This occurred today. I was attempting to re-download a game and it couldn't access my hard drive. I went to open it and the hard drive is renamed to its default name and there is no storage amount. (It doesn't tell you how large the hard drive is, it just shows up) I attempt to right click on it, and Windows Explorer crashes. I even unplugged it from my computer and restarted and it's still there even though it isn't connected. I want to reinstall Windows but seeing as how I'm on a laptop that's not the easiest thing to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The External HDD is a Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive 1TB.
Windows seeing an external hard drive that isn't plugged in
- Thread starter Araxis
- Start date
Solution
It's good that it works fine now.
It may be a good idea to test it anyway. You can use a brand specific one or one of these: http
/www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utility
In case there is something wrong with it, you shouldn't keep important data on it.
D_Know_WD
It may be a good idea to test it anyway. You can use a brand specific one or one of these: http
/www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utilityIn case there is something wrong with it, you shouldn't keep important data on it.
D_Know_WD
D_Know_WD
Estimable
- Jul 30, 2014
- 309
- 0
- 5,910
Hi there Araxis,
Most probably the HDD is failing or it has completely failed. I don't really think that OS re installation would help.
You can start with something simple as just connecting the drive with a different USB cable to a different port. It will not hurt to attach it to another computer as well.
In case the issue persists, you can go to BIOS and see how is the drive recognized over there. In case it is recognized as having 0 storage, then I guess the HDD has failed. If it is under warranty, I would advise you to contact the manufacturer.
Also, you can download some brand specific testing tool and test the drive.
Regarding the OS re installation, check this out: http/windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7
Cheers,
D_Know_WD
Most probably the HDD is failing or it has completely failed. I don't really think that OS re installation would help.
You can start with something simple as just connecting the drive with a different USB cable to a different port. It will not hurt to attach it to another computer as well.
In case the issue persists, you can go to BIOS and see how is the drive recognized over there. In case it is recognized as having 0 storage, then I guess the HDD has failed. If it is under warranty, I would advise you to contact the manufacturer.
Also, you can download some brand specific testing tool and test the drive.
Regarding the OS re installation, check this out: http
/windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7Cheers,
D_Know_WD
D_Know_WD :
Hi there Araxis,
Most probably the HDD is failing or it has completely failed. I don't really think that OS re installation would help.
You can start with something simple as just connecting the drive with a different USB cable to a different port. It will not hurt to attach it to another computer as well.
In case the issue persists, you can go to BIOS and see how is the drive recognized over there. In case it is recognized as having 0 storage, then I guess the HDD has failed. If it is under warranty, I would advise you to contact the manufacturer.
Also, you can download some brand specific testing tool and test the drive.
Regarding the OS re installation, check this out: http/windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7
Cheers,
D_Know_WD
Most probably the HDD is failing or it has completely failed. I don't really think that OS re installation would help.
You can start with something simple as just connecting the drive with a different USB cable to a different port. It will not hurt to attach it to another computer as well.
In case the issue persists, you can go to BIOS and see how is the drive recognized over there. In case it is recognized as having 0 storage, then I guess the HDD has failed. If it is under warranty, I would advise you to contact the manufacturer.
Also, you can download some brand specific testing tool and test the drive.
Regarding the OS re installation, check this out: http
/windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7Cheers,
D_Know_WD
I managed to recover my HDD. I don't know exactly how, but I went into disk management with the hard drive plugged in. I found it and managed to get it formatted without the MMC or Windows Explorer crashing. It's running fine right now.
D_Know_WD
Estimable
- Jul 30, 2014
- 309
- 0
- 5,910
It's good that it works fine now.
It may be a good idea to test it anyway. You can use a brand specific one or one of these: http/www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utility
In case there is something wrong with it, you shouldn't keep important data on it.
D_Know_WD
It may be a good idea to test it anyway. You can use a brand specific one or one of these: http
/www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utilityIn case there is something wrong with it, you shouldn't keep important data on it.
D_Know_WD
Similar threads
- Locked
TRENDING THREADS
-
Question What games are good right now?
- Started by waxon
- Replies: 0
-
Question Need a substitute for my Galaxy Book 2!
- Started by hunnu
- Replies: 0
-
-
Question Lenovo Yoga book 9i vs. Asus Zenbook duo
- Started by szcad
- Replies: 0
-
-
Question Question about if an older model laptop with upgraded parts will work as well for video editing
- Started by Reese Miller
- Replies: 3
-
Facebook
Twitter