External Hard Drive Not Working. Causes, Solutions, Alternatives

Do you want to know why the external hard drive not working or is not detected by the PC? The external hard drive today takes on the function of a USB flash drive, but with a much larger size and more storage capacity. storageThis makes it easier to transport large amounts of data, but the downside to this advantage is less resistance to the vagaries of life.

Compared to internal hard drives, they are therefore more likely to lose data and no longer be recognized after a shock, strong heat or simply unsafe removal…

In all cases, the procedure to recover data from an external drive is the same as for an internal hard drive or a USB flash drive. Here we will look at some solutions and alternatives that you can use when the external hard drive is not working on your PC.

External hard drive not working or not detected by Windows – Cause

Your external hard drive is not working because it is not showing up! What if your PC does not detect the external hard drive? This is a question that often arises. In fact, this is a recurring problem.

Here you can read about: 8 Types of Current Storage Devices

Before trying anything else, try restarting your computer, checking your connections, or connecting your external hard drive to another PC. If the problem persists, there are two possible scenarios:

• First case: Windows does not recognize disksIt could be a simple connection issue. For the external hard drive, take the time to check the driver as well. If after that the device remains unreadable, it is not impossible that your internal/external hard drive is faulty.
• Second case: hard drive not showing up in Windows 10, 7 or 8 Explorer, but the computer detects it. This is probably a letter assignment problem in Disk Management. In this case, you can do the following:
  • Step 1: Right click on the workstation icon on your desktop
  • Step 2: Click on Manage and later Disk management in the window Team management.
  • NOTE: : The undetected hard drive is the one that is not followed by a letter followed by a colon (all in parentheses).
  • Step 3:: Right click on it, change the drive letter and paths (command available in the drop-down menu) and then click Assign the next drive letter.

What about external hard drive not working on Mac?

The first reflex action you should have when the operating system Mac does not recognize the external hard drive is to check that another system recognizes it.

• Cause 1: If there is a Windows PC or Linux nearby, connect the mobile storage unit. If the hard drive appears in another location, you should perform a repair from the terminalwith the indispensable and necessary commands «disktil list" Y "diskutil info disk«.

NOTE: : Improper removal of the device can cause problems. After this repair, if the drive reappears, you should be sure to safely remove it before unplugging it the next time.

• Cause 2: In case the external hard drive still does not work, first switch to a newest usb cable to enable the self-powering function of the USB port.
• Cause 3: If the Mac does not recognize the hard drive after the above procedures, check that the setting of the Finder allows you to see newly connected devices.
• Cause 4: If your hard drive is formatted NTFS, is not native to Mac, you may need to reset the reading utility (NTFS is available on most versions of Mac OS).
• Cause 5: If the external hard drive is still unreadable and not visible in the BIOS of other systems (Windows or Linux), a hardware failure should be considered. Data recovery is expected to find your files.

If your external hard drive is not working: we have a solution for every problem

• Solution 1: When a drive is not recognized due to bad sectors present on the drive, it can be done by using software recovery. If it is the disk hosting the operating system that is affected, be careful to disconnect it and connect it to another PC to proceed with the recovery safely. If it is the memory card of a Smartphone or Tablet, it is best to buy an adapter and connect it to a PC.
• Solution 2: Free tools like TestDisk They are very efficient and have many tools to find your files present on an unrecognized hard drive. However, they require IT expertise due to their interface.
• Solution 3: To benefit from a more intuitive interface and specialized experience, the software Ontrack EasyRecovery It is an excellent option, even in its family version.
• Solution 4: In the most serious cases, such as violent shock, immersion or high heat, or any disc not detected by the best recovery software, it is necessary a clean room recovery, by a specialized company, to store documents, images…

NOTE: : In any case, if in doubt, it is better to obtain information from specialists so as not to risk losing all your data permanently.

External hard drive not working and no longer detected – Suggested solutions

If an external hard drive no longer showing up or not being detected is just one of the many situations that indicate your hard drive is not working. To help you fix your external hard drive quickly, you should clarify your situation according to the steps below before applying the methods to «The external hard drive no longer works«.

• Step 1:: Connect your hard drive to your computer using the cable.
• Step 2:: Go to «This PC">"Manage">"Disk management«.

