F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop HDD outside the system is no longer reachable following the PC upgrade.

HDD outside the system is no longer reachable following the PC upgrade.

HDD outside the system is no longer reachable following the PC upgrade.

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_juhuaxia12
Member
61
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#1
I possess an external hard drive used for all my music, videos, photos, plus some older files from a previous machine. The computer no longer recognizes the drive in Windows Explorer, yet it lets me remove and list the disk in Disk Management and Device Manager. Device Manager shows no major issues, but Disk Management prompts a partitioning request. This issue appeared after significant PC upgrades. Specifics: Windows 10 Home, ASRock AB350 Pro4; BIOS upgraded from P4.60 to P5.80 per upgrade guide. CPU: Ryzen 7 3800X; RAM upgraded to 2x G.Skill Aegis 8 GB DDR4-3000; GPU: GeForce GTX 2060 12GB (previously GTX 1060 6GB); PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W (previously Rosewill Capstone 550W). I want to preserve my data, as some files can't be recovered easily. Moving music from CDs would take weeks, and I'd need to purchase new services for certain tracks. Most of my music is already on the PC, but I'm certain everything else could be lost. Uncertain if the problem lies with Windows or a failing drive requiring replacement. The timing after a major upgrade makes me suspect the PC itself might be the culprit. Help would be greatly appreciated.
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_juhuaxia12
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #1

I possess an external hard drive used for all my music, videos, photos, plus some older files from a previous machine. The computer no longer recognizes the drive in Windows Explorer, yet it lets me remove and list the disk in Disk Management and Device Manager. Device Manager shows no major issues, but Disk Management prompts a partitioning request. This issue appeared after significant PC upgrades. Specifics: Windows 10 Home, ASRock AB350 Pro4; BIOS upgraded from P4.60 to P5.80 per upgrade guide. CPU: Ryzen 7 3800X; RAM upgraded to 2x G.Skill Aegis 8 GB DDR4-3000; GPU: GeForce GTX 2060 12GB (previously GTX 1060 6GB); PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W (previously Rosewill Capstone 550W). I want to preserve my data, as some files can't be recovered easily. Moving music from CDs would take weeks, and I'd need to purchase new services for certain tracks. Most of my music is already on the PC, but I'm certain everything else could be lost. Uncertain if the problem lies with Windows or a failing drive requiring replacement. The timing after a major upgrade makes me suspect the PC itself might be the culprit. Help would be greatly appreciated.

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nomegusta444
Member
131
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#2
Check the C: folder under MS for hidden files, as they often remain concealed there. Change the letter assignment and label the disk accordingly. Another option is to locate the carat icon in the taskbar, select the USB button, eject the drive, and either switch it off or unplug it from USB if powered via USB before reinserting. Windows will detect the new drives after a short delay and list them in Explorer. I also rebooted by turning off the PC, disconnecting the cable, restarting, and reconnecting it. After a brief wait, Windows identified the devices. I still renamed them mostly to match my PPM format, ensuring no risk of data loss.
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nomegusta444
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #2

Check the C: folder under MS for hidden files, as they often remain concealed there. Change the letter assignment and label the disk accordingly. Another option is to locate the carat icon in the taskbar, select the USB button, eject the drive, and either switch it off or unplug it from USB if powered via USB before reinserting. Windows will detect the new drives after a short delay and list them in Explorer. I also rebooted by turning off the PC, disconnecting the cable, restarting, and reconnecting it. After a brief wait, Windows identified the devices. I still renamed them mostly to match my PPM format, ensuring no risk of data loss.

D
DoodleDad
Member
131
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#3
I can provide a visual of the disk manager interface for the drive. Please note I cannot send actual images here. If you need a screenshot, let me know the exact software you're using so I can guide you through capturing it.
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DoodleDad
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #3

I can provide a visual of the disk manager interface for the drive. Please note I cannot send actual images here. If you need a screenshot, let me know the exact software you're using so I can guide you through capturing it.

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RelampagoMC
Member
57
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#4
I usually keep the drive connected more often than necessary because I access certain files daily. I've tried ejecting and reconnecting it multiple times, restarting it, etc., but nothing seems to help. Eventually, I decided to switch it from my rear-facing io to the front io. It works fine now, which is surprising since it didn't before. This change seems to have fixed the issue, but it might have uncovered a more serious problem.
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RelampagoMC
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #4

I usually keep the drive connected more often than necessary because I access certain files daily. I've tried ejecting and reconnecting it multiple times, restarting it, etc., but nothing seems to help. Eventually, I decided to switch it from my rear-facing io to the front io. It works fine now, which is surprising since it didn't before. This change seems to have fixed the issue, but it might have uncovered a more serious problem.

M
Maxavo91
Member
158
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#5
Are the front panel USB ports USB 2 or 3? It might function there because of that. I’d remove all the data from that drive now that you understand everything and reformat it. Check again with the back ports after reformatting. It would also be good to run a S.M.A.R.T test to see if there are any bad sectors or problems.
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Maxavo91
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #5

Are the front panel USB ports USB 2 or 3? It might function there because of that. I’d remove all the data from that drive now that you understand everything and reformat it. Check again with the back ports after reformatting. It would also be good to run a S.M.A.R.T test to see if there are any bad sectors or problems.

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nascar_fan
Member
140
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#6
Here are some dependable programs for performing a SMART test:
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nascar_fan
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #6

Here are some dependable programs for performing a SMART test:

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foz93
Member
136
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM
#7
Execute the command as an administrator using chkdsk /<NAME OF DRIVE> /F. Alternatively, utilize CrystalDiskInfo, a well-respected utility. Remember, it's free to use. The ideal approach is to save the findings and reattach the drive to the rear port for a side-by-side comparison, since the port itself might be faulty.
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foz93
09-13-2022, 01:56 AM #7

Execute the command as an administrator using chkdsk /<NAME OF DRIVE> /F. Alternatively, utilize CrystalDiskInfo, a well-respected utility. Remember, it's free to use. The ideal approach is to save the findings and reattach the drive to the rear port for a side-by-side comparison, since the port itself might be faulty.