Windows 10: External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised

Discus and support External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware to solve the problem; Hi I am using the seagate 2tb drive to transfer data to a backup using syncToy. The drive has been working normally but this time it took a long... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware' started by matthwin, Dec 17, 2016.

  1. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised


    Hi
    I am using the seagate 2tb drive to transfer data to a backup using syncToy.

    The drive has been working normally but this time it took a long time to read ( slow moving green bar in address)

    It finally became unread by the pc so I attempted to rectify this by using disk management. This showed the disk as "Not initialised." In attempting to sort this out I have made it a "System Reserved" drive!

    See attached screen shot




    Question
    How to get the drive working, preferably with the data intact?

    :)
     
    matthwin, Dec 17, 2016
    #1
  2. HART2459
    Hart2459 Win User

    External Hard Drive is not getting recognized properly.

    Original Title: External Hard Drive Issue

    Hello,

    I have a 2 WD My Passport 2TB external hard drives with a lot of backup data on. I cannot access them from my laptop, however they work fine on other computers, TV, etc. The USB ports on my laptop are functional as I can use other devices from them. On plugging
    the hard drives in, they do not appear in 'my computer', however when I look at 'devices and printers' they appear and have the option to safely remove. I have tried the troubleshoot tool on this page with no success.

    After doing a bit of online research, I have found that when I open disk management, sometimes they appear as disk 1, unknown, 0GB, not initialised (It wont let me initialise them) and other times they just don't appear there at all (like now).

    I'm at a bit of a loss, any ideas?

    Thank you!
     
    Hart2459, Dec 17, 2016
    #2
  3. VINOD ARCHAK
    Vinod Archak Win User
    Folders invisible on external hard drive?

    Hi,

    This could happen if the files on the External driven are hidden. Follow the steps

    • Press Windows + X
    • Click Control panel
    • Click Appearance and Personalization
    • Click on Show Hidden files
     
    Vinod Archak, Dec 17, 2016
    #3
  4. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised


    Hi
    I am using the seagate 2tb drive to transfer data to a backup using syncToy.

    The drive has been working normally but this time it took a long time to read ( slow moving green bar in address)

    It finally became unread by the pc so I attempted to rectify this by using disk management. This showed the disk as "Not initialised." In attempting to sort this out I have made it a "System Reserved" drive!

    See attached screen shot

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised [​IMG]





    Question
    How to get the drive working, preferably with the data intact?

    Sorry I missed out the screen shot.
     
    matthwin, Dec 17, 2016
    #4
  5. NAVYLCDR
    NavyLCDR New Member
    NavyLCDR, Dec 17, 2016
    #5
  6. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User
    Greetings and thanks for your reply when you must be taken up with the coming holiday.

    I tried MiniTool and am able to access some files. However Windows is unable to access the drive and Seagate tools also fails. I would like to format it and copy my backup over.

    error message

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised [​IMG]



    Disk management raises a query over disk 3 - I do not have anything connected.


    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised [​IMG]


    and the log event - with nothing connected


    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised [​IMG]


    In short I am completely foxed. Any solutions to allow access to format the usb 2tb Seagate drive?

    Many thanks

    Mat.w.
     
    matthwin, Dec 19, 2016
    #6
  7. NAVYLCDR
    NavyLCDR New Member
    Leave the drive disconnected. Restart the computer by selecting Restart from the power menu. After Winodws restarts, reconnect the USB drive, preferably to a different USB port than before.
     
    NavyLCDR, Dec 19, 2016
    #7
  8. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User

    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised

    Hi

    Did that - no luck - drive not found.
     
    matthwin, Dec 19, 2016
    #8
  9. NAVYLCDR
    NavyLCDR New Member
    Is it just that no drive letter is assigned to it, or does the physical drive not show up at all in Disk Management?
     
    NavyLCDR, Dec 20, 2016
    #9
  10. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User
    Disk management fails to show drive at all.

    However I get a "windows recognition sound " when connecting the drive and disk management "Action/Rescan" causes the program to hang - (for longer 2 minutes apx) - than a refresh or rescan without the drive connected. So there is "some" recognition by disk management.

    I am grateful for you interest. The last time a Naval Officer took an interest in me I was a probationary acting sub lieutenant and the outcome was unfortunate!

    Mat.w.
     
    matthwin, Dec 21, 2016
    #10
  11. NAVYLCDR
    NavyLCDR New Member
    It sounds like either the USB to SATA adapter is bad, or the hard drive is bad. USB enclosures for SATA hard drives are relatively inexpensive now days, just make sure to get one for the proper size hard drive you have, 3.5" with a power supply for a "desktop" USB drive or 2.5" for a "laptop" USB drive.

    Before you buy a new enclosure, you can also pull the hard drive out of the current enclosure and connect it to a SATA port on a desktop computer and see if it works that way to determine if it is the USB to SATA adapter that is bad or the drive itself that is bad.
     
    NavyLCDR, Dec 22, 2016
    #11
  12. MATTHWIN
    matthwin Win User
    Hello again

    Its a small Seagate sealed unit so it looks like a bin job. No real problem as I am well backed up and have another on order. I will give Seagate a call and see if there is a solution.

    Many thanks for your time.

    Mat.w.
     
    matthwin, Apr 5, 2018
    #12
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External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised

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