Home-Windows-A flash drive is defined as a disk drive, what should I do? External hard drive won't open

A flash drive is defined as a disk drive, what should I do? External hard drive won't open

Often there is not enough space on the hard drive installed in a computer or laptop, and users are forced to purchase external drives to store information on them. External hard drives come in a variety of capacities and speeds, and can eliminate the need to expand internal storage. But the user runs the risk of encountering a problem in which the external hard drive does not open. This can be caused by both software and hardware problems, and in this article we will look at what to do if the external hard drive on your computer or laptop does not open.

Insufficient power to the external drive

The larger the volume and speed of the hard drive, the more demanding it is of the incoming power. If the drive cannot receive the necessary power from the computer, it will not work properly - it will not appear in the system or errors will begin to occur when opening it.

Almost all external hard drives are connected to a computer via the USB protocol, with more modern models using USB 3.0 for data transfer. Here are some tips on how to avoid the problem of insufficient power for a USB drive:


When you connect the hard drive to the computer, the indicator on it should light up, and you can hear the magnetic disk spinning up. If the drive does not make any sounds, most likely the problem is in the power supply - it is not enough.

Hard drive failure

In addition to power problems, a hard drive may not show signs of life when connected to a computer due to other hardware problems. The most common drive failures are:


It is worth noting that the average service life of external hard drives is 5-7 years. If the drive is older than this age, it is not recommended to store important information on it, the loss of which could cause problems.

Lack of drivers

If the external hard drive does not open on only one computer, but works on the rest without problems, the most likely reason for this is software. Most often, if the computer does not have drivers for the hard drive, it will not even appear in the list of connected devices. You can install or reinstall external hard drive drivers as follows:


If you encounter problems installing hard drive software during the driver update process, expand the “Disk devices” and “Other devices” sections. Pay attention to the items marked with a yellow exclamation mark - these are devices with which there are problems. Right-click on the found devices in the specified sections and select “Update drivers”.

Hard drive recovery

If updating the drive drivers does not lead to anything, or the hard drive does not appear on all computers to which it is connected, you need to restore the drive. The easiest way to do this is as follows:


After completing the steps described above, the data in the information storage area will be marked, as a result of which the hard drive should begin to work normally with the system.

Troubleshooting hard drive errors

If there is a software failure that causes the hard drive to stop working properly with the system, you may need to check it for errors and fix them, if any. The Windows operating system provides a special utility for this. Do the following:

  1. Run ;
  2. Write the following command on the command line to check the hard drive for errors and fix them if any are found: Chkdsk C: /f

Note that the command above specifies checking hard drive C. If the problematic drive is identified by a different drive letter on the system, it must be replaced when you enter the command.

Almost every computer user has encountered a situation where they purchased an external drive and the computer does not see the external hard drive. Sometimes interaction with the media that has already worked with the PC stops. To solve this problem, there are many ways.

This is a useful device that allows you to store and exchange data with computers. The volume of the device can vary, up to a maximum of several terabytes. The device allows you to safely store various information for a long time.

Why doesn't my PC see my external hard drive?

If the laptop does not see the external hard drive, you should use a certain algorithm of actions. First, in the Control Panel you should find "System Settings" And "Administration". This is where you can see the section "Control".

It is important to pay attention to the left column. You need to go to disk management, there you will see the disks currently connected to the system. Often, the system does not see the external hard drive due to the incorrect assignment of its letter. To change the drive letter, you need to click on the external media icon and change the drive letter. Then a letter is assigned that is not yet in the system.

If a new disk is not detected and it is connected to the PC for the first time, it is probably not formatted, and therefore is not visible in the list of working devices. In this case, you should click on the media, creating a simple volume. This action will delete all information on the disk.

If the PC stops seeing the external hard drive, most likely this situation is due to a lack of drivers or a system failure. Modern systems are quite “smart”, and when a new device appears, they quickly search for the appropriate driver. But sometimes, due to accumulated errors in the system, it does not detect the device.

First of all, you need to examine the USB port. To do this, you can connect a flash drive, camera or smartphone. If the system sees the devices, then the port is working.

It is also useful to explore the components of the device manager, it can be found in "Control Panels". The media icon is in "Other devices" or "Disk devices".

PC drivers may be out of date. By clicking on the hard drive (there is an exclamation mark opposite it), select “Update drivers”. Finding drivers is provided by special programs or by searching on the Internet.

