Computer does not recognize external HDD
August 7th, 2016
I have been using my external HDD for a wile now and lately it has stopped working. When I plug it in to my computer you can hear the sound that I connected the external HDD to the computer, and the green light also goes on when I connect it. BUT, my computer does not recognize the HDD and its not visible at device mangers or My Computer. When I go to safely remove hardware I do see USB Mass Storage Device and that it’s location is 0.
I unscrewed the case of the HDD and plugged it in again but I still have the same problem. Did something break inside? Thanks in advance,
i think you should use system restore or uninstall and reinstall the hdd drivers
it might be a driver error
Is the driver actually spinning?
Drivers would be a nice idea too although it shouldn’t really make a difference.
Have you tried to plug it into another PC? Just to check if its the external itself or ur computer.
This happened to me once. Open up disk management, and you should see the hard drive, and you have to make it a new volume or something and format it i cant exactly remember.
I have also plugged it into my sisters computer and it did not work their either. It can’t be anything with the drivers because that does not explain it all of a sudden stopped working. I also use the HDD to plug into a multimedia player and that one does not recognize it aswel altho the light of the HDD still goes on…
This happened to me once. Open up disk management, and you should see the hard drive, and you have to make it a new volume or something and format it i cant exactly remember.
When I go to disk managment I only see my local HDD, C:/ and not my external HDD…
I have also plugged it into my sisters computer and it did not work their either. It can't be anything with the drivers because that does not explain it all of a sudden stopped working. I also use the HDD to plug into a multimedia player and that one does not recognize it aswel altho the light of the HDD still goes on...
Thats what i had to do with mine, but on my second computer it recognised it. What OS is on yours and your sisters computer?
My OS is the same as the one on my sisters computer..
Can you feel the external hdd spinning??
Could also be something simple like a usb chord. Try replacing that too.
My OS is the same as the one on my sisters computer..
Which would be..?
My OS is the same as the one on my sisters computer..
Which would be..?
Windows XP Service Pack 2.
And no it does not make any sounds, it used to be but it only makes sounds when im copying something or the computer is scanning. Since its not being recognized that aint happening.
My OS is the same as the one on my sisters computer..
Which would be..?
Windows XP Service Pack 2.
And no it does not make any sounds, it used to be but it only makes sounds when im copying something or the computer is scanning. Since its not being recognized that aint happening.
Well could be a dud cable like said, if not, maybe the HDD is dead.
Is the hdd sata? can you pull it out of the case and whack it right into ur mobo with sata cable?
That’ll test for sure if the hdd is dead or not. Even if you have to unplug ur main hdd for the sata cable. When you turn you’re PC on it should spin no matter what.
Is the hdd sata? can you pull it out of the case and whack it right into ur mobo with sata cable?
That'll test for sure if the hdd is dead or not. Even if you have to unplug ur main hdd for the sata cable. When you turn you're PC on it should spin no matter what.
My HDD is indeed SATA, SATA Starbox.
I have pulled out the case, but what do you mean that I have to do now?
um , try plugging something different into the same usb port. it might be that your usb port is dead. it happened to my bro’s computer before
um , try plugging something different into the same usb port. it might be that your usb port is dead. it happened to my bro's computer before
As I said, I tested it on a other PC aswel.
Also tested out all USB entries already
When you take the HDD out of the case, you should try to connect it to your PC, right on the MBD via SATA cable. Then you should detect it in your computer. If not, it’s probably dead.
Im sorry right on the MDB via SATA cable? If the SATA cable is not working I still cant test if the HDD is dead or the wire is dead.
Second, what is MDB and how do I connect it?
MBD is your mainboard/motherboard, which you have in your PC. You should buy a new SATA cable just in case (they are not expensive), but before that, try to connect it first with the old cable. When you connect it, you should then see the device in Device manager. In the bad case, you will not boot because BIOS will not know from which HDD boot, but you will at least know that HDD is responding. If nothing is happening, you will boot up normally and don’t see the device in Device manager, it is probably dead.