Windows 10: win 10 does not detect external hard drive on usb port

GiffordKucsma · Jun 21, 2019

I recently set up a new computer with Windows 10. I have a hard drive that I removed from my old (Windows XP) PC, and have connected it as an external drive to the new Win 10 PC using a Unitek USB 3.0 to IDE adapter. The adapter has its own power supply so it does not need to draw power from the PC's USB port.

When I plug the adapter's USB A connector into the Windows 10 PC, Windows 10 fails to detect it. The hard drive's motor does spin up, as I can feel it when it does.

I'd appreciate any advice on how to get Windows 10 to detect the external drive, a Western Digital Serial ATA drive.

:)

SVLingam · Jun 21, 2019

My Seagate external hard drive is not detected when plugged in to USB port of my laptop using windows 10?

Hello Lingam,

As you are facing issues with accessing hard drive on your computer, we will help you with this issue.

Do let us know the following to assist you better:

Have you made any changes to the operating system prior to this issue?

What is the complete error message/ error code while trying to access the hard drive?

Step 1: As a workaround, I suggest you to do the following to detect the issue:

Connect the hard drive to different port and check if the issue persists.

Connect different hard drive to the same port and check.

Connect different hard drives to different ports and check.

Step 2: If the device is not detected on your computer try to run
Hardware and Devices troubleshooter as it checks for common problems and makes sure that any new device or hardware connected to your PC is installed correctly.

Press Windows key from the keyboard, type
Troubleshooting and select it.

Click on view all option on the upper left corner of
Troubleshooting window.

Select the Hardware and Device
options from the list.

Click Next to run the Hardware and Device
Troubleshooter

Step 3: I suggest you to check if there are any drivers with yellow exclamatory mark in the Device Manager.

Press Windows + X from the keyboard, click on
Device Manager.

Right click on the detected driver, click on Properties
and check the device status.

Hope it helps. Try the above and update us the status of this issue with the required information, we will be happy to help you further.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response.

I have tried all the steps provided, however in vain. The external hard drive is not identified at all in any of the the USB ports when connected. The USB ports identify other external Flash drives and devices. However this drive is detected in another laptop
using Windows 7 OS. Please advise further.

Regards

Klaw117 · Jun 21, 2019

External Hard Drives Won't Work on Two Specific USB Ports

I should note that one drive is a USB 3.0 external hard drive while the other is a USB 3.1 external solid state drive. Both are being plugged into only USB 3.0 ports. The two ports that don't detect the external HDD and SSD will detect regular USB thumb drives.

Have you tried a different cable between drive and port.

When you say they won't work have you opened up disk mgmt and confirmed drives are not listed (without a letter assigned)?

Are these drives getting power from USB port or are they externally powered? If from USB port do you hear them spinning up?

Are all these USB ports the same, that is USB 2.0's or 3.1's?

When you plug them in do they show as an error within Device Manager?

Ken
Click to expand...

No, I have not tried different cables. However, the cables and drives work fine in other USB 3.0 ports either in the back or the front.

Nothing is listed in Disk Management.

These are getting power from the USB ports. The external HDD's LED turns on but does not spin. In other ports with the same cable, it does. The external SSD lights up too but the storage doesn't seem to be detected unless plugged into another port.

As stated above, all ports are USB 3.0.

There are no errors in the Device Manager.

Based on the questions/answers being given here. It sounds like there may be a power issue with the two USB ports. Do thumb drives and external drives have different power requirements?

Janakaprd · Jun 21, 2019

External hard drive doesn't detect on my laptop.

I disconnected the hard disk without safely ejecting it. Now that usb port doesn't detect the external hard drive. But it detects other usb devices. Also the external hard drive works with my other usb ports. Please help me to fix my usb port.

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