Often Windows becomes outdated, this is the answer to why the computer does not see the external hard drive. The system must be reinstalled.

Windows 10 doesn't see external hard drive

Latest generation operating systems may also not detect old or new media. The media may be unformatted and have no partitions, and as a result may not be listed in Explorer.

When you no longer see the Windows 10 external hard drive, you can go to the “Toolbar”, then to the “Security System” and to the “Administration” subsection. Next you should work with the section “Creating and managing hard drives”.

If you enter the command “diskmgmt.msc” in the search, a utility called "Disk Management". In this case, you can see the media, and sections of it will have a blue tint. An unallocated disk will be highlighted in black.

You should click on the tab "Disc 1", then select "Initialize disk". Then you need to click on the black bar, and then on “New Section”. A section is formed in this location, where a free letter is assigned.

Large format discs are divided into several parts. You can format the media with the NTFS file system. When the person presses the button "Ready", the system will display the media.

If the PC does not see the external hard drive, provided that it is new, you can enter the BIOS, turn off AHCI, then reboot the computer and the drive will appear.

Sometimes it is necessary to integrate SATA drivers into the Windows 10 operating system. Only the latest drivers should be installed. It is optimal if this work is entrusted to a competent person.

External media does not show the PC if it has previously been subjected to mechanical stress. If the drive has been in use for a long time, then you can use special utilities to identify errors and bad blocks.

Infection of the media with viruses becomes the reason why the external hard drive is not visible. Windows will block it. Also, the situation often arises due to failures in the motherboard; diagnostics are indicated.

For a device to perform optimally, it must be in DMA mode. When the disk is functioning in PIO, you can open "Device Manager", and then "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers". Next you should find the category "Advanced options" and delete the secondary or primary IDE channels. The final stage involves rebooting the system. In addition, the problem can be solved by purchasing an additional cable.

If the drive overheats, the system can turn it off. If necessary, a cooler is installed and the device is cleaned of dirt.

The power supply that came with the drive may not have enough power. This will cause the system not to see the external hard drive. It is better to use the original cable; it has the required length and metallized latches.

Typically, the suspects in this case are software failures, incorrect operating system settings, outdated drivers, malfunctions of computer USB ports, adapters, or the drives themselves.

Depending on the reasons, the problem manifests itself differently in each case. It happens that the computer does not react at all to a flash drive or hard drive. In other situations, the sound of connecting a new device is heard, but the drive icon never appears in Explorer. And sometimes the computer simply freezes immediately after contact with the USB device.

What to do if your Windows computer does not see a flash drive or external hard drive

First, figure out what exactly the problem is with: the computer, the adapter (if the connection is via a cable) or the drive. Try connecting the USB device through other ports. If this does not help and you are using a cable, try replacing it with a spare one. If unsuccessful, check whether the drive opens on other computers.

If the device works on another PC or you do not have the opportunity to check it

Connect your hard drive or flash drive to your computer and follow these steps in order. If the first does not help, move on to the next and so on.

If the other PC also does not see the drive or all of the above tips did not help

In this case, most likely the problem is in the drive itself.

If you have a flash drive rather than a hard drive, you can use special utilities to fix software errors. Such software can usually be found on the manufacturer's website. For example, the JetFlash Online Recovery program is for Transcend drives. And USB Flash Drive Online Recovery is for ADATA brand flash drives. But keep in mind that during the recovery process, these utilities erase all data from flash drives.

If none of the above helped, then the problem is probably a physical malfunction of the hard drive or flash drive. Then it is better to show the device to a specialist or return it to the store under warranty.

What to do if Mac does not see a flash drive or external hard drive

On Apple computers, the verification procedure is slightly different, but follows approximately the same algorithm. We will assume that you have already tried restarting the computer, disconnecting and connecting the flash drive, and also made sure that the connection is reliable. If this does not help, you need to do the following:

Open the built-in disk tool (Programs → Utilities → Disk Utility) and check if the problematic flash drive is displayed there. If the drive is still visible, try it by clicking the “Erase” button and connect it again. Keep in mind that all data from the flash drive will be permanently deleted.

Mac diagnostic software provides detailed information about all software and hardware components on your computer, including USB devices. Open the Apple menu, then hold down the Option key, click "System Information" and go to the USB section in the menu that opens.

If the flash drive is there, then the problem lies in the software and you can try to restore the disk by referring to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If there is no information about the flash drive, then the matter is a physical malfunction, and you should contact a store or service center if repairs make sense.