Then you will find yourself in one of the following cases:

• External hard drive does not show up in Disk management or on this PC
• The hard drive appears in Disk management but not on This PC
• The unit appears both in Disk management as in This PC, but it is inaccessible
• Hard drive is detected but no files are displayed
• External hard drive LED blinks but does not work

Suggested Solutions – External Hard Drive Not Working

When your external hard drive is not working, you may end up in one of the situations listed above. Identify your situation and follow the instructions to see the possible causes and solutions to fix your external hard drive.

Situation 1. External hard drive is not working and no longer showing in PC and Disk Management

• Possible Causes: connection problems, outdated Toshiba external hard drive driver, physical damage to the drive.

Depending on the possible reasons why your external hard drive is not working, you have three methods to try:

Method 1. Check the connection if the external hard drive is not working

There are many tips to check the connection between your Toshiba external hard drive and your computer.

• Step 1:: Connect your external hard drive to another USB port on your computer, including the back
• Step 2:: Use the original cable to connect your hard drive
• Step 3:: Use another cable to connect your external hard drive
• Step 4:: Connect your hard drive to another computer

Method 2. Update the driver if the external hard drive is not working

If the hard drive still does not work, try updating the device driver. An outdated or corrupted hard drive driver will cause certain problems when using the device. Since the PC does not detect your hard drive, it cannot update the driver through the driver. Device administrator.

• Step 1:: Go to the official website of your record brand
• Step 2:: Then download and install the latest driver by entering your model or serial number of your unit.

Method 3. Find a manual repair service

If you are sure that there is physical damage to your external hard drive or the drive still does not work after trying the above methods, we recommend sending the hard drive for manual repair.

Situation 2. The external hard drive is not working or appears in Disk Management but not in This PC

• Possible Causes: External hard drive driver issues create conflicts with drive letters.

An external hard drive not working in such a case can be caused by a problematic device driver or a drive letter conflict between your external drive and your computer partition. The solutions are simple, let's see:

Method 1. Update the driver if the external hard drive is not working

Since your device is detectable, you can update the driver through the Device administrator. You just have to follow these steps:

• Step 1:: Connect the external hard drive to the PC, right click on “This PC» (in Windows 10) and select «Properties«.
• Step 2:: Click on «Device administrator» and then expand «Hard Drives«. Find and right-click on the problematic USB drive and select «Update Driver«.
• Step 3:: Click on «Automatic search for online piloting software«.
• Step 4:: Wait for the driver to update, then restart your computer. After that, you can try to reconnect your USB drive to the PC and check if the USB drive shows up or not.

Method 2. Change the driver letter if the external hard drive is not working

• Step 1:: Go to «This PC«, right click and select «Manage">"Disk management«.
• Step 2:: Right click on the volume of your USB drive/external hard drive and select “Change drive letter and paths«.
• Step 3:: In the new window, click on «Change«.
• Step 4:: Assign a new drive letter to your USB flash drive and click «Accept«.

Situation 3. External hard drive is detectable but inaccessible

• Possible Causes: file system errors…

You may see that the status of your external hard drive is “Uninitialized»Or«No meanson Disk management, your drive indicates a file system RAW or the partition is lost (indicating unallocated space). All of these make your device inaccessible. You can fix the situation by using the following steps:External hard drive not working» in the last two situations:

Method 1. Recover data if external hard drive is not working and format it

If your Toshiba drive partition is RAW, don’t worry. You can use hard drive recovery software – EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover data from an inaccessible drive and then forma tear the device to assign a new file system to it, which will make it usable again.

To recover data from your RAW drive:

 Download for PC Download for Mac

Success rate: 97,3% recovery in 3 steps

• Step 1:: Start the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and select the hard drive in RAW. Then click the “Analyze» for the next step.

• Step 2::The software will scan the target drive to find data. At this part, you can freely suspend or restart the scan. For example, if you have already found that the data you want to recover has already been displayed in the scan result, you can pause the process and then click on Recover Otherwise, we suggest you wait until the process is complete.

• Step 3:: After the scan, you have options to locate the desired data faster, by the option Filter, Search data, Other lost folders, and then, you can preview all recoverable files and select what you want.
• Step 4:: Then Click on «Recover» to recover immediately. Here you need to save all the recovered files to another drive to avoid data recovery.

