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External Hard Drive Problems

stairwaystairway Posts: 1,500
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in PC & Mac Hardware and Software #1
When i connect my external hard drive to my computer, it doesn't recognise it, the power light is on, but it doesn't show any folders on it, where as the day before it worked perfectly, help please.

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    StigStig Posts: 12,446
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    #2
    Have you looked in Disk Management to see if it has been assigned a drive letter?
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    cp2cp2 Posts: 957
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    #3
    Is it a usb3 Drive?
    Have you applied any Windows updates to your computer? Maybe your usb drivers have been updated.
    Have you tried the drive in a different usb port, ideally one that will be on a different motherboard header?
    Can you try the drive on a different computer?
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    stairwaystairway Posts: 1,500
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    #4
    Stig wrote: »
    Have you looked in Disk Management to see if it has been assigned a drive letter?

    Yes, and it hasn't been assigned a drive letter, whereas before it did have one
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    JeffG1JeffG1 Posts: 15,275
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    #5
    I have an external USB drive permanently plugged into my PC which I use for backup. On rare occasions, the system doesn't recognise it and Control Panel Devices and Printers shows an unknown device.

    I don't know why this happens, but a reboot puts it right. Perhaps your computer is having a similar bad day! What happens after a reboot?

    (Suggestion courtesy of The IT Crowd. :D)
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    StigStig Posts: 12,446
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    #6
    stairway wrote: »
    Yes, and it hasn't been assigned a drive letter, whereas before it did have one

    If you can see the drive in Disk Management, then just give it a drive letter. Windows sometimes gets confused if you add/remove various USB drives.
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    stairwaystairway Posts: 1,500
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    #7
    JeffG1 wrote: »
    I have an external USB drive permanently plugged into my PC which I use for backup. On rare occasions, the system doesn't recognise it and Control Panel Devices and Printers shows an unknown device.

    I don't know why this happens, but a reboot puts it right. Perhaps your computer is having a similar bad day! What happens after a reboot?

    (Suggestion courtesy of The IT Crowd. :D)

    Still the same.
    Mine was permanently plugged in, and it worked OK this morning, then when i booted up later on this happened.
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    RobinOfLoxleyRobinOfLoxley Posts: 27,040
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    #8
    Go back into disk management. (press Windows key + R, type diskmgmt.msc)

    Right click the partition and Change letter to assign one.


    Or if your drive has become 'Unallocated' (all appears empty)

    Then use Partition Wizard's Partition Recovery.
    http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Home-Edition/3000-2094_4-10962200.html
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    nomad2kingnomad2king Posts: 8,415
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    #9
    Sounds like a drive/power management issue. After a period of inactivity the drive goes into "sleep" mode. If any utilities came with the drive, check to see if there is something like a sleep timer setting.

    Sometimes if there is a problem that other people are likely to have encountered themselves, I find a Google search can often help. Another option is to check the manufacturers website for FAQs and support.
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