[FIXED]Hard Disk Not Showing In Disk Management

Summary: If you are not able to see a disk (internal/external) in the disk management, you might feel you’ve been locked out of your data. But in most cases, you can fix the error and recover your data with ease from hard disk not showing in disk management. This blog will detail all possible fixes and data recovery solutions.

You inserted an HDD/SDD device in your system. It doesn’t show up in the disk management.

And now you have no way to access the contents of the storage device. Panic sets in and you are wondering if you’ll ever get your data back. Don’t panic. Find the solution to this issue right here.

पोस्ट को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें।

This guide will answer the following questions

1. What is Disk Management?
2. Causes Of Disk Not Showing In Disk Management?
3. How To Fix Disk Not Showing In Disk Management?
4. What To Do If The External Hard Drive Shows Up In Disk Management But Not File Explorer?
5. Recover Hard Drive Data Even If The Disk Is Not Showing In Disk Management?
6. Case Study – Recover Data From a Hard Disk Not Showing
7. Conclusion
8. FAQs

What is Disk Management?

Disk Management is a Windows tool that helps you see and manage your computer’s storage devices. It lets you view, create, and format disk partitions, and change drive letters. If your hard drive or SSD isn’t showing up, Disk Management can help you troubleshoot and fix the problem.

Now that you understand what Disk Management is, let’s explore the causes of a disk not showing up in Disk Management.

Causes Of “Disk Not Showing In Disk Management”

Before you try to fix the Hard Disk not showing in disk management issues on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, or Windows 11, it would help to know what are some of the most common causes for the issue.

Some of the Common Causes of Disk not Showing in Disk Management Windows 10 include:

1. Loose connections
2. Absent or corrupt SATA drivers
3. Incorrect BIOS settings
4. Bad sectors on the drive
5. The drive is being considered as a foreign dynamic disk
6. Outdated/incompatible drivers
7. Physically damaged drive

Based on what is the cause behind this, you can use the below-mentioned fixes to access data from your disk.

How To Fix Disk Not Showing In Disk Management?

If your hard disk drive not showing in disk management, you can try the following fixes.

1. Check The Cables And Connections

It often happens that the hard drive, SDD, or USB storage device is not properly connected to your PC/laptop. This can make the disk not show up in the disk management. To fix the issue, start by checking the connecting cables.

• Unplug and re-plug loose cables properly.
• Check if the USB port in your PC is functioning by plugging in another drive/device and see if that works.
• Try connecting your drive to another healthy PC to ensure nothing is wrong with your PC.

2. Check BIOS

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the firmware used for hardware initialization during the booting process. Checking if your disk is showing in BIOS and fixing errors in the BIOS settings for it can also help access the drive.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Restart your computer.
• When your computer is starting up, press the F1, F2, F10, or the Del key to enter the BIOS menu.
• Select the Boot Device Priority tab.
• Check if you can see the disk in this menu or not.

If yes, try using one of the other methods followed below.

If not, enable the disk in BIOS to find it in the disk management.

Here’s how to enable a drive in BIOS:

• Remove and re-enter the hard drive to your PC.
• Restart your device
• Enter the  BIOS menu .
• Enter  Setup .
• Check System documentation. If the drive is turned off in the System Setup, turn it on to normally access your disk.

3. Delete ATA Channel Drivers

One of the ways to solve the HDD not showing in disk management issue is to delete all ATA channel drivers. There is no official documentation that lists it as a fix. But deleting ATA channel drivers makes Windows configure all the devices from scratch.

Here’s to do that:

• Open  Device Manager .

• Expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.

• Right-click on all ATA channels and uninstall them one by one.
• Restart your device.
• Check the disk management again.

4. Remove The Drive From The Storage Pool

The Windows’ Storage Spaces feature lets you group 3 or more storage devices into a storage pool. If you have already done that, removing your disk from the pool might help resolve the issue.

