External hard drives(portable HDDs) are becoming more and more popular every day. This is understandable; a huge amount of memory and relatively small sizes are the main advantages of such devices. And when connected to a computer, they are no different from a regular flash drive.
But everything is not always so good and wonderful. Often, users of removable USB drives face one very important problem: Not defined hard drive! That is, the user connects the device to the computer, but nothing happens, the computer simply does not see it. And there may be several reasons for this; let’s look at the most common ones.
First let's determine what the problem is?
On the hard drive or on the computer itself. Well, of course, first of all, try connecting the drive through a different USB port. Sometimes it helps. 😉
If possible, try connecting your portable HDD to another computer. If the drive is detected, then it is obvious that the problem is in your computer.
Let's start with the simplest:
1)
Let's check driver removable disk. To do this you need to go to device Manager. If you have an operating system installed Windows system 8, then it can be easily found through search. Or
Start →
Control Panel →
Equipment and sound →
device Manager.
In the manager, select Disk devices and find your disk. Click right click mouse and select "Update driver". You can try removing the driver, restarting your computer, and installing it again.
2)
The next reason is letter assigned incorrectly external drive. When I encountered such a problem, the drive letter was not assigned at all, I had to specify it manually. The solution is quite simple. We go along the following path:
Start →Control Panel →
System and security →
Administration →
Computer management.
Choose Disk management and find your disk. Right-click on it and click "Change drive letter or drive path..." Choose any free letter.
3) In the case when the computer refuses to define both flash drives and hard drives, you need to check USB support V BIOS it may have been disabled. Fortunately, this doesn't happen often. And not every user will risk setting up something in Bios themselves. But there will be a separate article about this.
4) Another option is the problem with power supply computer. Either there is too much equipment connected to the computer, or, if the computer is not new, the power supply is simply outdated - in both cases it cannot cope with the drive.
Well, what if the disk is not detected on another computer?
Perhaps the problem is again in nutrition. If you connected the drive via an extension cable, try doing it directly using the USB cable that was included when you purchased it.
If the drive has a second connector or its own power supply, connect them.
But sometimes the problem is mechanical damage portable HDD. This option can be assumed if, when power is applied to the disk, it does not make characteristic sounds. The device simply doesn't work. Of course, in this case you need to contact service center and under no circumstances attempt to disassemble or repair it yourself. This could end badly. 😉
I hope this article will help you solve the problem of an undetectable disk. Good luck! 🙂
What to do if the computer does not see external hard disk? First, it is advisable to carefully examine the situation and try to understand the cause of the malfunction.
If it is large enough, then the reason for its absence in the File Manager may be insufficient power. The USB interface, depending on the type, produces different power. You can first try inserting the connecting cable sequentially into different USB sockets. As a rule, the current strength in them varies slightly and it is quite possible that one of the USB connectors will be able to provide sufficient power for normal operation of the device.
Today there is a wide range of such accessories on the market. They all have different parameters and may have a completely different connection. Some have a separate cable for connecting power. This needs to be checked by technical description. The possibility is that this is exactly the point - the disk was connected as usual, with USB help, but they forgot about the additional power cable.
If there is not enough electricity, the disk may partially work, vibrate, and everything will seem to be normal. Sometimes the USB cable itself is a slightly different type - if there is a replacement, you need to try different connectors.
It is advisable to choose a cord for connection that is as thick and short in length as possible. All this significantly affects power transmission. Sometimes the problem with insufficient power can be solved by connecting a cable with two connectors at one end. These two contactors are connected to different sockets on the housing system unit and thus receive electricity from two sources.
If manipulations with the USB connection do not produce results, it is useful to check the functionality of the device by connecting to another computer. It may be faulty.
Settings problem
Log into the management interface and see if the drive doesn't have a name, so the computer can't identify it. Then you need to give it a letter.
It happens that a device is not detected due to an incorrectly assigned configuration in the BIOS. Go to BIOS settings and if there is an external drive there, try changing the configuration to another one from the proposed list. After this you need to restart your computer.
Problems often arise after working with programs such as Alcohol, Acronis and similar applications for managing, creating virtual disks. Sometimes, while working with such programs, the computer switches to communicating with virtual disks, and stops seeing real physical drives. The danger of using such powerful applications is that they are very deeply embedded in system registry and change the internal settings of the computer.