To format your external drive you must do the following:

• Step 1:: Open «This PC«, right click on your RAW drive or RAW disk and select «Formatted«.
• Step 2:: Set up a file system (ntfs, FAT32 or exFAT) as needed and click «Start«.
• Step 3:: In the warning window, click on «Accept» to begin formatting your storage media.

Method 2. Recover data from the drive and create a partition

You may see that your external hard drive appears as unallocated space because the partition has been lost. In such a case, you can also use the recovery wizard of data of EaseUS to recover data from your external hard drive and create new partitions on it to make it usable. As the way to perform data recovery has already been detailed, here we will show you how to create new partitions on your drive only.

• Step 1:: Right click on «This PC", Choose "Manage">"Disk management«.
• Step 2:: Right click on the unallocated space and choose “New Simple Volume«.
• Step 3:: Follow the wizard to complete the remaining process.

External hard drive not working – Other suggested solutions

Apart from the most common cases, there are other situations when your external hard drive is not working properly. Therefore, there are more tips to try if the above methods fail to restore your device to normal operation.

Solution 1: Check power management for USB device if external hard drive not working

• Step 1:: Click Start, type: msc and press ENTER.
• Step 2:: Open the Device administrator and expand the option «Universal Serial Bus Controllers«.
• Step 3:: Right click on the USB Root Hub, click “Properties«.
• Step 4:: Go to Power management and uncheck the option «Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power«.

If that doesn't work, try the seventh option below:

Solution 2: Restart PC in Safe Mode if External Hard Drive Not Working

To check thoroughly and find the exact problem, you can try to restart the PC in safe mode to see where the external hard drive may or may not work:

• Step 1:: Go to Configuration, click on «Update and security«.
• Step 2:: In the tab «Recovery", Choose "Advanced start»And click«Restart now«.
• Step 3:: The PC will automatically boot into another setup screen. Bootpress F4 to begin restarting the PC in safe mode.
• Step 4:: Then check whether the external hard drive can be detected or not.

If not, don't worry. There are effective solutions and fixes to help you fix the external hard drive not working issue right now.

The option Disk Check It can effectively repair some internal errors on your storage devices even if the external hard drive is not working. You have two options to solve this problem:

Solution 3. Repair the non-working external hard drive with free partition manager

• Step 1:: Start EaseUS Partition Master Free and right click on the partition you want to check by clicking “Verify file system«. (You can download it here)
• Step 2:. Click «Home» to continue and let this program check and fix errors found on the external hard drive.
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• Step 3:. Click on Finalize to complete the process.

Solution 4. Run CMD if external hard drive not working

• Step 1:: Press «Win + R» to open the dialog box Run and writes cmd to open the symbol of the system pressing "Enter«.
• Step 2:: Escribe chkdsk /fc: (“C” is the drive letter of your external hard drive) and press “Enter” to start the disk verification process.
• Step 3:: Writes "Exit» to end the process when the disk verification is complete.
• Step 4:: Then you can check if it worked to repair your external hard drive or not.

If you are not technically savvy and want to minimize data risk, using third-party software might be a better option. The command line is suitable for IT professionals because incorrect commands can cause serious problems. That is why we recommend you try an alternative to the automatic command line.

EaseUS Cleangenius is a convenient, safe and lightweight computer repair tool. It is a perfect alternative to the command CHKDSKUse this one-click tool to solve your computer problems.

To repair a file system error or disk error:

• Step 1:: Free download EaseUS Cleangenius and install it. You can Download it here
• Step 2:: Open the software and select «File Repair»In the left panel.
• Step 3:: In the right panel, choose the drive and check the box at the bottom – «Check and fix file system error«. Then click on «Repair» to begin repairing the error.
• Step 4:: Wait for the operation to complete. Wait for the operation to finish. Once the operation is complete, Click the “View» to check the unit.

