You've inserted a new hard drive into your computer, only to discover that it's missing or undetectable. Therefore, we can only imagine how frustrating it is when the system displays the error "hard drive not showing up" in Windows 10. In this situation, the data saved on the device could be completely corrupted or deleted. Whatever the reason, the operating system provides Windows There are several options to resolve the issue and restore access to the drive. Let's start by identifying the new hard drive not detected error and its causes, and then begin troubleshooting to fix the hard drive not showing up in Windows 10.
How to Fix Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10
A hard drive is required for your computer to store local data such as files, applications, and other important information. When you connect a hard drive Mechanical (HDD) or hard disk drive (SSD) Or an external USB drive to a computer, it usually does Windows 10 However, hard drives, whether new or old, internal or external, may sometimes stop showing up in File Explorer or Disk Management, which can indicate a variety of issues.
The problem of a new hard drive not being detected can range from a minor annoyance to a major issue. It could, for example, indicate a physical problem with the data on the drive or the power connection to the hard drive. However, if your computer can boot normally, there's no need to worry because the drive is still functional. However, if Windows 10 can't start from the affected drives, you may lose access to your files.
Why is the hard drive not showing up?
If the hard disk is not displayed in File Explorer Then:
- It may have been إلغاء Activate or disconnect.
- It is also possible that a letter has not been assigned. drive He has it so far.
- You may be trying to connect a drive that is already installed. pre On another computer.
- The drive partition may be damaged
- It may be raw disc It has never been configured. As a result, it has never been formatted or initialized.
The new hard drives you purchase aren't always formatted and ready to use, unlike the hard drive that comes with your computer out of the box. Instead, they're completely blank—the idea is that the end user will do whatever they want with the drive, so pre-formatting or otherwise modifying it at the manufacturer's discretion is unnecessary. As a result, when you insert the drive into your computer, Windows simply waits for you to decide what to do with it instead of automatically formatting and adding it to the drive list. However, if you've never added a hard drive to your computer before, it can be frightening when the drive seems to have disappeared. Here's a list of troubleshooting methods. Follow each method step by step until you find the fix.
Initial checks: New hard drive not detected
You should always check whether your hard drive is visible in the BIOS to see if there is a problem with your computer or hard drive. Here's how: How to enter BIOS on Windows 10.
- If your hard drive is displayed in BIOS and is connected or working properly, the problem is with your Windows operating system.
- On the other hand, if the hard disk does not appear in the BIOS, it is most likely not connected properly.
Method 1: Basic hardware troubleshooting
First and foremost, make sure there is no loose connection as this may cause the cable to disconnect, leading to the aforementioned issue. Therefore, make sure to perform the specified checks to fix the new hard drive not being detected issue.
- Connected Hard Disk Properly connect the motherboard and power supply.
- Data cable connected to port Motherboard appropriate
- power cable Connected With power source.
- Connect the hard drive to the connection. SATA Different on motherboard and check again.
- Purchase a new SATA cable in case ruin Old cable.
If your hard drive is connected properly but still doesn't appear on your laptop, try the troubleshooting options suggested below.
Method 2: Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
The Windows Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter makes it easy for users to troubleshoot and detect problems with both built-in and external devices. Here's how to fix a hard drive not showing up in Windows 10 by running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter:
1. Press the keys Windows + R Together to start the dialog box "employment".
2. Write msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic And click "OK".
3. Click “Advanced Options"in a window"Devices".
4. Select the Apply Fixes option. automatically And click next one.
5. Wait for it to complete. Examination.
6. Click Application This fix.
7. Click next one.
Your computer will restart and the new hard drive not detected issue will be resolved.
Method 3: Format the disk
In most cases, all you have to do is boot the new hard drive, and it will show up on your computer correctly.
1. Press the keys Windows + X At the same time click on Disk Management , as shown.
2. When the Disk Management window starts, you will see a list of all connected hard drives. Look for the drive named Disk 1 Or Disk 0 in the list.
Note: This disk is easy to identify because it has not been started and is labeled as unknown or unallocated.
3. Right-click on this section. Select Format the disk.as shown below
4. Select any of the following options in Use the following partition style for the selected disks, and then click OK. "OK".
