If yesterday a well-functioning hard drive for no apparent reason at one not-so-wonderful moment stops working, it is like a disaster. Recalling the information stored on it, you suddenly begin to realize that there is nothing of value there - all the data is priceless. True, someone noticed that if the computer does not see the external hard drive, then this is like the end of the world. Although far from always everything is so deplorable.
The main thing is not to succumb to provocations, but to carefully think about why the external hard drive does not work? What exactly has changed since the last launch? The correct answers to these questions allow in almost half of cases to independently restore the media. Next, we will talk about the main reasons because of which the computer does not see the external hard drive.
Perhaps, in his life, every person had to at least once get into a situation where the most complicated mechanism stopped working due to a failed subtle detail. This fate is not spared and hard drives, both external and internal. USB hard drives are currently popular, but there are also SATA interfaces that are significantly superior to the former in terms of speed. Any external hard drive is connected to the computer through the connector of the corresponding port. This is one of the most common reasons why the computer does not see the external hard drive. There are two types of USB connectors: some are soldered on the motherboard and are output from the back of the system unit, while others are mounted in the case with output to the front panel. Obviously, most users connect the hard drive to the most accessible connectors, that is, on the front panel of the case. And since only a few computers are assembled in a reliable case, it should not be surprising that Chinese manufacturers saved on connector elements. For example, sliding contacts may not be spring-loaded enough, their area may be reduced for reasons of economy, and the materials used may be too frayed. It follows from this that sometimes, by connecting the hard drive interface wire to the port on the case, the computer does not see the external hard drive. The problem is in the connector pins. There are two ways to solve this:
- connect to ports on the motherboard;
- to purchase a high-quality USB extension cable is cheaper than replacing the case.
The next reason is a lack of nutrition. The USB 2 standard assumes a maximum current of 500 mA per port. Therefore, if too many USB devices are connected, then the hard drive may not have enough power to work. Solution: remove all the "excess" (webcams, USB-modems, etc.) or buy a hub with a power supply. In addition, the connectors on the front panel are connected to the motherboard with harnesses of thin wires, which also have their own voltage loss. It is worth remembering that these connectors are suitable primarily for low-power devices (flash drives, telephones).
If the hard drive still does not work, then you need to check the BIOS settings: whether USB ports are prohibited in it. For devices using a "mobilrack", it is useful to check the status of internal loops and connectors - perhaps the reason is in them.
After that, you should check the software part of the computer. Although external hard drives are designed to work “out of the box”, usually without requiring any special drivers, nevertheless, you need to install a software package for the chipset in the system. This is especially important for generations prior to Windows Vista. There may also be a conflict in the configuration of the connected devices, in such a situation, often the computer cannot completely boot up at all.
Of course, internal damage to the hard drive itself is possible. It is far from always possible to independently restore it, so you need to find out where the nearest service center is located.