Windows 10: Attaching external drive and not able to open files

I have attached an external hard drive to my laptop and although the computer recognizes the new device (it pops up under "devices and printers"), I am not seeing where I can actually access the folders that are in the hard drive. It will let me open the properties info for the device and allow me to "eject" it. I am not sure if I am just not looking in the right location or if there is some type of error occurring.


Thank you!

:)

 

External Hard Drive

Hi John,

We suggest that you try the troubleshooting steps below:

• Open your External Hard Drive file in File Explorer.
• Type the name of the file you want to search on the search box and click Enter.

The file will show up in Search Results and you will be able to move it to the correct folder.

Let us know if you need further help.

 

File back up to bitlockered external drive

Thanks John.

By trial and error the solution is,

• Set the file back up to the desired external USB drive, Back up using file history.
• Run backup to completion.
• Dismount, (Remove) the drive used.
• Remount (Plug in) the drive used for the file back up (Steps 1&2) and encrypt using Bitlocker.

Note you can only encrypt drives using some versions of Windows (Pro for eg not Home)

• Once the external drive has been encrypted dismount.
• Remount the drive, go to the file back up option, Open, Settings, Backup,
  Back up using file history.
• The drive should now still be visible and has been encrypted.
• Accessing the drive will be dependant on how it was set up in Bitlocker,
  Open with this PC, password, pin code etc.
• Repeat file back up as in the first two steps.

Hope this helps someone else.

 

Cannot copy files from external drive

Hi,

Thank you for replying back to us.

1. Did you try to create a new user account and try to copy the files from your external drive to your computer?
   
2. What is the location that you are trying to past the file? For example, are you pasting the files from your external drive to your Desktop, Documents, or somewhere else?
   
3. Are you able to copy the same files from the external drive to the some other PC?
   
4. Are the files write protected on your external drive?
   

Meanwhile, try the below troubleshooting steps.

Step 1: Go to the destination folder on your computer, where you are trying to copy the files from your external drive. Let’s create a
New Folder on your desktop.

Step 2: Double click on New Folder from your desktop and
Right Click on some blank space and click on Properties
and go to General tab.

Step 3: Under Attributes, completely uncheck the
Read-only option. (The box should be blank, check it again if it has a checkmark or a small square inside it).

Step 3: Click on Apply and
OK.

Step 4: Now, open one of the files on your external drive and do the same, i.e.,
Right Click on a file (NOT THE FOLDER) >
Properties > General and under Attributes, uncheck
Read-only option.

Step 5: Click on Apply and
OK.

Now, see if you are able to copy this file from your external drive to your computer.

Hope it helps.