Troubleshooting and Fixing a Portable External Hard Disk That Cannot Be Recognized by Your Computer
Introduction
If you find your portable external hard disk is not being recognized by your computer, following these steps can help you diagnose and potentially solve the issue. While some cases may require professional intervention, these troubleshooting techniques can save you from unnecessary costs and time.
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
If you're unable to low-level format the hard disk using HDDGuru in Windows, itrsquo;s best to discard the drive. An unreliable or failing hard drive is not worth the risk.
Try a different cable and a different port if possible. Check if the external hard disk appears in Device Manager. If it doesn't, your PC might not be recognizing it. Use the diskpart command in Windows to see if you can see the hard drive and allocate a volume. If it still doesn't show up, open the enclosure and plug the hard drive directly into your motherboard and try again.
If the Hard Drive Still Isn't Recognized
At this point, if the hard drive doesn't light up, make noise, or show any signs of life, it is likely faulty. If the data on the hard drive is crucial, consider sending it to a data recovery specialist, although this can be expensive and the results are not guaranteed.
Further Steps
Check the Basics: Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the hard disk and the computer. Check the power supply if your external hard disk has a separate power supply.
Try Different Devices: Connect the external hard disk to a different computer to determine if the issue is with the hard drive or the original computer.
Check Disk Management Windows: Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management. Look for the external hard disk in the list. If it shows up as unallocated space, you may need to create a new volume. If it has no drive letter, right-click on it and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths to assign a letter.
Update Drivers Windows: Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand the Disk drives section and locate your external hard disk. Right-click on it and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
Check for Formatting Issues
If the drive is detected but not accessible, it might be formatted in a way that your operating system cannot read, such as HFS for Mac. Backup data where possible by connecting the drive to a compatible device. If you need to format the drive, this will erase all data: Right-click on the drive in Disk Management and select Format.
Use Disk Utility Mac
Open Disk Utility from Applications Utilities. Look for your external hard disk in the left sidebar. If it fails to mount, select it and click Mount. You can also run First Aid to repair the disk if it's not working.
Check for Hardware Issues
Listen for unusual sounds from the hard disk, such as clicking noises, which may indicate failure. If the disk is still not recognized, it may have a hardware issue that requires professional data recovery services.
Use Data Recovery Software
If the drive is detected but files are inaccessible, consider using data recovery software to retrieve lost files. For instance, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can help you recover lost files from various types of data loss.
Conclusion
If none of these steps work, the external hard disk may be defective. In such cases, consulting a professional or contacting the manufacturer for support may be necessary.
Rebuilding a backup is crucial to avoid such situations in the future. Always keep multiple copies of your data, both locally and in the cloud, to safeguard your valuable information.