Hard Drive not Visible in My Computer - How to Fix It - Full Version

A 3-page mini-site with help for other hard drive issues:
www.bentsnake.c...
BACK UP YOUR FILES
My youtube how-to video:
• File Backup - How to B...
If your hard drive is not detected, or is not found or not shown in My Computer, then it's a fairly simple job to fix the "not recognized" problem in the Computer Management Console. This is the full version of how to Initialize the drive, or otherwise fix the problem in the Disk Management Utility, with added links showing how to repair or, as a last-hope effort, delete the MBR.
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[@error678]

Had a 1TB drive sitting in my computer for a year not being used. Was about to just get rid of it but decided to check one last time for a fix. Thank you so much ^_^ Worked perfectly. Just doubled my Disk space :D

[@ThisGuyFrritz]

I've ordered a new HDD and my computer would not recognize it as it normally should. I was going to return it, which doesn't seem likely. But after watching this video, I tried Start -> Computer (Right-Click) -> Manage and did what I could to initialize it. It worked! I even let the seller know that the device isn't defected after all.

[@scifibeautifly]

Thank you. I'm not too familiar with computers but decided to experiment and stick an internal hard drive into my PC. But couldn't figure out why it wasn't registering until I saw this video. Thank you.

[@CostaZaf]

thank you so much, you are the first person to say that if it was used on a mac, it would not work, but thank you so much for your help!

[@tirzahkingphotography4064]

Thanks so much! I simply followed your instructions for my external HDD and in the process found another 232 gig unallocated partition on my computer. I followed the same instructions for both and now have tons of free space. Thanks!! for the simple, clear instructions!

[@islandantoinette]

MY DEAREST BENTSNAKE!!! You sir saved my life! And a newly bought $75 SeaGate External Hard Drive that I desperately needed to back up my laptop prior to sending it off to DEll for repairs to the speaker outlet. I had foolishly deleted the SeaGate Dashboard. It did not allow the 1Tb Ext. HD to be recognized by my laptop after tying to use the clone programme Macrium Reflect software. The USB plug accidently came out at 85% and when I plugged it back in - my Dell laptop no longer SHOWED the F:// SeaGate Drive. I was DEVASTATED! My husband and I went so far as to go buy yet ANOTHER Ext. HD this one was called an expansion drive by Toshiba this time, again 1Tb. Due to YOUR video here I think I may not have to use it, and can try once again to make a clone of my laptop on the SeaGate Ext. HD because it is NOW visible in my Windows Explorer Folder which shows my drives and DVD player. Thank you Thank You Thank you sir! If you ever come to Palm Bay Florida you have a lovely dinner out on us! I'll let you know if I get this clone accomplished this time. Yours MOST Sincerely Sir. Antoinette Jackson (islandantoinette at yahoo.com)

[@FezzelwhigsForum]

This video is a life saver. Got my new drive initialized with no problems. Thank you for posting it.

[@davidjpringle]

Did you narrate my grade school films we watched in Elementary school 30 years ago? Only joking , you have a great voice and style in tutoring. You stop when you should and speak in detailed accurate form Great video it solved my problem. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@MaskedMage]

What an awesome explanation. A 5 year old or 80 year old could easily have learnt how to solve their problem.

[@Elwood2911]

Excellent presentation... Informative and laid out logically in a linear form. A far cry from some who are not organized and think that extremes of profanity imparts knowledge ... Nothing more than cover for stupidity and ignorance . This should be used as a bench mark in how to present instructional videos, without the blaring , pounding "music" that adds absolutely NOTHING. Professional. Well done.

[@MrsElizabethOliver]

Used this on Windows 10 to get back my Toshiba 1TB external hard drive. I had been using it to keep movies. This worked great. Thank you so much for the information!!

[@imakethemshoes6145]

You are Amazing!!!! My dad struggled top figure it out and within 3 minutes of watching your video it works now, Thank you so much!!!!

[@bucktaylormusic]

Thankyou very much, i have just built my first PC and the hard drive not being recognised was the only problem i had and you have just answered that problem slowly and logically which is very hard to find on here. I tip my cap to you sir.

