the port during use. This makes it impossible to access information on the hard drive.

To fix this you will need to check the disk:

• bring up the command line by Win + R and enter in the field cmd commands followed by clicking OK;
• enter into command line chkdsk l:/f (l is the letter of the drive being checked) and use Enter key to start the scan.

Attention! The proposed check does not pose any danger. You can safely use this method to make your computer see the disk again. All information on the drive remains unharmed.

If the above methods for restoring the visibility of an external hard drive did not help, then it may have “died”. If this is the case, you will have to visit a service center in order to resuscitate this device.