- MBR (Master Boot Record)
- GPT (GUID Partition Table)
5. After that, you will be returned to Main window , where your new drive will be set to go online, but will still be empty.
6. Right-click on the free space on the hard drive. Select the option New Simple Volume….
7. Then select Next And choose حجم Storage unit.
8. Click Next and set Letter drive.
9. Again, click on Next and select NTFS As a file system type and perform a quick format.
10. Complete the procedure by clicking on Next ثم ending.
Method 4: Assign a different drive letter
A duplicate drive letter can cause a hard drive to not be recognized by your computer because if another drive with the same letter is present in the device, the two drives will conflict. Follow these steps to fix the hard drive not showing up in Windows 10 by assigning a different drive letter:
1. Open Disk Management As shown in the previous method.
2. Right click on Section who you want to change Letter His drive.
3. Click Change character option Drive and tracks..., as shown.
4. Then click "A change" ...
5. Select the new drive letter from the drop-down list and click "OK".
6. Click "Yeah" At the Disk Management confirmation prompt.
Method 5: Update the disk driver
Driver issues may be the reason for the hard drive not working error in Windows 10. This applies to both motherboard and chipset drivers. You can either go to the manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers, or update them via Device Manager, as follows:
1. Press the . key Windows , And type device Manager , and press the . key Enter.
2. In the “window”Device Manager”, double-click the drives to expand them.
3. Right-click on the disk drive (for example, WDC WD10JPVX-60JC3T0) and select the Update Driver option.
4. Next, tap "research" Automatically remove drivers as shown below.
5a. Download Latest driver Install it, if available. Then, restart your computer to complete this.
5b. If not, the next screen will display the message: The best drivers for your device are already installed. Click Close and exit.
Method 6: Update Windows
Windows collects feedback from your system and creates bug fixes by designing better upgrades. Therefore, updating your computer to the latest version of Windows will fix the hard drive not showing up issue in Windows 10.
1. Press the keys Windows + I Together to open Settings.
2. Click Update and security As shown below.
3. Click Verification There are updates in the right panel.
4 a. Click on INSTALL NOW To download the latest available update, restart your computer once finished.
4b. If not, the screen will show that you Updated message , as shown.
Method 7: Clean or format the hard disk
Before we begin, it's important to note that this method will erase all data and partitions from the selected drive; therefore, it's best to run it on a brand new hard drive with no files on it. However, if your hard drive contains any files, it's recommended that you back them up to a portable storage device.
Method 7a. Clean the hard disk
Follow the steps below to clean the drive and erase all its data to fix the hard drive not showing up issue in Windows 10:
1. Search for Command Prompt In the search bar Windows. Click Run as administrator As shown.
2. Type the commanddiskpart and press the key Enter.
3. After starting diskpart , type the command:list disk And press Enter. You should now see a list of all the hard disks on your computer.
4. Check the size of each drive to see which one is causing you problems. Type select diskX To identify the faulty drive, press Enter.
Note 1: Replace X with the drive number you want to format. For example, we performed this step for drive 0.
Note 2: It is crucial that you choose the right hard drive. If you choose the wrong drive, you will lose all your files, so proceed with caution.
5. Next, type the Clean and press the key Enter.
Your hard drive will be erased, and all your files will be deleted within a few moments. This should fix the problem with the new hard drive that wasn't detected.
Method 7b. Format the hard disk
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is it possible to recover data from a dead hard drive?
answer. Yes, data on a dead hard drive can be recovered. A number of third-party programs are available to help users recover their data. You can get a tool Recover Windows files from the Microsoft Store.
Q2. Is it possible to have two hard drives on my computer?
answer. Yes, you absolutely can. Both the motherboard and the case limit the number of hard drives you can install in your computer. If you run out of space, you can install external hard drives.
Q3. Why is my new hard drive not recognized?
answer. If your hard drive is working but not visible in File Explorer, try searching for it in the Disk Management tool. If it's still not visible, it could be due to corrupted files or a problem with the drive.
Q4. What do I need to do to make Windows 10 detect a new hard drive?
answer. Make sure the drive is connected properly, then format the drive using the steps in Method 3.
That's all there is to fixing the hard drive not showing up in Windows 10. In most cases, all you need to do is format it. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to share them with us.
