Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10

In our daily lives, we often rely on external devices such as external hard drives. However, their usage is dependent on a medium like a computer. Occasionally, these devices may not function properly with certain systems. If you are experiencing this problem, this article is provided to assist you.

Things that might cause issues

• Driver issues
• Software issues
• Incompatibility

Issues such as

• Externa HDD not detecting in the system
• External HDD not responding

Causes

Verifying whether Windows detects your device

Make sure to verify whether your device is recognized among the USB devices that are connected to your system.

You can check them by:

• Examining the USB devices that are currently connected in the Windows status bar.
• If you are unable to locate it in the status bar, please search for it in the file manager.
• You can also find the devices that were detected by looking in the device manager and locating the USB devices section.
• Verify if the device has been recognized in the disk management system of Windows.

Verifying hardware problems on the external hard drive.

If the hard drive does not illuminate, it could indicate a hardware problem in which the device is not properly connected to Windows.

• To address potential errors, experiment with different USB ports, particularly those located at the back of the motherboard, as front ports can occasionally provide inaccurate results.
• Check if the Windows jingle has popped.
• Verify if the status indicator is illuminated.
• Verify whether your external device is producing unusual sounds.

Fixes

Checking if the HDD is detected

If Windows detects your device but it does not appear, you can follow these steps to investigate further.

1. To paraphrase the given sentence in English language: Access the file manager for windows and perform a right click on the icon labeled ‘This PC’.
2.  
3. Once the pop-up window appears, access the Disk Management option.
4.  
5. Select the option to initialize the device and proceed by clicking on it.
6. Select either MBR or GPT from the options provided in the new window (GPT is recommended, but there may be certain older devices that require MBR).

This should fix the issue of the drive not appearing in the file manager.

Updating the device drivers.

If your device is recognized, proceed to update the drivers by following the instructions below.

1. Right click on the windows start button
2. Navigate to Device manager
3. Navigate to the USB devices and locate the desired device.
4.  
5. To access the properties of the device, simply right-click on it and select “Open properties.”
6. Navigate to the driver menu and select the option of updating the driver.
7. Click on the option to automatically update drivers after opening the new pop-up window.

This will address any problems with the driver. Once you have updated, please restart your system and verify once more.

Changing the drive letter of your drive

Occasionally, there could be problems or glitches with a specific drive letter in windows. In order to resolve this, you can make modifications to it.

1. Right click on the windows start button
2. Navigate to the Disk management option.
3. Once the Disk manager window is open, locate your external drive.
4. To paraphrase the given paragraph in English language: Select the volume or drive and then choose the option ‘change drive letter and paths’ by clicking with the right mouse button.
5. Then on the new window click on change
6. You will then have the option to modify the letter assigned to your drive.

This solution should resolve any unusual glitches your system is encountering.

Formatting the external device

If the solutions do not resolve the issue, proceed with a complete formatting of the system. Here’s how to accomplish it:

1. To perform the action, click the right button of the mouse on the start button and navigate to the device manager.
2. To format the drive, simply right-click on it and select the format option.
3.  
4. Next, provide a designation and drive letter for the drive, and select NTFS as the preferred format.
5.  
6. To ensure everything functions properly, format the drive.

Warning: If you format the device, all of your data will be permanently deleted.

Reinstalling Storage drivers

Occasionally, the problem may arise from the system rather than the specific device, and in such cases, performing a few driver reinstallations can resolve the issue. To reinstall drivers, you can go to the following location:

1. Right click on the windows start menu
2. To proceed, please select the storage controller and then perform a right-click on it.
3. After the menu comes click on properties
4. To find the drivers, go to the drivers page and select the option to update the driver.
5. Click on the option to automatically update the drivers in the new window.
6. Once you have updated the driver, complete a restart.

Final Resort

In some cases, the USB cable connecting your device to a system could be the source of problems, and replacing it may resolve the issues. It is also important to inspect the hard drive for any signs of physical or mechanical damage. If the hard drive emits unusual sounds, it indicates that it has experienced physical problems.

If there are no specific problems, the issue may be with the storage controller of your external hard drive. It may have failed, resulting in its inability to function in any way.

