How to Fix an Undetected External Hard Drive
Quick Navigation:
- Method #1: Try a Different USB port to Fix the Undetected Problem
- Method #2: Try to Connect the External Hard Drive to Another Computer
- Method #3: Run CHKDSK CMD to Check and Fix Undetected External Hard Drive
- Method #4: Show Hidden devices from Device Manager
- How to Recover Lost Data After Fixing Undetected External Hard Drive
- Procedure to recover data from external drive using Deep Data Recovery
An external hard drive is a great choice to save important files, make backups, and take the files anywhere you go. However, it's terrible if you find that your hard drive is undetected by your computer. It means you're facing the possibility that all files might be trapped there. Actually, you should calm down in the first place and try to fix a hard drive not detected issue. Here 4 ways are covered to fix an undetected external hard drive. And the last resort is to recover data from the undetected hard drive with Deep Data Recovery if you have tried every method and failed.
If your external hard drive is undetected, don't panic. Here are 4 ways to fix the issue, and as a last resort, recover data from the undetected hard drive with Deep Data Recovery.
Method #1: Try a Different USB port to Fix the Undetected Problem
The easiest way to check the working of the external is by trying a different USB port. It is possible that the current port is failing. If it is plugged in the USB 3.0 port then use the 2.0 port. If you used a USB hub then plug it directly into the pc or laptop. If it does not work then proceed to the second method.
Method #2: Try to Connect the External Hard Drive to Another Computer
The above method does not assure that whether the computer is malfunctioning or the hard drive is not working properly. To confirm the issue plug it in another device. If the drive is not detected on other devices then it is the drive that is causing the problem.
Method #3: Run CHKDSK CMD to Check and Fix Undetected External Hard Drive
CHKDSK stands for Check Disk. It is a DOS command. It can verify file system integrity. You can also use this command to repair drives. Let's learn how you can use this command to repair the external hard drive.
- Step 1: Go to the start menu. Type cmd and open the command prompt window.
- Step 2: Type: chkdsk f:/h (you should change "f" with your drive's name) press enter.
- Step 3: Now, type sfc/scannow and enter.
After the process is done the windows will automatically fix the issue. If this method also fails, don't worry we have got your back. Here is another method you can use to detect the external hard drive.
Method #4: Show Hidden devices from Device Manager
If the first two methods fail, you can try using the Device Manager to detect the external hard drive. This method is useful if Windows is experiencing driver issues.
Click on the Disk drives category. Now, look for the devices with a yellow exclamation sign next to their name. If you find such a symbol then your device is having a driver problem.
Now you have found the device with a problem, right-click on it. Reading this error message can help you to solve the issue. Copy and paste the message on google and you will find a solution.
To save some time and effort, try to update the driver.
Also, you can right-click and uninstall the device from your system. Reboot the windows hopefully the driver will reinstall and the problem will solve automatically.
How to Recover Lost Data After Fixing Undetected External Hard Drive
If the external hard drive is still not detected after running the Device Manager, you can try using external hard drive recovery software to recover your data. This method can help you recover your data even if the external hard drive is not detected.
It's not uncommon for people to lose data from external devices, such as USB drives or external hard drives. This can happen due to accidental deletion, virus attacks, or formatting. When this happens, many people assume that the data is gone forever and can't be recovered. However, this is not the case.
Are you struggling to recover data from an external device? Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll show you how to use Deep Data Recovery to recover your lost data. If you have an undetected hard drive, you can also use these steps to fix it.
Procedure to recover data from external drive using Deep Data Recovery
First, make sure that you have Deep data recovery on your computer or laptop. If you don't have it, then download and install it on your computer.
1. Launch Deep Data Recovery. This external hard drive data recovery software supports all file types. You can select the files that you want to recover. Now, click the "Next" button to start the file recovery. You can use it on both major operating systems that are Mac or Windows.
2. You will see a list of drives available. Select the one you want to scan and then click the "Scan" button. The software will scan the drive for specific files.
3. After the scan is complete, you will see lost files from the external hard drive. Select the ones you wish to recover. Click on the "Recover" button to save these files.
If you don't see your required files on the list, click on "Deep Scan" from the upper part of the window. Deep scan can scan each and every sector of the drive. A deep scan will take more time to complete.
To conclude the article, last but not least, there are many ways to fix an undetected external hard drive but we have mentioned the best ways for you here. If you don't know how to fix an undetected external hard drive then these methods will definitely solve the problem for you. Most importantly, if you lose data during the process then you can recover all your data using the Deep Data Recovery tool.
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