Hard drive not showing up on the computer: what should I do?
Every attempt you make can turn recoverable data into data that can no longer be recovered.
If your hard drive does not show up on the computer, first check for symptoms while the drive is running, such as clicking, grinding or no sound at all. If there is a noise, switch the device off and stop trying. If there is no noise, changing the cable and the port is harmless, but do not format the drive. Whether the data can be recovered depends on the cause of the fault and is determined by analysis.
- Try once or twice with a different cable, USB port and computer.
- In Windows, open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) and check whether the drive appears in the list.
- If the drive is making a noise, stop trying and switch it off.
- If the important data is backed up somewhere else, check that backup.
- Do not click Yes on the 'You need to format the disk before you can use it' prompt.
- Do not 'initialize' the drive or create a new volume in Disk Management.
- Do not run chkdsk or any other repair tool.
- Do not keep plugging the drive in and out.
- Do not install recovery software on this drive.
- Do not open the drive yourself.
Why does a drive not show up?
A computer sees a drive in two stages. First it recognises it as hardware, then it reads the file system on it. If the drive does not appear at all in the first stage, the problem may be in the cable, the connection, the power, the drive's controller board or its mechanical parts. If it fails at the second stage, the drive is listed but does not open. This usually means the partition table or the file system is corrupted.
The main causes are:
- A cable, port or USB bridge board problem
- A controller board or power problem
- Read/write head or motor failure
- Corruption of the drive's own software (firmware)
- Partition table or file system corruption
What should you do based on the symptom?
| What do you see? | Possible cause | Software or lab? | What should you do? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The drive does not spin at all, no sound or vibration | Power, board or motor problem | Lab | Try another cable and port; if that does not help, bring it to us |
| The drive is clicking | Head or firmware failure | Lab | Switch it off and see the clicking noise page |
| It shows up in Disk Management but as 'Unallocated' or 'RAW' | Partition table or file system corruption | Usually software, but on a copy | Do not write anything to the drive, call us for an analysis |
| 'You need to format the disk' prompt | The file system cannot be read | Usually software | Click No, do not format |
| The computer freezes or slows down when the drive is connected | Possible bad sectors or a head problem | We recommend a lab | Stop running it |
What happens if you get the 'You need to format the disk' prompt?
Windows shows this prompt when it cannot read the file system. If you click Yes, the drive gets a brand-new file system and the old files become harder to find. Click No and contact us for an analysis without writing anything to the drive. For details, see the deleted files and formatted drive page.
What is done in the lab?
We first examine the hardware condition of the drive. If there is a mechanical fault, the drive is opened in a Class 100 (ISO 5) clean environment, a compatible donor part is used where needed, and the data is copied to a healthy drive. With a logical problem, the general rule is to work on a copy of the original drive without writing to the original.
How long does it take and how much does it cost?
Standard cases take 10 business days on average, and urgent cases take 24 business hours on average. The actual time depends on the type of fault, sourcing the parts needed and the capacity of the drive. Some jobs are completed within a few hours, while others can take months.
The price depends on the type of fault, the parts needed and how long the work takes. After the analysis we send you the exact price in writing. If you do not accept the quote, you get your device back without paying. Not every case falls within the scope of free analysis. For requests outside the free analysis scope, you are informed in writing about the analysis fee before any work begins. For details, see the pages on what determines the price and how long it takes.
Can the data always be recovered?
No. If the platter surface is badly damaged, if the drive has burned or been in water, or if a faulty drive was tried repeatedly over a long period, some or all of the data may not be recoverable. We cannot know the outcome without carrying out an analysis. After the analysis you will be informed about the situation.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean if the drive shows up on another computer?
Most likely the problem is in the first computer's port, driver or cable. The drive may be healthy. Even so, if files are missing, contact us for an analysis without writing to the drive.
The drive is in Disk Management but has no drive letter. What should I do?
Assigning a drive letter does not erase data. However, do not touch the 'initialize', 'new volume' or 'format' options, because they change the structure on the drive.
Is there a difference between an external and an internal drive?
In external drives the USB bridge board can also be the cause of the fault, and sometimes the drive itself is fine. Internal drives do not have this layer. In both cases, if the drive is making a noise, it must be switched off.
Do I pay anything if I do not accept the quote?
No. If you do not accept the quote after the analysis, you get your device back without paying. In cases where it cannot be foreseen at which stage the data will become accessible, the price may also be set after the data has been recovered, based on the time and resources spent on the work. In that case you are under no obligation to pay. Not every case falls within the scope of free analysis. For requests outside the free analysis scope, you are informed in writing about the analysis fee before any work begins.
Why is free analysis not available in every case?
For some requests a short assessment of the device is possible, and we can offer a free analysis. For others, our specialists can only reach an opinion or a result after long hours of work on your device with professional tools. Because we carry out the technical work that has to be done in the part we call analysis, we may not be able to offer those hours free of charge.
What do you do during the analysis?
During the analysis we actually begin the professional technical work that needs to be done. Many businesses, on the other hand, say they offer 'free analysis' to attract customers and get them to bring their device in, and once the device has been handed over, without setting aside any time for it, they say something like 'we will work on it; if it works it costs this much, if not, that much'. Having had the device handed over with the words 'free analysis', they know the customer will want the work to continue rather than go to the trouble of taking the device back, and since they put in no effort or time, they can claim to offer 'free analysis' in every case. In reality this is little more than a trap to attract customers.
Do you charge a service fee?
We do not charge anything under the name of a service fee. We offer free analysis. For requests outside the free analysis scope, the analysis fee is communicated in writing at the start. Some businesses advertise with phrases such as "600TL data recovery service fee", leading customers to believe they will have their data recovered for 600TL. That is how they draw customers in. We do not work in such an unethical way.
Let's assess your situation together: call 0212 909 56 19 or write to us on WhatsApp. See our contact page for the address and opening hours.
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