• Step 5:: Click Start and type devmgmt.msc to open the Device administrator pressing Enter.
• Step 6:: Expand «Universal Serial Bus Controllers Universal Serial Bus Controllers«, Right click on each USB device and select «uninstall«.
• Step 7:: Then, check if a device is listed as unrecognized or not:
  • If the Toshiba external hard drive shows as unrecognized, go to the driver tab and remove/uninstall the driver.
  • Then check if the external hard drive appears in My Computer/My PC or not.
  • If it does not appear, restart your PC.
  • If it appears but disappears later, repeat the steps above and head to Disk management, change the drive letter of your external hard drive and reconnect it to the PC to detect it again.

When your external hard drive is not working, you need to determine the specific situation and then follow the corresponding solutions to fix it, which is more time-consuming than trying the tips one by one. If none of these solutions fix a “hard drive not working,” other than sending the device for manual repair, you can also replace it if it is still under warranty.

FAQ

Now, let's look at some frequently asked questions that may help you understand more about this bug.

Why MAC does not recognize external hard drive?

This question concerns many users who can no longer access their data.

• Sometimes the USB cable is worn out
• It also happens that the Mac utility is misconfigured and does not show connected devices.
• If your hard drive is not partitioned in HFS+ format, the Mac OS X format, or the natively readable ExFat format, check that your utility is installed correctly.
• Finally, it happens that the Mac does not detect the external hard drive due to a hardware problem. The clusters have failed or the NAND, in the case of a model SSD, has reached its writing limit.

How to access an unrecognized hard drive?

The first simple step you should do when your Mac does not recognize your hard drive is to change the USB port. If that does not work, check if the USB cable is working by changing it.

If the hard drive appears in the utility but is not accessible, it will need to be repaired using terminal commands. In the worst case, when the hard drive is damaged, it will be necessary to use recovery software to find the files. Ontrack EasyRecovery It has the advantage of being powerful and easy to use.

If an external hard drive is not working, can it be detected?

The quickest and easiest solution to this problem is to unplug and check the cables and all connections that connect it to the PC again. Plug it back in and check if it appears in the Explorer.

In case the hard drive appears, but no letter is assigned to it (for example, Disk local (C:/).

• Step 1:: Right click on the workstation («Computer» in some versions)
• Step 2:: Click on «Manage", Then in "Disk administration«
• Step 3:: Then, assign it a letter other than the one already belonging to the other devices by right-clicking on it and selecting «Change drive letter and paths«.

Is updating drivers a solution if external hard drive is not working?

When the computer detects the hard drive, but it does not appear in Windows Explorer, you should remember to update the driver. To do this, do the following:

• Step 1:: you must open the «Device administrator«.
• Step 2:: Right click on the start button and then click on «device administrator«. In this list, a colored indicator can be displayed to indicate possible errors.
• Step 3:: In the section "Disk drive«, you will find the reference to his album.
• Step 4:: Right click on it and then click on «Update Driver«.

NOTE: : The update will be automatically taken over by Windows Update. If this does not solve your problem, the problem could be with other outdated drivers. In this case, you need to update your system with Windows Update.

Can you use hard disk manager?

On windows:

• A satisfactory solution: Right click on the start button and click on «Disk management«.

NOTE: : This utility will display the storage devices detected by the computer. You can then verify that your disk is properly partitioned or assigned a drive letter.

By right-clicking the drive, you can create a logical volume or assign a drive letter of your choice. You can also perform full format or empty partition formatting.

On Mac:

• A satisfactory solution: If you are using a Mac, open “Disk Utility.”

NOTE: : This is a tool that you will find in your applications list. It can diagnose the problems that are causing your drive to not work properly by running SOS. You can repair your drive. If this solution does not work, you can format it from this utility.

If the hard drive is not working, should I format it?

Formatting the drive is a last resort solution in case the data is already stored inside the drive. However, this is something you should do if your drive is still new. Choose the right format that suits your computer. Choose a format NTFS or FAT32 If you are on Windows and HFS+, ExFat or Mac OS Extended.

To perform the formatting, you can do it from the Disk manager if you are on Windows.

• Right click on your drive and select Format.
• If you are on Mac OS, you can format the drive from the Disk Utility by right-clicking on the drive and selecting Delete.

Be careful though, formatting will erase all your data on the drive. However, there is software that can restore your files, but it is a risk to take.

Alternatives you can use if the external hard drive is not working

In a highly digitalized world, we mix huge amounts of information in various formats such as: music, text, photos, videos, games mark our daily lives.

