Is your computer not recognizing your external hard drive? Here we tell you how to solve it

External hard drives are a fundamental component for storing data on our computer. However, sometimes we may face the problem that our computer does not recognize the external hard drive , which can cause great concern if we do not know how to solve it. In this article, we will provide you with a detailed guide with different solutions to solve this very common problem in the computer world.

Verify physical connection

One of the first steps we must take when our computer does not recognize an external hard drive is to verify the physical connections. The USB cable may be connected incorrectly or the USB port on the computer may be damaged. Therefore, it is important to follow these steps:

1. Verify that the USB cable is correctly connected to both the external hard drive and the computer.
2. We recommend trying different USB ports on your computer to rule out any issues with a specific USB port.
3. Make sure the USB cable is not damaged and try a different cable if necessary.

Remember that the correct establishment of physical connections is essential for the recognition of the external hard drive by the computer.

Check Device Manager

Another option to fix the external hard drive recognition issue is to check Device Manager in Windows. Follow these steps:

1. In the Start menu, find “Device Manager” and click on it.
2. Look for the “Disks” category in the list of devices.
3. Check if the external hard drive appears in the list.
4. If the external hard drive does not appear, you can try to uninstall the external hard drive driver and then reinstall it. To do this, right-click the external hard drive in Device Manager, select “Uninstall Device,” and then restart your computer. Windows should automatically recognize the external hard drive upon reboot.

Disk Management Configuration

Another option is to access Disk Management Settings in Windows. Follow these steps:

1. In the Start menu, find “Disk Management Settings” and click on it.
2. Find the external hard drive in the list of disks .
3. If the external hard drive does not have a drive letter assigned, right-click it and select “Change drive letter and paths” to assign a drive letter to it.
4. If the external hard drive does not appear in the disk list, you may need to format it. Please note that this will erase all data stored on the drive. Right-click the external hard drive in Disk Manager, select “Format” and follow the instructions.

It is important to use caution when formatting an external hard drive, as this will delete all data from it.

Update drivers

It is vital to have updated drivers to ensure proper recognition of the external hard drive. Follow these steps to update drivers through Device Manager:

1. Open Device Manager in Windows.
2. Find the “Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controllers” category and click the arrow to expand it.
3. Find the driver related to the external hard drive.
4. Right-click on the driver and select “Update Driver Software.” Windows will automatically search for the latest drivers and install them.

If you prefer, you can also visit the external hard drive manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers from there.

Use a data recovery program

In case none of the above solutions work, you can resort to a data recovery program . These programs are useful to recover files and data in situations where the external hard drive is not recognized by the computer. Some reliable and efficient programs that we recommend are:

• Recuva
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
• Stellar Data Recovery

These programs will allow you to search and recover lost files on the external hard drive, even if it is not recognized by the computer.

Check compatibility

It is important to verify the compatibility between the external hard drive and your computer's operating system . To do this, check the specifications of the external hard drive and check if it is compatible with the operating system you are using. Some external hard drives may require special drivers or have compatibility limitations with specific operating systems. Make sure you have the right information before taking any action.

Perform an external hard drive diagnosis

In case you still cannot solve the problem, you can perform a diagnosis of the external hard drive to identify possible faults. There are free and reliable tools that will allow you to perform a thorough diagnosis of the external hard drive. Some of these tools are:

• CrystalDiskInfo
• HD Tune
• Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics (for Western Digital hard drives)

These utilities will scan the external hard drive for possible errors and provide you with detailed information about its status. We recommend that you follow the specific instructions for each tool to perform a proper diagnosis.

Consult with an expert

If after exhausting all the previous options you still cannot solve the problem, we recommend seeking help from an expert or a specialized technical service. Experts have the experience and tools necessary to perform more advanced tests and provide specific solutions to external hard drive recognition problems. Do not hesitate to go to professionals if you think it is necessary.

Conclusions

In short, if your computer does not recognize your external hard drive , don't despair. There are several solutions that could help you solve the problem . Always remember to check physical connections, check Device Manager and Disk Management Settings , update drivers, use data recovery programs, check compatibility, diagnose the external hard drive and, if necessary, Seek help from an expert.

Always remember to keep a backup copy of your data to avoid loss in case of problems with your external hard drive. Don't be discouraged, you will surely find a solution!