[@kobinaarthur5097]

My seagate hard drive was not visible in "This PC" on my computer but after following the steps to the latter, it worked. it's now visible. whoop whoop!! This video is extremely useful cos it has saved me a couple of bucks. Guess what?!... I am a GEEK now lol!!

[@kobinaarthur5097]

Thanks a lot!!!!

[@gentleman6969]

Thanks , SirA couple of hours searching on KZbin and you solved my Problems in 5 minuts !!!.

[@000wrestlemania]

Thank you sooo much!! I've been watching useless videos for the past hour, untill I found this.

[@institutoklein6762]

An incomplete Ubuntu installation was the problem. Your shot gun aproach rocks! Thank you

[@Nola1176]

you're like the Bob Ross of computers...nice and gentle. thanks

[@jell0puddng]

can i just say that this was the best tutorial ever...

[@mrdavid42]

This was exactly what I was looking for and perfectly explained! I picked up a used 500gig drive for $25 and was ready to toss it until I came across your video. Thank you so much. I named the hard drive WD500...

[@CartridgeFiltersGotoGuy]

BentSnake, you are The Man... Thank your so much... I made the mistake of hooking my newly bought external seagate 500 slim to my Mac thinking it would work on my PC afterwords, Of Course it did not. It got Totally wiped out and unusable, and no help from Seagate, You have made this So Simple With This Fix. Keep up with the Good Work and Thank You So Much. Also, you have and excellent voice.

[@thecobaltroom]

OMG THANK YOU soo much! Best how to step by step ever! I have this external hard drive, imoega for 2 years and was not able to get my laptop or any other PC to recognize it but it works now thanks to you. :)

[@procrastinationdomination645]

Thank you soo much!!!! I was able to fix 3 hard drives using this method. I had taken apart 2 old computers and wanted to put the hard drives in my htpc running windows 8 but they were not detected. Using my desktop running windows 7 I was able to do this. For some reason windows 8 could not see the drives but windows 7 could. After I finished doing these steps on my desktop I did have to set partition as active so my htpc could see the drive. :) IT'S ALIVE!!!!

[@Coffeycup27]

"There once was a man named Stanley"

[@leohpndbz]

+Coffey i see what you did here

[@andrefigueroa4560]

leohpndbz

[@whatsappvideos508]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😁😁😁😀😀😀

[@FaLLenStormyGod]

OMG this thing still works, im using a windows 7 os, which is what happend is i cannot see on "My Computer" my WD external Hardrive that was given to me, it says online in disk management, i can safely eject it but nothing in "My computer",. looking everywhere on google complicated things and similar to this but cannot follow the steps, this video is a miracle from god, thank you uploader, thank you very much.. ^_^

[@HeftyTechno]

Thanks you have saved me £100 to get someone to come look at my pc!!!! Great vid presented in a friendly informative way :) Cant thank you enough!!!!!!!

[@LiminalityFGC]

Thank you, I knew how to do this but had forgotten how to get to the proper menu, +1 like.

[@birmanangdembay]

Wonderful, I have no much words to express the thanks which I really want to. It's worked well. Once again thank you very much bentsnake. Keep up such videos which really can help to the people when they are in trouble like me. Best regards. Mr. Birman Angdembay, Kathmandu, Nepal

[@koalayancey3244]

My 2T hard drive on Windows 10 had the same problem and this fixed it, I right clicked in the area that stated it was unalocated and said the new simple volume option, it fixed it right away!

[@rahulanilnaiir7830]

koala yancey did u lose your data

[@koalayancey3244]

rahul anilnaiir I did not have any data on it to begin with, but it is safe to assume that data on it will be lost.

[@emanueljaundavidakamanne5986]

Thanks!! What a relief to know that you will not run out of space any time soon :)

[@faceless58]

Still works for me on windows 10, except the dialogue box for perform quick format was already checked! Very helpful thank you

[@IrakleiosTheGreat]

I use windows 10 also. there is no "initialize" but there is "convert to dynamic disk". is this it?

