Windows 10: External HDD not being recognised - from today only

I've read the threads about the AU causing problems with external HDDs, also that the latest patch Tuesday updates corrected this for some people.

I have the opposite problem:

AU installed without problems around 3 weeks ago. Latest updates installed on 23rd August, and nothing untoward noticed afterwards.

Up until yesterday I was using an HDD regularly but today I can no longer see the HDD in File Explorer. I've tried 2 different HDDs, tried different USB ports, tried restarting the laptop. It's still the same - HDD not being recognised. I DO get the audible 'warning' when the HDDs are plugged in and taken out but they then fail to show in File Explorer.

The HDD IS recognised in a laptop that does not yet have the AU, but since the problem has only happened today and I've had the AU since early August, it doesn't seem likely that AU is the problem here.

Could it be something to do with USB ports? (Though I use one for a wireless mouse and this is still working okay, and I connected a printer earlier today and that was also okay).

Any suggestions please?

:)

 

Upgraded to Windows 10 - issue with using Maxtor Manager programme alongside Maxtor One Touch 4 external HDD.

I have just upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and everything seems to running okay with one exception. I use a Maxtor One Touch 4 external HDD along with Maxtor Manager software.

However they no longer work in conjunction with each other. Windows recognises the drive and the Maxtor Manager software runs and recognises the backplan, however the software does not recognise the external drive as being connected. Any ideas?

 

Windows10 unable to recognise external (USB) HDD (WD My Book 4TB)

Windows10 unable to recognise external (USB) HDD (WD My Book 4TB) - however, I'm able to see all files from a Linux machine i have on same HDD... I dont want to lose my content on the external HDD by reformatting etc. Please help.

 

Hi, what does disk management show with it plugged in.. can you post a screenshot?

Have you checked device manager for yellow ! with it plugged in?

From the forum- before the AU:

Solved External hard drive not recognised - Windows 10 Forums
Solved USB Drives not recognised in Windows 10 - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums

This post suggests turning fast boot off - but it's a long one so may be more..
Windows 10 can't find external USB 3.0 drives... - Windows 10 Forums

 

How about uninstall those Tuesday updates to see if the HDD is working again. If it does and to avoid Windows Update from automatically install the same patches again, set Windows Update to notify before download/install.

Windows Update Automatic Updates - Enable or Disable in Windows 10

Wait for the next updates, install it, if the issue getting worse you can repeat the step to rollback like above.

 

I was just checking Disk Management as you posted and I did have the yellow !s. So read the threads you linked and uninstalled the 2 usb ports that were affected. Rebooted - no difference.

But your comment about Fast Boot got me wondering whether this had reset after the AU and it had, so I turned it off again, rebooted, and I have my HDD's showing again.

Possibly it only happened today because this was the first time I unplugged the usb after the latest updates. Who knows, it's working again now.

And extra thanks: some time ago I had a problem with the camera not working on my Linx tablet. The solution turned out to be to turn off fast boot. I checked that, and it had also reverted to 'On' after the AU, so you saved me some future frustration there as well.

 

Great.. fast startup seems to affect different people in different ways... sometimes it's completely counter-intuitive to suspect it.