
The possible fixes you should consider first include: However, there are four major issues that you should try to fix first before you hire a data recovery specialist or dismiss the hard drive as dead.

Why is My External Hard Drive Not Recognized in Windows?Īs explained above, there are many software-related reasons and hardware problems that cause your Windows PC to fail to read data from your external storage. Fixing the device without losing your data or damaging your computer requires a methodical process of elimination and different-level fixes. When your internal or external hard drive is not recognized by the operating system or is unable to give access to existing data or save new information, it is often down to the factors above. Hard drives are among the few moving parts in modern computers, so they are they have a high likelihood of developing issues – especially in laptops!Įxternal hard drives are especially prone to failure due to frequent improper use, outdated drivers, bundling with incompatible software on different operating systems, frequent connection and disconnection to different devices, and, in the case of portable or USB hard drives, unsafe ejection.Īs a portable device that you can carry along with you for your convenience, your external storage is exposed to constant physical vibration that can cause issues like the drive is not recognized in Windows. What to Do When Your External Drives are Not WorkingĮxternal storage is simply a magnetic hard drive (HDD), or a solid-state storage device (SSD), which you connect to your computer outside its chassis, instead of installing it internally.


Wd drive utilities says attach a supported drive driver#
Driver Support/ knowledgebase/ What to Do When Your External Drives are Not Working.