[@BlueKepler]

I had so much problems with my hard drive.I fixed it exactly the way you explained it.And you won a subscribe :)

[@bentsnake]

It might be bad English, but it's good thinking. Before dong anything else: restart. If that doesn't work turn everything off, unplug the wall power cord, and wait half a minute. Then replug and start. This fixes a lot of things that a shop would charge you for.

[@whitecloud197]

Thank you, your video helped me solve my Hard Drive Issue!

[@hyrancook9532]

Thank You, Mr Miracle Man! I paused the video and followed your clear and simple instructions as it went along and Voila! (Or "Bakgat!" as we say in Mzansi/South Africa.)

[@frank_g_slaughter]

Wat defok...

[@hyrancook9532]

+Project IS : Wie de donn...?

[@frank_g_slaughter]

Hyran Cook SA KZbinr ;)

[@hyrancook9532]

Sê hoe maak ek ń "like" of ń shout out but jou se werf?

[@frank_g_slaughter]

just spread the name

[@xthatoneguyx]

you are extremely thurough and descriptive in these videos! all ages can handle understanding this! thank you very much for these great and organized videos! its great to see someone that shows they really want to help! =)

[@danielv8922]

Excellent instructional video, I was able to add a used secondary hard drive to back up some photographs. You couldn't have made that any easier. Thanks!

[@Juanthepanda]

Thanks this really helped. I just built my computer and i have a solid state drive and a hard drive and the hard drive wouldn't show up and the ssd was full of memory. Thank you so much

[@radop2459]

Thanks !!!!! I spent a lot of time with no results. After seeing this video the things made clear to me. I got it now. Credit to you!

[@suefrost2014]

Thanks. I managed to get hold of the engineer. For future reference the WD Smartware external drive had locked itself due to Microsoft shutting down my computer. Instead of showing as a USB drive it shows as a CD so you can't unlock it in the normal way. There is a file on the CD drive that says Unlock but in my blind panic of thinking I'd lost all my files I wasn't seeing it. Thanks again though. ;-)

[@giuseppedizon6843]

A superb and absolutely good presentation of knowledge for the community.... very nice voice....

[@oldautoman7867]

Thank you.I'm new to this and this is the only video that has exactly what I needed on installing a second hard drive.

[@bentsnake]

The vast majority of computers have one drive, C: drive, which is all anybody really needs. D: drive then is the CD or DVD reader/burner/player. Other devices, like USB flash drives, become E:, F:, and so on as they're plugged in or removed. Stated drive sizes are nominal. Yours is 300gig, which is probably all you'll ever need. Right-click any drive, then click Properties, for more information. Use the Cancel button to close the dialog that opens.

[@bentsnake]

Yes! Everything will be gone, your hard drive will be blank. Both Western Digital and Seagate make repair software available on their sites, and other manufacturers may also. These are what you need to repair a hard drive, if repair is possible. When you use a manufacturer's check-repair software, be aware that a full scan on a large hard drive can take several hours. So plan ahead and make it an overnighter, or start the scan when you leave for work. The short scans take only a few minutes.

[@CKL882]

Wow!! This is amazing, it worked perfectly. Thanks you!! you saved me a 100$ from buying another hard drive

[@bentsnake]

I've tested the rc.iso file (non-destructive MBR repair) on two different computers, and with both Windows 2000 and XP. In all cases both operating system and data remained intact. So in my experience the procedure is data-safe.

[@bentsnake]

The Disk Management Console lists all the drives that Windows can detect. Make sure your cables are plugged in, both power (small), and data (large). Check that both ends are firmly plugged in. With newer SATA drives (with the much smaller cables) it's easy to have a loose connection. Otherwise...well...I wish I could help you, but I can't from here.

[@indigosunset70]

bentsnake you sir, save lives.

[@420deadcount]

true champion, my 4tb hard drive wasn't showing up and i was flipping shit, 4 min into the video, its all fixed.

[@joycelynroe1117]

thanks .. also for other fix and nice Windows customization, google Folderchanger

[@latinesheay2615]

k

[@juleelee732]

this trick work ! is sample to follow, very clear instruction even for a pc dummy like me can understand. It worked on the Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive 3 TB Model SRD00F2 thank you very much

[@prostreetdemon1]

Thanks tons!!! I was lost with installing a new hardrive I could not have done it with out it Thanks again!!