Until very recently, the external hard drive seemed to be the most beneficial storage medium. Compact and affordable, it can hold a weight of files, between 500 GB and 8 TBHowever, we know the disadvantage of putting all the data on a single drive.

One loss or failure is enough to lose your entire library, years of work or precious memories. Without a doubt, we present you the best alternatives that you can use if your external hard drive is not working for some reason.

The best alternative to an external hard drive: cloud storage spaces

Let's start with the basics, that is, online storage spaces. Of course, some will tell you that It all depends on how you use your filesSure, but having access to all your data from anywhere is a huge advantage.

With clouds, an Internet connection is enough to pass large amounts of information. Unless you have it with you one of your devices synced to the cloud (computer, phone, etc.) for access without connection.

Some great online storage deals you can use if your external hard drive is not working

We will not tell you about the most famous ones such as Dropbox, OneDrive or Google DriveIn fact, there are interesting alternatives to keep your files safe that you can use if your external hard drive is not working.

1. pCloud – one of the best online storage offers

One of the main benefits of online storage services is Keep your most important documents safe. If you entrust them to the pCloud servers, you can choose an annual or lifetime subscription, 500GB or 2TB.

Needless to say, The best value for money comes from the 2TB lifetime option, which allows you to save 5 copies of your documents without fear of losing or failing them.

The Cryptopass and the Recycle Bin History will strengthen the confidentiality and security of your content. Finally, keep in mind that there are options «relatives» y «professionals» tailored to your needs. In short, pCloud It is a simple and complete service, which we recommend instead of your external hard drive.

You can access the pCloud offer from here

2. kDrive: another cloud from Switzerland

Available Windows, Linux and Mac, but also in Android e IOS, The kDrive platform stands out with a service of up to 106 TB of storage.

Perfect for working in a shared ecosystem with an entire company. In addition, data transfer, another strong point of the clouds, increases 50 GB at a time, which is pretty gigantic. And just like pCloud, if you ever upload files from other online spaces, everything will be rearranged identically.

You can access the kDrive offer

3. Sync.com: Storage Platform

As with the other solutions above, Sync has the advantage of encrypting your data. In fact, this is one of the sensitive issues with the Clouds: How Confidential Are They? 

With this service you are protected against unauthorized access. On the contrary, you will be able to share content of any size with whoever you want. Even if the recipients do not have a Sync account, that's very advantageous!

The application is available on Windows, Mac, Android and IOS. It allows you, among other things, sync your files with your device to use them offline.

You can enter from here

What alternative products can you use if your external hard drive is not working?

As you can see, having a virtual storage option is certainly the best way to preserve and protect your data. However, if you use it as your primary space, you can rest assured that you will have some data with you. Here are two types of equipment that are still relevant today.

USBs: always a good value for money

It is better one pen drive really good that a cheap hard drive which can fail after six months. In fact, it is not uncommon damage the USB socket by leaving the cable connected permanently.

This type of problem occurs both in SDD as in traditional external hard drives. So, if you don't have the budget for a heavy duty hard drive and your storage requirements aren't too high, the usb drive it is very feasible.

Furthermore, There is a 1TB size at €25The problem is that this type of object can quickly slip into a pocket or purse. Or we lend it and forget about it. However, this will not happen if you are careful with your business.

M Disc: For durability beyond the useful life

These discs, which can be play on most DVD players, were originally designed for military use. Their lifespan is estimated to be over a thousand years.

In fact, the engraving method involves a very powerful laser that alters the inorganic material of the disc, creating tiny real holes there that do not disintegrate over time.

As of today, the storage capacity is the lowest (a small 4,7 GB, doomed to be increased), among the alternatives to the external hard drive.

In addition, the recording process requires a drive LG burner. And of course, just as a disc is incorruptible, it is at the same time unrewritable. Finally, we count the price of the discs. M-Discs a $3 (€2,10) each.

You may also be interested in reading about: 10 Alternatives to Feedly: Free and Paid RSS Aggregators

Conclusion

As you can see, these are the solutions and alternatives you can use if the external hard drive is not working properly on your PC or Mac. We invite you to try each of these solutions, and if they were not useful, you can also use the cloud alternatives. In any case, there are thousands of ways to keep your data safe. We hope we have helped you.