As computers become slimmer and smaller, it is more common for users to maintain a series of external drives to store their data. This data management technique allows the primary SSD to maintain the operating system while the essential files remain independent of that process.
The benefit of maintaining multiple external drives is that you will not lose all of your files if a catastrophic failure occurs on your computer. You also carry around the disadvantage of not having your system recognize the extra storage.
If you encounter a lack of recognition for an external drive on your system, then here are 6 ways to fix it quickly and easily so that you can go on with your day.
External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Windows 10
Although it doesn’t happen as frequently in Windows 10 as in previous versions of this operating system, there are times when your external drive might not function because it lacks access to its needed driver
You can tell if this problem exists by hitting Win+R together to start the RUN dialog. Then enter devmgmt.msc on your device. After executing the command, you will see a list of devices appear. If your external drive has a yellow or red sign next to the driver, then right-click on the name to update it. You may need to restart the computer to complete this process.
You might also need to uninstall and reinstall the driver to have it work.
You Can Also Partition Your Hard Drive
Hard drive partitioning creates multiple independent volumes on a single physical unit. Thanks to the disk management tools available on today’s Windows computers, creating them is easier than ever before.
Most personal computers come off of the factory floor with a single partition in place on the hard drive. You see it appear at the C: drive in your menu options. If something were to happen to the index file of this partition, then your computer cannot boot up from that drive. It won’t access the data if you can boot from an external drive or recovery disc either.
Partitioning your hard drive will create separate entities which allow you to manage your data more effectively.
If you experience a power outage or hit the wrong button, then you might lose access to an entire partition. Click here for advice on how to correct that situation.
When you have more partitions available than the default C: drive, then your computer can run more efficiently, protect your data better, and read your external drives without error more often.
Free Partition Recovery Software
Free tools like Disk Drill for Windows make it possible to recover data from a deleted partition. All you need to do is initiate the recovery command within your preferred program to launch this process.
This software option is an excellent resource to consider using if you need a specific driver that is unavailable online for some reason. By restoring access to the file, your computer will begin to detect the external device once again.
There are times when the data you have on your system fragments as you install, upload, and delete various files and programs. Recovery tools can help you to piece together the pieces of the files you need to restore access to your data as well.
Sometimes you can fix this issue with a simple troubleshooting command that the computer can repair by itself. If none of the standard options are working for you, then look for an updated driver, consider your partitions, and even try the external device on a separate computer to troubleshoot the problem.
If you are patient and follow these steps, then you will find the solution you need.
