An external hard drive can make life a lot easier. It gives you extra storage when your computer runs out of space, or somewhere to keep a backup of your files. But sometimes it runs into problems and your computer stops recognizing it.
If your external drive is still not recognized, the fault may be physical and every new attempt counts. Before trying again, see how external hard drive recovery works, starting with a free diagnosis.
So how do you recover an external hard drive that isn’t recognized? Knowing the most common causes will help you find the right solution and get back to the files stored on the drive.
Below, we look at why this happens and what you can do about it. Read on!
Why does an external drive stop being recognized?
There are several possible reasons. Sometimes the problem is an error or damage on the drive itself. In other cases, it lies with the cables, ports or software that give access to the drive’s data.
Here are the main causes:
Faulty USB port or cable
When your computer doesn’t recognize the drive, the drive itself isn’t necessarily to blame. Often the fault lies with the USB port or the cable you use to connect it to your PC.
Ports and cables wear out over time or can be physically damaged. A USB cable may also simply not meet the specifications the external drive needs, for example to supply enough power.
Your computer’s power settings can also play a part: the PC may be set to save energy by switching off connected USB devices, which cuts power to the port.
Outdated drivers
The problem could also be the driver that lets your computer communicate with the drive. A driver is what allows a device — in this case, the external drive — to work with the computer it’s connected to and respond to your commands.
Drivers need to be kept up to date to work properly. When they aren’t, problems such as the external drive not being recognized can appear. This is more common on older computers or ones that rarely go online, since updates are usually installed automatically when the PC is connected to the internet.
Malware
Viruses and other malware are also a common reason why a computer doesn’t recognize an external drive. If the drive is infected, Windows may be unable to read the files because they are corrupted.
In some cases, your security software may block access to the drive to stop the infection from spreading to other files on the computer.
Drive failure
External drives can also fail because of physical damage, a burnt-out circuit board or firmware problems, for example.
Because they’re portable, external drives are more likely to be knocked or dropped, so handle and store them carefully.
How can I tell if an external drive is burnt out?
Sometimes Windows doesn’t recognize the external drive because it has burnt out. What usually burns out is the circuit board (PCB) that controls the drive.
This is mainly caused by fire or water damage, power surges, overheating or the drive losing power abruptly.
When an external drive has burnt out, the computer usually can’t access the files on it. You may also hear strange noises or even smell burning. If so, stop using the device, don’t plug it in again, and get help from professionals who can open and examine it safely.
How do I recover an external drive that isn’t recognized?
There are a few steps you can take to try to get an unrecognized external drive working again. Here’s a step-by-step guide, starting with the ones that pose no risk to the data on the drive. If the drive clicks, beeps or makes unusual noises, don’t try any of them: switch it off and contact a specialist.
Check the USB port and cable
First, try the external drive on another computer. If it works normally, the problem is probably your computer’s USB port. Sometimes dust or corrosion in the port is enough to stop it working properly.
Also try connecting it with a different USB cable. Again, if it works normally, the problem isn’t the drive but the cable, which may be old or damaged.
Also check that Windows isn’t switching off the USB ports to save power. To do this:
- Search for Device Manager in the Windows search bar and open it;
- Find and expand “Universal Serial Bus controllers”;
- Right-click USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management;
- Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.
Repeat this for every USB Root Hub on the list. Then restart your computer and see whether the external drive is recognized.
Update the device drivers
Also check whether the problem is a driver that is out of date and therefore failing to recognize the external drive. To update the drivers, follow these steps:
- Search for Device Manager in the Windows search bar and open it;
- Find “Universal Serial Bus controllers” (for the USB ports) and “Disk drives” (for the external drive);
- Right-click the device you want and select “Update driver”;
- Select “Search automatically for drivers”.
Windows will then look for pending driver updates that could fix the external drive problem.
Run Windows Error Checking
If the drive shows up in File Explorer but can’t be opened, the Windows Error Checking tool can find and repair file system errors. Keep in mind that it writes to the drive: if the drive is failing or the files are important, have them recovered first. To run it:
- Open File Explorer and find the external drive;
- Right-click it and open Properties;
- Go to the Tools tab and, under Error checking, click Check;
- Click Scan and repair drive.
Run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt
If Error Checking can’t find and fix the errors, you can use CHKDSK in the Windows Command Prompt, which runs a more thorough check of the drive. It only works if the drive has a letter in Windows, and, like Error Checking, it writes to the disk — on a drive with bad sectors it can make data loss worse. Follow these steps:
- Open the Command Prompt (type “cmd” in the Windows search bar, or press Win + R and type “cmd”);
- Type “chkdsk X: /f /r”, replacing X with the drive letter and without the quotes (for example: chkdsk D: /f /r), and press Enter.
You’ll need to run the Command Prompt as administrator for this command to work.
Run an antivirus scan
If the problem is malware, an antivirus program can find the infected files and may be able to deal with the problem.
Use a reliable program, such as Norton, Avast or AVG, to scan the drive and remove any threats it finds.
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How Bot can help
The first tips (port, cable, power settings, drivers) can be done at home without touching the data on the drive; the repair tools write to the disk, so use them carefully. And these measures don’t always solve the problem — sometimes the external drive still isn’t recognized.
If that happens, contact a company specializing in data recovery. Experienced professionals can make an accurate diagnosis and find out why the drive isn’t being recognized, so the right procedures can be used to recover it.
An experienced company like Bot has handled many cases of unrecognized external drives and has the right equipment and software for the job. We can help you get your device and your data back.
Fill in this form to tell us what’s happening with your external drive. Standard diagnosis is free, and you can request free collection of your device (islands not included). Count on us!