[@bentsnake]

Write Protection is not a fault. Many storage devices can be write protected, meaning existing data can be read, but no new data can be written. The idea is that you can protect your files from being overwritten or erased. I don't know how to un-write-protect your particular hard drive. Look on the manufacturer's site, or it might be easier to search Google or KZbin. Maybe something like: write protect [brand] [model]

[@matthewyong90]

Great information for the non-IT savvy setting up hard drives for their new built PCs *thumbs up*

[@bentsnake]

Since saving data is not an issue, look in "Show More" right underneath this video and click the link for "How to Delete a Hard Drive's Master Boot Record (MBR)." This is a nuclear option that will restore your drive to the factory state (if that can be done). Don't be nervous about the lack of illustrations on the page. Scroll down to part 4, Doing It, and you'll see that there are just a few steps involved. When that's done Initialize, then Partition and Format the drive.

[@bentsnake]

In my experience a CRC is a grim situation. But your drive does appear in the Disk Management Console so the manufacturer's repair software might detect it. Google for: Seagate: download seatools for windows WD: download data lifeguard diagnostic for windows NOTE that a long/full test with either can take several hours. If neither can detect your hard drive, then click "Show More" under this vid and look at my page for deleting the MBR. Sorry, that's about all the help I can offer.

[@bentsnake]

For clarity, NTFS started with Windows 2000, and according to Wikipedia continues in use through Windows 8. I've tested Recovery Console on both Windows 2000 and XP, but nothing later. So the only answer I can give regarding later versions is: I don't know. However, my own opinion is that different Windows versions are more marketing, less substance (What problem do the "tiles" solve?). So I expect that Recovery Console would work just the same, but I still have to finalize on I don't know.

[@chrismorine5406]

yes thank you ! this was one of the better ones i found so easy and simple you are the man man vermont send its love ! pease to the middle east !

[@Vidya-James]

Thanks for this! Just got a Samsung SSD and was worried I might have fried it connecting the SATA when it didn't appear..

[@sncubha]

Dat voice...looool your voice is super cool, you v'e just save my life, yesterday I tried to flip a bit of my Transcend Jetflash USB flash drive 64 gigs with SMI MP tool for specialized Controller name "Silicon Motion SM3257 ENAA" . I wanted my flash drive to appear as a Local Hard drive. I used the tool but my USB flash drive letter disappeared from Wndows Explorer...To my rescue, guess what I just followed your tutorial, and now my flash drive appears as a Local Hard drive....yaaaaaay thanks so much Dr cool voice, LOL :)

[@muhammadrizqistory8161]

After i am finished watching this video my world turns so slow, i'm feeling high right now

[@ForeveryoungGirl93]

Thank you for replying when i go to the computer/ manage/ disk management and right click in my disk there is only HELP as a choice luckily the problem is fixed i have been looking for solution for 4 days Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers and found it there as external usb under unspecified and right click on it an troubleshoot so it was a software install problem I really hope this helps someone :)

[@tmitchell6552]

This doesn't work for me. My seagate hard drive is not visible in "disk management"

[@farhanpervez3287]

+Tom Mitchell you found solution

[@dimitrisdimakas8756]

same can you help me

[@cipher9849]

Did you find anything?

[@cipher9849]

+whacha macallhim hey how did you find the fix???

[@andyrips834]

Im having this problem. Anybody figure this out?

[@vungdixon]

Thank you so much. I feel like I am a computer geek now. You have my answer.

[@adrianlowe2309]

Thanks, perfect, clear step by step instructions which helped me "recover" my drive to normal use.

[@bentsnake]

I doubt the update did anything bad. First question: is it spinning? Click "Show More" underneath this video and click through to my mini-site. I've put together pretty much all I could find on the subject of hard drives not showing in My Computer. In your case I'd especially suspect the cable connector (plug) on the drive. Push left, push right, push up and down, these plugs have been known to become intermittent. Just FYI, Maxtor is now owned by Seagate.