Was this article helpful? YesNo

In our daily lives, we often rely on external devices such as external hard drives. However, their usage is dependent on a medium like a computer. Occasionally, these devices may not function properly with certain systems. If you are experiencing this problem, this article is provided to assist you.

Things that might cause issues

• Driver issues
• Software issues
• Incompatibility

Issues such as

• Externa HDD not detecting in the system
• External HDD not responding

Causes

Verifying whether Windows detects your device

Make sure to verify whether your device is recognized among the USB devices that are connected to your system.

You can check them by:

• Examining the USB devices that are currently connected in the Windows status bar.
• If you are unable to locate it in the status bar, please search for it in the file manager.
• You can also find the devices that were detected by looking in the device manager and locating the USB devices section.
• Verify if the device has been recognized in the disk management system of Windows.

Verifying hardware problems on the external hard drive.

If the hard drive does not illuminate, it could indicate a hardware problem in which the device is not properly connected to Windows.

• To address potential errors, experiment with different USB ports, particularly those located at the back of the motherboard, as front ports can occasionally provide inaccurate results.
• Check if the Windows jingle has popped.
• Verify if the status indicator is illuminated.
• Verify whether your external device is producing unusual sounds.

Fixes

Checking if the HDD is detected

If Windows detects your device but it does not appear, you can follow these steps to investigate further.

1. To paraphrase the given sentence in English language: Access the file manager for windows and perform a right click on the icon labeled ‘This PC’.
2.  
3. Once the pop-up window appears, access the Disk Management option.
4.  
5. Select the option to initialize the device and proceed by clicking on it.
6. Select either MBR or GPT from the options provided in the new window (GPT is recommended, but there may be certain older devices that require MBR).

This should fix the issue of the drive not appearing in the file manager.

Updating the device drivers.

If your device is recognized, proceed to update the drivers by following the instructions below.

1. Right click on the windows start button
2. Navigate to Device manager
3. Navigate to the USB devices and locate the desired device.
4.  
5. To access the properties of the device, simply right-click on it and select “Open properties.”
6. Navigate to the driver menu and select the option of updating the driver.
7. Click on the option to automatically update drivers after opening the new pop-up window.

This will address any problems with the driver. Once you have updated, please restart your system and verify once more.

Changing the drive letter of your drive

Occasionally, there could be problems or glitches with a specific drive letter in windows. In order to resolve this, you can make modifications to it.

1. Right click on the windows start button
2. Navigate to the Disk management option.
3. Once the Disk manager window is open, locate your external drive.
4. To paraphrase the given paragraph in English language: Select the volume or drive and then choose the option ‘change drive letter and paths’ by clicking with the right mouse button.
5. Then on the new window click on change
6. You will then have the option to modify the letter assigned to your drive.

This solution should resolve any unusual glitches your system is encountering.

Formatting the external device

If the solutions do not resolve the issue, proceed with a complete formatting of the system. Here’s how to accomplish it:

1. To perform the action, click the right button of the mouse on the start button and navigate to the device manager.
2. To format the drive, simply right-click on it and select the format option.
3.  
4. Next, provide a designation and drive letter for the drive, and select NTFS as the preferred format.
5.  
6. To ensure everything functions properly, format the drive.

Warning: If you format the device, all of your data will be permanently deleted.

Reinstalling Storage drivers

Occasionally, the problem may arise from the system rather than the specific device, and in such cases, performing a few driver reinstallations can resolve the issue. To reinstall drivers, you can go to the following location:

1. Right click on the windows start menu
2. To proceed, please select the storage controller and then perform a right-click on it.
3. After the menu comes click on properties
4. To find the drivers, go to the drivers page and select the option to update the driver.
5. Click on the option to automatically update the drivers in the new window.
6. Once you have updated the driver, complete a restart.

Final Resort

In some cases, the USB cable connecting your device to a system could be the source of problems, and replacing it may resolve the issues. It is also important to inspect the hard drive for any signs of physical or mechanical damage. If the hard drive emits unusual sounds, it indicates that it has experienced physical problems.

If there are no specific problems, the issue may be with the storage controller of your external hard drive. It may have failed, resulting in its inability to function in any way.

Was this article helpful? YesNo