How do I fix a computer that won't recognize an external hard drive?

External hard drives are convenient, versatile, and handy storage devices that allow you to store many files, including music, movies, videos, documents, and pictures, among others. They help you to keep your computer organized and transfer data between different devices.

However, sometimes, when you plug an external hard drive into your computer, nothing happens. Your computer fails to recognize the drive, and you cannot retrieve any information stored on it. This can be a frustrating problem, especially if you need the files on the hard drive urgently.

If your computer won't recognize an external hard drive, don't panic. There are many reasons for this problem, and solutions are available. Here are some things you can try to fix the problem.

Step 1: Check the connections

The first step is to check if the cables are correctly connected to the external hard drive and computer. If the connection is loose or not stable, then it may cause the external hard drive not to be recognized by the computer.

Check and make sure the USB cable is firmly plugged into both the external hard drive and the computer. Try using a different USB port or changing the USB cable to see if that solves the issue.

Step 2: Check the power source

External hard drives usually require a separate power source to function correctly. If the power source is not working correctly, the external hard drive may not be recognized by your computer.

Ensure that the power cable is connected correctly to the external hard drive and switch on the power source. If the power source seems fine, try replacing the power cord to confirm that it is not the cause.

Step 3: Restart your computer

Sometimes, your computer may not recognize an external hard drive because it has lost touch with the USB ports. Restart your computer and try to connect the external hard drive again.

Step 4: Update the USB driver

If none of the above methods work, you can try to update the Universal Serial Bus (USB) driver in your computer system. To do this, follow these easy steps:

• Go to "Device Manager" by clicking the Start button, searching for "Device Manager," and opening the program.
• Look for "Universal Serial Bus controllers" and click on the "+" sign to expand the list.
• Right-click on the USB port that is having the problem and click on "Update driver."
• Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software."
• Wait a few minutes for Windows to search for and install the updated driver.

After the update is complete, restart your computer and try connecting the external hard drive again.

Step 5: Reinstall the USB driver

If updating the USB driver does not work, you might need to reinstall it. To do this, follow these simple steps:

• Go to "Device Manager" by clicking the Start button, searching for "Device Manager," and opening the program.
• Locate "Universal Serial Bus controllers" and click on the "+" sign to expand the list.
• Right-click on the USB port that is having the problem and select "Uninstall device."
• After the driver is uninstalled, restart your computer.
• After the computer restarts, the USB driver will automatically reinstall.

Step 6: Use disk management

Disk Management is a built-in tool in Windows that provides useful information about every hard drive connected to your computer. You can use the Disk Management tool to check whether the external hard drive's partition is visible on your computer.

• Click the Start button and search for "Disk Management."
• Open the program.
• Look for your external hard drive in the list of disks. If you can see it, right-click on it and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths."
• Click "Add" and assign a unique drive letter.
• If you still cannot see your hard drive, select "Format" from the same right-click menu in the Disk Management tool.
• Give the hard drive a name and format it as NTFS.

Step 7: Recover data and reformat the external hard drive

If none of the above methods has worked, you can try to recover data from the external hard drive and format it again.

To recover data from an unrecognized hard drive, connect it to another computer and try to access the data. If the hard drive still seems to be broken, try using data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to find and extract important files. After retrieving your important files, reformat the external hard drive using Disk Management or another formatting tool.

Conclusion

In conclusion, external hard drives are useful devices that help you store and transfer data. If your computer fails to recognize an external hard drive, don't worry. There are many methods to solve this problem, and we have explained the most common ones in this article.

Still, if you have tried all or some of these methods and your external hard drive is still not working, it may be time to take it to a professional technician. JTG Systems is a reputable company located at 577 Niagara Street in Welland, Ontario, that offers expert computer repair services. You can call (905) 892-4555 to book an appointment and get professional assistance in fixing your external hard drive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How can I fix my external hard drive if it is not showing up on my Mac?

A1: If your external hard drive is not showing up on your Mac, try these methods:

1. Check your cable connections.
2. Try another USB port.
3. Use Disk Utility to repair the external hard drive.
4. Try booting your Mac in Safe mode and connect the external hard drive.
5. Use Terminal to force mount the external hard drive.
6. Reformat the external hard drive.

Q2. How do I prevent my external hard drive from getting corrupted again?

A2: Here are some things to do to prevent your external hard drive from getting corrupted:

1. Always eject the external hard drive before unplugging it from your computer.
2. Avoid sudden shock and force on the external hard drive.
3. Keep the external hard drive away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
4. Keep your computer updated with the latest security and OS updates.
5. Use anti-virus software to protect your computer and external hard drive.

Q3. How to fix an external hard drive with a corrupted file system?

A3: If your external hard drive has a corrupted file system, here are some methods to fix the issue:

1. Use the CHKDSK tool in Windows Command Prompt or Terminal in Mac OS.
2. Use a third-party program to recover and repair the corrupted files.
3. Reformat the external hard drive from scratch, erasing all data in the process (so be sure to back up your data before reformatting).
4. Take your external hard drive to a professional technician who can recover the corrupted files.