External hard drives are becoming more and more popular among PC users every day. The thing is that very often there is a catastrophic lack of space on the built-in storage device, and in order not to change the media, you can use an HDD (external hard drive). The modern model of such a device is a small box containing 1-2 TB of information. But what to do if the computer does not see the external hard drive, moreover, immediately after purchasing a new device. Today we will try to understand the situation and tell you what to do if the computer does not see the removable hard drive, depending on the cause of the problem.

The computer does not see the external hard drive. Reasons

Before solving the problem, you need to understand the cause of the problem. Let's look at the main ones.

Malnutrition

If the hard drive is large enough, then its absence in the “File Manager” may be caused by insufficient power. This situation occurs if you are using a USB hub that already has other devices connected. All USB interfaces, depending on the type, produce different power.

Important! Try inserting the connecting cable into different USB sockets. One of the connectors may be able to provide sufficient power to operate the device. Or connect the media directly to the port.

Broken connecting cable

Replacing the cable will help correct the situation.

The hard drive model has a different connection, not USB

Today there are a huge number of devices on the market that have different parameters and connections. Some devices require a separate cable to connect power. All these nuances must be checked during purchase according to the technical description.

Important! Perhaps you connected the device as usual - via USB, but you needed to use an additional power cable.

Settings problem

If the computer does not see the external hard drive, the reasons may also be the following:

  • Driver problem. If the operating system cannot correctly determine the drivers for the external drive, then you should download them from the official website. If you have new media, then the drivers must be recorded on it.

Important! Extract them on another computer that has managed to recognize the device.

  • USB support is not enabled in the BIOS. If another computer recognizes the external drive, check whether USB support is enabled on your PC.
  • Device malfunction. If manipulations with the USB connection do not produce results, then check the functionality of the device by connecting it to another computer; the drive may be faulty. In case of mechanical failures, contact the service center.

Important! To prevent these problems and solve them:

  • Choose a cord for connecting the device that is as short in length and as thick as possible. All this significantly affects power transmission.
  • The problem with insufficient power can be solved in this way: connect a cable with two connectors at one end to different sockets on the system unit case. Thus, the device will receive electricity from two sources.

What to do if the problem is in the settings

In order for the computer to identify the device, the removable storage medium must have a name in the management interface. But sometimes it happens that the disk is not detected due to incorrect configuration in the BIOS. You can correct the situation by going to the settings and changing the configuration to another one suggested from the list. After these manipulations, restart your computer.

Detailed instructions:

  1. Click the Start menu.
  2. Click “Computer Control Panel”.
  3. Make sure you are viewing items by category (it says “Browse” in the top right corner).
  4. Click on “System and Security”.
  5. Find the “Administration” item.
  6. In the window that opens, find the item called “Computer Management”.
  7. In the left window that opens, select “Disk Management”. You should be able to see all drives connected to the system, including external ones. Your task is to change the letter of the removable drive to one that is not in the operating system.
  8. Find your external source of information in the window, then right-click on it and select “Change drive letter or drive path.”
  9. In the window that opens, select “Edit”.
  10. Choose any letter you like.
  11. Click OK.

Important! If you are connecting a new drive to your computer for the first time, most likely it is not formatted, so it will not appear in the “My Computer” window. In this case, you will not be able to change the letter. Right-click on the external drive and select “Create Simple Volume,” but remember that this process will delete all data on the storage medium.

Application problems

Problems with the fact that the computer does not see the external hard drive often arise after working with programs such as Acronis and Alcohol, and other similar applications for creating virtual storage devices. While working with such programs, the PC switches to communicating with virtual disks, but stops seeing real ones.

In this situation, it is necessary to return the system to its previous state or completely remove the program along with all settings.

Important! Check to see if there are any previously created virtual disks left in the system. If present, remove them and restart the computer, resetting the CMOS settings to default settings.

Solving the problem with drivers

If the external drive is new and it is not in the “My Computer” window, then 99% of this phenomenon is related to the drivers. Proceed as follows:

  1. From the control panel, go to the “Device Manager” tab. Make sure you browse the menu by the small icons (top right corner).
  2. Expand the “Disk Devices” tab.
  3. Notice whether the drive displays an exclamation point in a yellow triangle. If the triangle is present, then update the driver.

Important! If you don’t find your drive, try finding it in “Other devices”.

