My external hard drive isn't being recognized

Roper · 05-03-2008, 03:39 PM

When I plug in my external hard drive (through usb). I hear the tone acknowledging that it is pluged but I cannot access the files on it.
please help.

**Deleted090308** · 05-04-2008, 04:44 AM

Welcome to TSF.

Can you see the drive in Disk management?
(Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management)

If so, please do this:

Download the Windows version of TestDisk.
Unzip the downloaded file to your C: drive.
Open C:\testdisk-6.9\win > double click the "testdisk_win" icon.

The program runs in a command window and doesn't have to be installed.

Each of the steps (A, B, C etc) below corresponds to a new TestDisk window.
Use the keyboard's arrow keys to navigate.

A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>.
E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>.

New screen - please post back with a screenshot.

How to post a screenshot.

smack0110 · 11-10-2008, 01:12 PM

I'm having the same problem, but my external harddrive is being recognized in the disk manager.

what happens when at the end of that process it says, "no partition available"?

05-03-2008, 03:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Roper Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: winXp	My external hard drive isn't being recognized When I plug in my external hard drive (through usb). I hear the tone acknowledging that it is pluged but I cannot access the files on it. please help.

05-04-2008, 04:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: My external hard drive isn't being recognized Welcome to TSF. Can you see the drive in Disk management? (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management) If so, please do this: Download the Windows version of TestDisk. Unzip the downloaded file to your C: drive. Open C:\testdisk-6.9\win > double click the "testdisk_win" icon. The program runs in a command window and doesn't have to be installed. Each of the steps (A, B, C etc) below corresponds to a new TestDisk window. Use the keyboard's arrow keys to navigate. A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>. E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>. New screen - please post back with a screenshot. How to post a screenshot.

11-10-2008, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
smack0110 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP	Re: My external hard drive isn't being recognized I'm having the same problem, but my external harddrive is being recognized in the disk manager. what happens when at the end of that process it says, "no partition available"?