[@Cornwalas2]

Insanely informative and helpful, detected my HDD no problem thanks many times over

[@stallionrk]

Hey, I followed all the steps that you have showed in the video and now my 2TB seagate hard disk is showing up. But the problem is its asking me to format it before I could use it. But my hard disk is almost full with data. I'd really appreciate it if you could help me out without losing the data. Thanks in advance.

[@_kscruz]

Thanks sir thought my missing drive would not show up anymore bad thing is i deleted all my videos in there hope i can restore it back..

[@JohnEltinAhern]

Neither worked for my 1tb external drive but ....after Googling for 3 days without success THIS worked for me: Open Start and typing CMD to open Command Prompt Window; Type “chkdsk g:/f” (if the external hard drive is Driver g, otherwise change that letter:), click Enter; Now, it will start repairing damaged files, it will ask if you want to save lost chains into another location. Click "Yes".

[@Filipe.Cardoso]

very helpfull even after 2 years, well done ur a life safer thanks

[@mohammedammar8636]

thank you very much. I've been searching for a fix to this problem for ages.

[@bentsnake]

As in Play Station 3? Sorry, I know absolutely nothing about them. However, if they have a hard drive (and I don't know that they do), and it's giving you trouble, the usual way to handle the situation is to remove the hard drive from the Play Station (or whatever device) and plug it into a computer. The files are then available to you. I guess you might need some sort of adapter to match the plugs, but as before, I dunno. Newegg dot com is pretty good with adapters.

[@GlassWorkDrafter]

You are a God among men. Thank you

[@bentsnake]

Input-Output (I/O) device covers a lot of territory, so I can't say, sorry. I have to fall back on my old standards: 1) Check that both ends of both cables (power and data) are firmly plugged into the hard drive, and into the motherboard. Push on the connectors, be certain. 2) Any drive that Windows can recognize shows up in Disk Manager, even it it's not in Explorer. Device error + drive not in Disk Manager = the drive might be a goner, but that's a wild guess from a distance.

[@SalvageData]

Love the video! We at "SalvageData" have been working with hard drives for a long time and we know everything about them. Our success rate is high because we focus on data recovery and not just formatting the drive like most companies do, which only saves you minutes but doesn't solve your problem in the long run.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very helpful. I will recommend this site to others in my videos on installing a hard drive. many thanks.

[@OmarTheDeadAziz]

good vid, but my problem is brand new 2 tb hdd & used 256 gb ssd both r missing, even in disk management

[@jake10085876]

Worked sweet as a reset on a 500GB SSD I formatted incorrectly. Thanks!

[@bentsnake]

Whatta dealie, how is anybody supposed to know this stuff? Thanks for posting your solution, sooner or later it will help somebody out.

[@hfd07]

Thank you so much bentsnake :-) my hard disk now is fixed... keep it up more tutorials...

[@tristanfield5264]

Very helpful. Helped me fix my issues within less then 10 minutes.

[@GottliebGoltz]

New 8541-RDX needs this I'm sure. I makes a hardware installed sound then hides somewhere. It's been plugged into the serial port for days, unplugged and back, etc. No instructions, cables, or hints, as I recall T/D description just said plug it in.

[@bhejbrar]

when I select initialize disk after little while it shows a msz DISK IS NOT READY

[@ocinlai]

thanks so much been trying for hours and finally found your vid and it worked

[@bentsnake]

This error means some self-check numbers that should match don't, which means data corruption of some kind. Please look in "Show More" underneath this video, and click through to my mini-site. You're interested in page 2, non-destructive MBR repair. This might (might) make your drive usable again. If so there will be no additional data loss. Please remember that this is my best guess made from a distance. I hope this does you some good.

[@syltoy2745]

My SSD DRIVE is seen in all the places .. However in the computer Management screen/Disk Mgmt. it shows the SSD as unknown and NOT Initilized. When I right click Initilize is greyed out(not available) so I can't find answers for this situation tonight. I'm stuck with no help.

