Windows 10: External Hard Drive Error: HDD Detected but Crashes Explorer and Asks to Format

Hello,I have a problem with my Toshiba external hard drive. When I connect it to my laptop, my PC detects it but shows an error and asks me to format it.Here are the details:I have tried changing the cable.I have tried connecting it to a different PC.Nothing works, the problem seems to be with the hard drive.For now, I haven't applied any solutions but I've seen people with the same problem trying various methods applications, etc. without success.I'm considering formatting the hard drive and then trying to recover the files using techniques available on the internet like test disk.Does anyo

:)

 

Unable to open Western Digital 320GB hard drive in File explorer to format on Windows 10.

Hello Yancy,



Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. We regret the inconvenience caused and will assist you in resolving the issue.



Before assisting further, I would like to ask you few questions:

• Is Western Digital 320GB an external or internal hard drive?
• Does the drive show in Disk management?
• Does other external drives get detected and show in File explorer on the PC?

You might be facing the above issue due to the unallocated letter for the drive. Unallocated drives are those whose drive letters are not allocated when initially partitioned or after formatting. You will be able to view the drive on your PC if you
have allocated a drive name for the partition created. The drive will not be visible on the PC if you do not allocate a drive letter or a drive name.



Method 1: Check if the drive is shown in
File Explorer. If the drive is not shown in the File Explorer, allocate a drive letter to the HDD by following the steps below and check if the issue is resolved.

• Connect the HDD to the PC, press Windows logo + X keys on the keyboard and select
  Disk management option from the context menu. Check if the drive is visible in the window.
• If visible, right click on the Unallocated disk drive and select
  New Simple Volume option. Follow the onscreen instructions where in the process you will get to a window where you can allocate a drive name for the HDD.
• After allocating a drive letter, right click on the drive and select
  Open. Check if you are able to open the drive in File Explorer.

Method 2: If the issue persists, follow the steps below to check if the contents of the external HDD drive can be accessed:

• Connect the HDD to the PC, press Windows logo + X keys on the keyboard and select
  Disk management from the context menu.
• Check if the HDD is visible in the window (It should show if the drive is detected under Device manager).
• If visible, right click on the drive and select Open from the context menu.
• Check if the contents will open in the File Explorer window.
• If the HDD fails to open in File Explorer, I suggest you to format the drive in the same window by choosing
  Format option form the context menu on right clicking on the drive.
• Close the windows and check if the changes are effective.

Write to us with the answers to the above questions and the status of the issue on the same post for further assistance. Your reply is most important for us to ensure we assist you accordingly.



Thank you.

 

Format external hard drive

Hello Lilly, hope this message finds you well.

1. The first method is to format the external hard drive from File Explorer:

Press Windows + X buttons together and find File Explorer

Tap on This PC to check if the external hard drive is detected

Right click on the external hard drive and tap on Format

Choose the format (NTFS, FAT32) and tap on Start

Once the format is done, click on OK

2. The second method is to format the external hard drive through Disk Management:

Select the Start button and open Computer Management.

Open Control Panel - System and Security - Administrative Tools, and double-click on Computer Management.

Select Disk Management on the left pane under Storage.

Right-click the volume that you’d like to format, and then select Format.

If you want to format the volume with the default settings, select ok, in the Format dialog box, and then select ok again.

IMPORTANT: Before formatting the external hard drive, take back up of all your data because this operation can result in losing important data.

____

Steve

 

external hard drive

Hi GeoffGray_008,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

1. What is the make and model of the External hard drive?
   

The easiest way to format an external hard drive is through File Explorer or through Disk Management.

Method 1: Format the external hard drive from File Explorer.

• Press Windows key and X key and select File Explorer.
  
• Click on This PC and check if the external hard drive is detected.
  
• Right click on the external hard drive and click on Format.
  
• Select the format (NTFS, FAT32) and click on Start.
  
• Click on OK once the format is complete.
  

Method 2: Format using Disk Management.

- Open Computer Management by selecting the
Start button.

- Select Control Panel > System and Security
> Administrative Tools, and then double-click on
Computer Management.

- In the left pane, under
Storage, select Disk Management.

- Right-click the volume that you want to format, and then select
Format.

-
To format the volume with the default settings, in the
Format dialog box, select OK, and then select OK again.

Note: By formatting the external hard drive, all the data will be lost. You may take back up of the data before formatting the external hard drive.

Hope this helps.

Let us know if you got the help you needed by clicking on Yes or No.

Regards,

Gowrish S

Microsoft Community –Moderator