However, with all these benefits come some problems that can cause frustration if you do not know how to solve them. The most common problem with an external hard disk is that it won’t turn on or show up in Windows Explorer. Fortunately there are many ways to fix this issue and get your drive working again quickly. This post will look at two major issues with external hard drives: they either won’t turn on or they’ll be recognized by your computer but fail to load files when opened. It will also explain how you can resolve these problems by yourself.
Troubleshooting your external hard drive will not require you to open up the casing or get a new part for the device. In many cases, these solutions can be completed in a matter of minutes with just a little knowledge on how to fix your problem. Let’s take a look at why an external hard drive may stop working and resolve some common issues that users experience when using external drives.
External Hard Drive Problems
There are many reasons why a user’s external hard drive may fail to work. The most common problems that users face include: External hard disk does not turn on USB ports do not recognize device Drive fails to load files from computer File system errors on the device Hardware malfunctions These issues all require different types of troubleshooting and resolutions, but before we can attempt to fix the problem it is important to determine what type of issue you are facing.
External Hard Drive Does Not Turn On
An external hard drive will typically not turn on if there is no power reaching the device, which means that your device has a power supply issue. This could be due to a faulty wall outlet or even an unplugged power cable from your external storage. Check for any loose connections and ensure that the whole setup is plugged in and receiving power.
Internal Hardware Problem
If your device still does not turn on after verifying that all parts are connected properly you may have a hardware malfunction with either the USB cord or within the hard drive itself. The easiest way to rule out any hardware issue is to test with another cord if possible, or purchase a replacement cord for testing. If you are unable to try out your device with another cord then it is most likely that there is an internal problem within the hard drive which would require professional service to fix.
External Hard Drive Will Not Show Up in Windows Explorer
An external hard drive will not show up if your computer does not recognize the device. This could be due to several different causes including: There could be an issue with USB ports on the machine recognizing the storage If the correct driver has not been installed on your system, Windows may have lost connection during installation or failed altogether Incorrect file structure formatting preventing data from being read from the device These issues can all be resolved by trying another USB port on your system, reinstalling the required drive software from the manufacturer’s website and formatting the drive.
External Hard Drive Will Not Load Data from Computer
If you have a hard disk that is recognized but files will not load then it is most likely a problem with file structure or read/write permissions. This problem could be due to: Incorrect date and time being set on device which causes it to malfunction Windows update prompts automatically installing themselves without user input Missing driver for external storage device If any of these issues occur, try adjusting your settings accordingly and restarting your machine before attempting to access the external hard drive again. If this does not work, uninstall any pending updates or drivers that downloaded without your consent and contact the manufacturer for support.
External Hard Drive File System Errors
A failure to load files is most likely due to incorrect date formatting, but could also be a file system error that requires professional service. If you have tried all of the above solutions with little success then it is time to contact the manufacturer for further assistance in restoring your data. Most external hard drives are equipped with a warranty period where they will attempt to fix any issues free of charge within this time frame; however, some manufacturers may request an additional fee on top of recovering costs if the problem was not caused by on external force.
If you believe that your storage capacity has been reduced from the original purchase or files cannot be accessed on your device you may have a File Allocation Table (FAT) corruption issue. The most common cause of this problem is if the power supply has been switched off while the device was being written to which has damaged part of its database, but there could also be an issue with a dirty disk head that requires professional service. Check for any loose connections and ensure that everything is plugged in properly before proceeding. If this does not work then it is time to attempt some software fixes: Do Not Use Defragmentation Utilities on Your Drive – This will only make matters worse by moving files around and distorting data Recover Corrupted Drive with Partition Manager Software – In some cases you can recover lost data using a free partition manager or data recovery program Recover Files from External Hard Drive with Data Recovery Program – If you have been backing up your files regularly then there is a chance that they can be restored. This requires some form of software for hard drives and will require the file names in order to work
External Hard Drive Not Detected by Computer
If your external hard drive is plugged in but does not show up on your computer, check the following: Ensure that all cables are properly inserted into both devices Check whether other USB devices are being used which may interfere with connection Try to scan for hardware changes via Device Manager Deactivate any software driver installations or downloads to avoid conflicts Uninstall any broken or faulty drivers completely Remove power cable for 30 seconds before attempting another connection
External Hard Drive Not Detected by Mac
If you are using a Mac device and your external hard drive does not show, check the following: Ensure that all cables are properly inserted into both devices Check whether other USB devices are being used which may interfere with connection Try to scan for hardware changes via System Information Disable any software driver installations or downloads to avoid conflicts Uninstall any broken or faulty drivers completely Remove power cable for 30 seconds before attempting another connection Enable Disk Cache through Disk Utility
External Hard Drive Only Shows 0 Byte Capacity
This issue occurs when trying to access the disk but there is no capacity showing. You can check this by checking resource monitor or task manager in windows. It is most likely due to one of the following causes: Software Corruption – Check disk is not corrupt or defragmented. Also check all software are up to date Formatting Error – If the drive has been previously formatted then try reformatting it again. This time leave “Quick format” unticked File System Error – Try checking file system integrity with chkdsk command or through right click properties on drive Empty Drive – Try formating the drive and see if that matters
There are more problems presented in this site . After reading these, you will find out how amazing external hard drives are for backup! I hope that your problem is already solved by now.