[@Welmosca]

Huge thanks man...great video,it solved ma problem.If you're trying to make a HDD from a PS3 or PS4 into an external HDD this video will work for you.

[@earlagullana7317]

I see the 1 terrabyte hard drive in the disk management section, and it's working. My problem is i cant see in my computer.

[@George16437]

My hard drive doesn't come up at all! Do you think I need a new cable or is my hard drive toast? I can't access any of this for my hard drive..

[@wolflovesmoon]

i have a 250GB hard drive that i store files and documents on it, i been trying for weeks to format it but no luck so far, the HD was fine and ruining smoothly, until one day i was trying to delete a folder ( system) this was running on vista from a previous laptop, and it stopped working since, i managed to recover some of the files that i needed and now i want to format it, but no luck, i come across your Video, which i thank you for, when i click on delete volume, i get disk not ready error

[@alexm2499]

Excellent tutorial. Had me up and running within no time. Many thanks.

[@sudamafabrics]

my usb harddisk is was not showing thank to your video thank you very much

[@krishnanunni488]

THANK YOU .I GOT MY 500 GB HARDDISK BACK.

[@ADMdj]

i have a seagate expansion 5tb brand new....intialize disk is greyed out...can not select it, where do i go from here?

[@MahmoudMohamed-vi4dz]

Please i need your help i used Easeus to increase a local disk space then it got stuck so i shut the laptop off from power button, and then i installed a new windows 8.1 when it finished and logged in i found 2 of my local disks (3 total) disappeared and they turned to be a "free space" in disk management not unallocatoed space WHAT TO DO?!

[@geraldbond2416]

I have a 3TB Western Digital My Book. Under Disk Manager, my Drive 1 shows uninitialized and unallocated. Right clicking on the disk, the initialize disk option is greed out, and I do have admin rights.what can I do.

[@bentsnake]

Sorry, I cannot figure this out from a distance. BUT: Look in "Show More" underneath this video, and click through to my mini-site. Look at page 1 (the landing page) by all means, but I think maybe you're interested in page 2: non-destructive repair of the Master Boot Record (MBR). My thinking: Perhaps you had the drive plugged into another computer, and that computer corrupted the MBR? Very unlikely, but it can happen. This is not much, but it's all I have to offer. Wishing you luck.

[@kiritkamalia2706]

i have a acer eternal hard disk which is not showing on my computer only hard disk light is blinking could you pls help me out to fix this problem

[@SquallRanger]

When i try to initialized and press ok it says "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error...........plz help me it's a wd my passport ultra 1TB

[@bentsnake]

Squall Ranger An i/o error means input/output error. This means some self-check numbers don't match, which can mean corrupt data. It might be your data that's corrupt, or it might be the hard drive's own operating files. Either way the situation is a bit grim, but by no means hopeless. Click through to my mini-site, which is here: www.bentsnake.com/repair-hard-drive-how-to.html Your interest is in page two, non-destructive MBR (Master Boot Record) repair. The procedure given doesn't affect your data at all, but repairs (replaces, actually) the hard drive's own operating files. Hopefully this will give you access to the drive. If so, as soon as you can do two things: 1. Shameless plug, back up your files. My own how-to is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYfSh5Wbd8eJY9E The backup software is free, so you can stay safe for the price of a USB flash drive. 2. Check your drive for errors. Both Seagate and Western Digital have free software for checking hard drives. Download and run. NOTE: With both Seagate and Western Digital, a short check takes only a few minutes, but a long check can take several hours. It's something you start before you head out to work in the morning, or run it overnight. And after all that it wouldn't hurt to run Windows' own disk checker (Windows chkdsk). I've found that sometimes Windows catches errors that the manufacturer's software misses, and vice versa. Once again, a short check takes only a few minutes, but a full check with fixing errors is an overnighter. I hope this might help. .

[@amod5384]

name of software to check errors

[@bro8561]

that website doesn't show anything..

[@datarecoveryguycom]

We recover data from many different storage devices. If its critical, feel free to give us a call.

[@raniercerrado7580]

bentsnake what will i do if i/o error came out. Thise my hard drive will not work already or even cant open it again