In this situation, it can help to roll back the system to a previous state, when the disk management program was not yet installed and did not have time to change anything in the system. Or so – completely remove the program along with all settings. And don’t forget to check whether the previously created ones remain in the computer system. virtual disks. They also need to be removed. After this, restart the computer and reset the CMOS settings to default settings.
File system conflict
Problems often appear after updating the operating system. Especially when upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8. If your device long time worked fine with Windows XP, and after the new one Windows installations 8 is no longer detected, the computer’s file system may have changed and now the disk and the operating system seem to speak different languages.
In such a situation, if you forcefully assign a name to it and try to start doing something, the system will most likely say that the disk is not formatted and will offer to format it immediately. If the data on the disk is not particularly important, you can do this. Then the new operating system itself will set the recommended configuration for the external hard drive.
The situation is especially unpleasant if it contains important work documents or valuable files. The simplest solution is to reinstall the previously installed operating system, copy information from an external drive, format this drive and change the file system.
After that install again Windows update and then he will work with the computer without any problems.
Another option is to change the file system using a special utility, which can be downloaded from one of the software portals. Or use the same aforementioned Alcohol or Acronis applications to change the file system.
A malfunction can sometimes be determined by ear.
- If you don't hear any movement when you turn it on, but the power indicators are lit, the drive may be faulty.
- If you hear unusual sounds, knocking, ticking, or intermittent knocks, something has happened to the internal mechanism.
If the device behaves suspiciously, it must be immediately disconnected from the computer and taken to a workshop for inspection.
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. There are many ways to solve this problem.
This useful device, allowing 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 not detected new disk 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 They 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 (opposite it) exclamation mark), you should select “Update drivers”. Finding drivers is ensured special programs or 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
Operating systems last generations 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 file system NTFS. 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. Optimally if this work will be 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, 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 motherboard, its diagnosis is shown.
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.
Hi all! Today we’ll look at what actions to take if the external hard drive is not detected. Similar situation 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 advent of hdd, problems appeared. However, like any device, this type of drive can 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.
Often the reasons that lead to the difficulty of identifying external media lie in the drivers. To eliminate it you need:
If the process is unsuccessful, you will need to uninstall and reinstall the 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 start 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, problems like these can occur. 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 the large amount of equipment that is connected to it may cause different 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. It is better to take the device to a 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
This problem happens The computer does not see the removable disk. It doesn't show up anywhere, even though it worked fine until recently. The information there is very important and needs to be saved, so I want to restore access to the removable hard drive without contacting specialists at the service center.
Read the article carefully and perhaps it will help solve the problem.
The easiest way to check the serviceability or save information on another medium is to connect a removable hard drive to another computer. If on another computer hard disk is detected, then the problem is in your computer.
Another way is to try recover removable hard drive on your own using your computer. To do this, right-click on the “My Computer” icon and select “Manage” from the context menu. 
In the window that opens, select “Disk Management”, here you will see all the disks connected to the computer and if your disk is working, it will definitely be displayed here. 
To open a removable hard drive, it is enough to rename the drive and restore access to it. To do this, click on to the desired disk right-click and select “Change drive letter or drive path” from the context menu. 
In the window that opens, select a letter and click “OK.” Sometimes a reboot is needed, but most often it is not.
If your removable hard drive is not visible in Disk Management, then there is probably a problem with the hard drive itself or a conflict between the controller and the computer.
Here's a little about the design of a removable hard drive. Simply put, it's a regular hard drive in a box. The box also contains a controller responsible for input and output of information.
If you have skills in working with computer components, then the health of the hard drive itself can be checked. To do this, disassemble the removable drive and disconnect the HDD, then remove the cover from the system unit and connect the hard drive directly to the motherboard. Practice shows that the motherboard detects disks many times more consistently than controllers. We turn on the computer, if the disk is detected, then the controller is at fault.
If the above remedies do not help, then it is better to contact a service center
And finally, if you decide to buy a removable hard drive, buy devices from well-known companies, their failures are much less frequent.
← Yandex is blocked. What to do. Citylink, store reviews →19 thoughts on “ The computer does not recognize the removable hard drive”
- Nobel
I have a problem that the computer does not see the removable hard drive, but the laptop does. Can I reinstall the operating system?