  1. Uninstall the old driver by right-clicking on the device and selecting the “Uninstall” task.
  2. Unplug the device and plug it back in a minute into the USB port. The driver should be automatically detected and installed.

Important! Typically, the Windows 7 and 8 operating system, when you connect any new device, automatically installs a driver for it. If this does not happen, then click the “Actions” -> “Update hardware configuration” command in the device manager or download the driver from the official website of the HDD device manufacturer.

If you can't see your old external hard drive

If external media previously worked on your computer and then stopped, proceed as follows:

  1. Check the USB through which you connect the drive by connecting any other device (phone, player, printer, etc.). If necessary, reinstall the USB controller driver.
  2. Check the cords for damage. The wire must not be damaged, and the USB plugs must be tightly connected to the computer and HDD. If necessary, replace the cord with a new one.
  3. Go to the control menu and change the drive letter as described above. Be sure to do this if you have created new partitions on your hard drive.
  4. Check your external HDD for viruses. Some viruses block disks and disable the ability to see them.
  5. Go to “Device Manager” and find out if the device is detected correctly. There should be no yellow or red exclamation marks to indicate errors.
  6. Check the performance of the hard drive on another computer or laptop. In this case, reinstalling the operating system may help.

Every day, external hard drives are becoming more and more popular among users. And it’s not surprising, because they are compact, they can be easily connected from one device to another, and they have a decent amount of memory - 1-2 TB. But a situation may occur when the next time you connect, the computer simply does not see the hard drive.

Sometimes this situation occurs when connecting a new hard drive to a computer, sometimes this can happen with your old hard drive.

Your old hard drive

First, let's figure out why the external hard drive that you previously connected to your PC now doesn't want to work.

1. Check the cable that connects it to the computer. The cable must not be damaged and the USB plugs must be properly connected to the cable.

2. Try connecting it to a different USB port on your computer. It also happens that it is the USB port that is faulty.

3. Go to "Device Manager", you can through “Start”, and check if there are yellow exclamation marks or red crosses next to the connected drives. Otherwise, you can reinstall the drivers on the USB ports of your PC or laptop.

4. Check your device for viruses. Sometimes they are the reason it doesn't work.

Then click on the item "Administration".

In the next window, select from the list "Computer Management".

A new window appears, in which we select the item on the left "Disk Management". Now right-click on the external hard drive and select from the menu "Change drive letter or drive path". Select a letter that is not yet in the operating system.

You may also need to change the letter if you bought a brand new external hard drive, but the computer does not see it.

New hard

Now we have smoothly approached the question of why the computer does not see the new external hard drive.

1. Change the drive letter by following the steps above.

2. The hard drive has not been formatted. This could be the reason why it is not displayed in "My computer".

To format it, in the window "Computer Management" on the tab "Disk Management" right-click on the external hard drive and select from the menu "Create Simple Volume". Please note that this will delete all data from it!

3. Lack of drivers. If your hard drive does not appear in any "My computer", neither in "Disk Management", but it works, if you connect it to a TV or laptop, then the problem may be related to the operating system and drivers.

First, check if the USB port is working. Just connect your phone or tablet to it. If the device works, then this is not the problem.

Through the Start menu, as described above, go to "Device Manager". Open two tabs there "Disk devices" And "Other devices". If there is an exclamation mark next to the hard one, this indicates that the drivers for it were not installed.

In operating systems Windows 7, 8, when you connect a new device, drivers for it are installed automatically. If this did not happen in your case, then right-click on the hard drive item, opposite which there is an exclamation mark, and select from the menu "Update drivers".

If you need help with the question of how to install drivers, I advise you to read the following articles: installing drivers in Windows 7 manually, how to install a driver on Windows 7.

After you have tried all the methods described in the article, and the computer does not see the external hard drive, you need to take it to a service center, now specialists will deal with this problem.

Rate this article:

Webmaster. Higher education with a degree in Information Security. Author of most articles and computer literacy lessons

    Related Posts

    Discussion: 11 comments

    thanks for the advice, I just created a new volume and that’s it, the only pity is that it was all gone

    Answer

    Thank you! I connected the external hard drive that I had connected earlier, but the computer stopped seeing it after installing another hard drive inside the computer. It turns out that the letters simply coincided.

    Answer

    Alesya, yes, you can put Windows on a portable disk.

    Answer

    Is it possible to install Windows on a portable hard drive?



Related publications: