[Windows] External hard drive not showing up? Solved

Question

Hello,

I have an external hard drive that does not show up; when I plug it in, it is detected, but it doesn't appear either on the computer or in the left shortcuts. However, I can find it in the devices section where the printer and others are located. From there, I can't open it; what should I do???

Configuration: Windows 7 / Safari 536.5

le-gars-du-49 · Accepted Answer

Hello,

So, after several searches (because I had the same problem too), I've finally found it!

-Right-click on Computer (or This PC) > Manage > Disk Management (or Storage) > Then right-click on the box that defines your external hard drive (for me, it was Disk 1, but I don't know for you), if you can't find it, click on the line where there is no letter assigned (or the letter that gives the name of your external hard drive), normally, a part will get selected (the little dotted line), then right-click on the box that defines your hard drive (for me, "Disk 1") > And then select "Online." And it should be good.

I hope this works, and that you understood me ^^.

Sorry for the delay in responding (maybe you've already found the answer Haha!

See you soon

The-guy-from-49

Kapoye976 · Answer

Hi, I don't know Windows 7 very well but I think you should have, like in Windows XP, in the Control Panel, Administrative Tools, then Computer Management. If you have something like that, check if your hard drive is displayed and in what condition it is.

steff458 · Answer

Try doing this:
- right-click on "Computer"
- click on "Manage"
- if it asks you a question, respond yes
- in the middle column, double-click on "Storage"
- double-click on "Disk Management"

Once it has loaded, tell me what you see or better take a screenshot, host it here and give me the link.
--
$T€FF458

benbax · Answer

If you are using Windows: Start -> Run -> type "compmgmt.msc" and press Enter.  In the window that appears, select disk management. You should see the list of detected hard drives. What about it?

mullen80 · Answer

For me, I actually had to follow the procedure:

- right-click on "Computer"
- click on "Manage"
- Storage
- "Disk Management"
- And on the partition of the disk in question, "change a letter"
(you need to give your drive a name basically)

mumus · Answer

thank you very much  it worked for me

kryss · Answer

This site helped me a lot, I hope it will help you  https://lenovo-eu-fr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18734

stepbystep · Answer

Right-click on the computer, click on manage, then storage, then disk management, find your hard drive, right-click on the hard drive, click on change drive letter or path, add, choose a letter, click OK and it's done, and you keep all your data.

Shockwavenger · Answer

I have the same problem; my hard drive is detected but does not appear.
When I go to manage => storage => disk management, there are 3 unnamed icons showing in the "volume" column, I assume these are my external hard drive, then I have my main hard drive and the "recovery." Anyway, when I right-click on the external hard drive, it only shows 2 options: "delete volume" or "help." Help, please.

mlle azhar · Answer

I tried all the methods you recommended but it didn't work, my hard drive was detected yes, I could hear that little sound but I couldn't find it in My Computer or Disk Management. After several searches, it finally worked, the method is as follows: on Windows 7, click on Start -> Devices and Printers -> then at the bottom you will find the unknown devices, right-click on your hard drive -> troubleshoot -> install the driver and there you go, it should work. I hope it works for you too.

mlle azhar · Answer

I tried all the methods you recommended, but it didn't work. My hard drive was detected; I could hear that little sound, but I couldn't find it in My Computer or Disk Management. After several searches, I finally got it to work. The method is as follows: on Windows 7, click on Start -> Devices and Printers -> then at the bottom, you will find Unknown Devices, right-click on your hard drive -> Troubleshoot -> Install the driver, and there you go, it should work. I hope it works for you too.

Mzebane976 · Answer

Hello,

I had the same problem after my brother-in-law unplugged it without reconnecting it via "right-click at the bottom right." I followed the method of right-clicking on "Computer > Manage..." but my hard drive wasn't showing up anywhere.
I then completely disassembled it, let it rest for 15 seconds, and reassembled it. Everything went back to normal.

I hope this helps those who have the same issue.

Thanks.

foxou06 · Answer

the letter of the record needs to be changed

vitjojo13 · Answer

Hello

Here are the steps to check if the Automount service is enabled on your PC:
( This service assigns a letter to each drive (USB key or external hard drive)

•Press the "Windows" key + R;

•Type "cmd"; (As an administrator)

•Write "diskpart" and confirm by pressing "enter";

•Type "automount" and confirm by pressing "enter".

You should see this:

DISKPART> automount

Automatic mounting of new volumes enabled

DISKPART>

You can see that the Automount service is enabled. If it is disabled on your end, you just need to type this command:

automount enable

Then confirm by pressing "enter", and you will receive a message indicating that automount has been successfully enabled.

All that's left is to test it by plugging in the USB key or external hard drive.

Let's get to work !!!!!!!!
@hello

Batiste · Answer

Hello, sorry for the bump, but this is really strange for me...

I have a small external hard drive that was working perfectly fine, and suddenly my computer can't read it anymore. After unplugging it for a few seconds, it worked again, but the next day or two or three, my computer couldn't read it again. I tried later on another computer, and it was the same, the computer doesn't recognize the HDD. However, when I plug it in, I still hear the detection sound, and I can hear the HDD spinning, but it only appears in "Devices and Printers" under a strange name (JM20336 SATA, USB Combo).

I have tried a lot of methods, like going to "Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management" (my disk is not there, just Disk 1 (internal) and the CD partition), restarting several times, trying a different computer, NOTHING.

Do you have, please, a solution?
Or at least a method to recover the files inside?

Thank you

31824456 · Answer

Hi everyone,
I indeed have the same problem with my hard drive; it doesn't show up on my computer. So I did a procedure that seemed to work: -right-click on "This PC"
-click on "Manage"
-click on "Storage"
-click on "Disk Management"
-then right-click on my disk (disk 1 which is detailed as "unknown" and "not initialized")
But when I click on "Offline," a message appears: "The request failed due to a serious device hardware error."
Can you help me or give me some advice?
Thanks in advance..

erwelyn · Answer

Hello everyone. I have the same problem. I'm using XP Pro with a WD Elements external hard drive.
I followed the procedure proposed above
""-Right-click on Computer (or My Computer) > Manage > Disk Management (or Storage) > Then right-click on the square that defines your external hard drive (for me it was Disk 1, but I don't know for you), if you can't find it, click on the line where no letter is assigned (or the letter that names your external drive), normally, a part will be selected (the small dotted line), right-click on the square that defines your hard drive (for me "Disk 1") ""
So far everything is fine.
""And then you select "Online".""
...except that I don't have "Online". I have a "Properties" box where it says in the General tab that:
- the hard drive is functioning correctly
- the device is indeed enabled
in the Driver tab:
- I have 2 lines for the location in Windows (but I don't know what that corresponds to)
- I am offered to reinstall the driver (but I don’t dare for fear of losing my data)

And otherwise, someone also suggested changing the name, but the corresponding line is not clickable. grrrr

So if anyone has an idea on how to access this hard drive, thank you all in advance

[Windows] External hard drive not showing up?

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