- Nikolay
Disassembling the removable disk and connecting it to the motherboard helped.
- Azamat
Thank you! Previously, such a problem seemed simply insoluble to me.
It helped! - Alexander
Thank you!!!
- Kamil
Thank you! Everything worked out!
- Dmitry
I can’t initialize the hard drive, it says: The request was not completed due to an I/O error on the device
- admin
Dmitry, here’s what they write about this on the Microsoft website:
“This problem may occur if Windows is using a transfer mode that is not supported by your CD-ROM drive.
To resolve the issue, you need to change the transfer mode for the CD drive in the IDE channel properties. To do this, follow these steps:
From the Start menu, right-click My Computer and select Manage.
In the Computer Management (Local) group, select Device Manager.
In the right pane, expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
Right-click the channel that your CD-ROM drive is connected to and select Properties. This is usually the Secondary IDE Channel.
On the Advanced Settings tab, select PIO Only in the Transfer Mode field for the CD drive. This is usually Device 1. Then click OK.
If you change the transfer mode for Secondary IDE Channel Device 1 and the problem persists, it is probably not the correct device for the CD drive. Use the following procedure to change the transfer mode back to DMA if available. Then repeat the steps to change the transfer mode for IDE devices in the following order until the problem is resolved.
Primary IDE channel, device 1
Secondary IDE channel, device 0
Note. Primary IDE channel, device 1 matches boot disk. This is a hard drive on which the operating system is usually installed.” - Andrey
The 4TB removable hard drive works non-stop for the second day, regardless of whether the computer is turned on or not, whether it is connected via USB or not. Not a single computer sees it (I logged in with both XP and 8; I searched through “disk management”, turned on the display of hidden and system files, I even restored the system just in case, rebooted the computer several times: I can’t stop it). If I disconnect it from the network, I’ll kill the hard drive (judging by the sound and temperature, it’s working as hard as it can). How can you stop it so that it does not lead to mechanical damage?
- admin
Andrey, why are you so sure that you will kill the disk when disconnected from the network? It is also possible that there is nothing left to kill.
- andrei
Thank you!!! It helped!!!)))
- Sergey
It wouldn’t help if it were all that easy), the computer also doesn’t see the hard drive, although when connected to the computer it detects it and the light is on (works), there’s a virus on it, I threw the films onto the hard drive and stopped opening, the same films were thrown onto the Windows laptop a little did not fly, the antivirus saved it. Maybe there is some other way to open it or format it?
- Uncle Apo
Thank you. Renaming helped!
- Irina
Switched to another usb port it helped - he sees it!
- Denis 02/10/2015
Good afternoon Problem with External drive Seagate FA GoFlex Desk USB Device. In the “Devices and Printers” menu, the computer sees the disk; when you call context menu It says it works fine and that no drivers need to be updated. The disk cannot be seen through “Computer”. Through “Computer Management” in the “Disk Management” field in the upper part it is also not there (that is, you cannot change the letter), but it is in the lower part with the status “Not initialized”. When I try to initialize it gives an error. It is also displayed in the “Device Manager” in the “Disk Devices” submenu.
I tried to connect it to another connector, and old computer- there is no result. When you try to turn it off and on again, it starts to make noise, as if something is twisting and cannot turn it all the way, and then goes quiet.
I tried, as written above, to deploy the controllers, I only have one: Intel (R) 8 Series.... and in its properties there is no “Advanced parameters” tab, and in those tabs that exist, they do not have “Transfer mode”.
Please tell me what can be done. - Tatiana
Good afternoon Problem with External Drive ADATA HDD CH94 USB Devise
In the “Devices and Printers” menu, the computer sees the disk; when you call up the context menu, it says that it is working normally and that drivers do not need to be updated. The disk is not visible through “Computer”... And it is also displayed in the “Device Manager” in the “Disk Devices” submenu.
When I try to turn it off and on again I get no results. I updated the drivers. Please tell me what else can be done. It doesn't open on another computer either. It shows that the disk is working, but I can’t open it. Requires formatting when loading, but I have it there important information, I'm afraid it will be erased. Help please. And also about the shutdown it writes: “the device is not removable and cannot be removed” - Irina
Thank you so much!!! You helped me a lot! Everything was explained simply, clearly - and everything worked!!!