To do that:
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• Open the  Control Panel  (Press Windows Key + X to find it in the menu or search for it in the search bar in your toolbar.)
• In the Control Panel go to  System and Security .

• Click on  Storage Spaces .

• Expand  Storage Pool .
• Delete the Storage Pool that contacts the disk that you are unable to see in the disk manager.
• Click  Yes  to confirm.
• Restart your device and look for the disk again.

5. Install The Updated SATA Driver

Especially for Windows 10 or 11, issues with your SATA driver can cause the HDD not showing in disk management issue.

Start by downloading the SATA driver based on the manufacturer and model of your motherboard. Then install the driver and restart your laptop/PC to check for the disk again.

6. Run Windows Troubleshooter

If you are facing the issue of hard disk drive not showing in disk management on a Windows 10 device, you can use the in-built troubleshooter.

• Go to  Settings .
• Click on  Update & Security .

• Select  Troubleshoot  from the left pane.

• Select  Hardware and Devices .
• Click  Run the Troubleshooter  button.

The wizard that appears will guide you regarding the rest of the process.

What To Do If External Hard Drive Shows Up In Disk Management But Not File Explorer

The primary reason why an external drive shows up but not a file explorer is that it has no partitions. This means the entire disk space is unallocated.

To fix that, you should:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type “diskmgmt.msc” and press  Ok .
3. If the disk is labelled unknown or uninitialized, right-click and select Initialize disk from the drop-down menu.
4. Select a  Partition Style  and click  Ok .
5. Right-click the disk and select  New Simple Volume .
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the issue.

If none of the aforementioned fixes works for your disk your last resort is to format it. But remember, that will mean all your data will get deleted.

To avoid data loss while trying to solve the hard disk not showing in disk management issue, you should.

Get Hard Disk Data Recovery Service

Hard disk data recovery services are suitable for:

Also, you get guaranteed 100% data recovery when working with a team of experts using state-of-the-art technology and processes.

For best results, choose an experienced data recovery service provider. Ensure they have at least 30 years of experience, are located near you, and offer free pick-up and drop-off services for your drive. Additionally, the service provider should be certified for handling critical data recovery cases.

With this guidance, you’re now equipped to fix the external hard disk not showing issue without losing your valuable data.

Now, check out our success story where we recovered data from a hard disk that was not showing for a customer.

Case Study – Recover Data From a Hard Disk Not Showing

Client Name: Individual

Goal: To recover data from a Hard Disk not showing.

The challenge faced by the client: Data Retrieval Issues

The client encountered challenges with their data, as outlined below:

• • Data not showing: The initial problem was the inability to access data.
  • UV210 E23: Specific details about UV210 E23 data were not available.
  • Search for missing Data: The client was actively seeking missing data.

Stellar Data Recovery To The Rescue:

Stellar Data Recovery addressed these challenges through the following steps:

Initial Analysis:

• Data not showing as Partition info corrupted: The initial analysis revealed that the data was not visible due to corrupted partition information.
• Successfully make the clone: A successful clone was created to preserve the data.

Expertise in Action:

• Scan the Clone using our expertise, able to fetch Partition correct info: Stellar Data Recovery’s expertise came into play as they scanned the clone, successfully retrieving accurate partition information.

Challenges & Breakthroughs

Stellar Data Recovery overcame the challenges encountered:

• Recovered the Data successfully: Despite the initial data retrieval issues, Stellar Data Recovery successfully recovered the required data.

Client Feedback: The client was happy with our services and satisfied. The client was pleased with the outcome and overall satisfied with the services provided by Stellar Data Recovery.

Conclusion

Dealing with a hard disk not showing in Disk Management can be frustrating, but with the right approach, you can resolve the issue and recover your valuable data. Whether it’s due to loose connections, driver issues, or corrupted partitions, there are several fixes you can try. However, if these solutions don’t work, it’s advisable to seek professional data recovery services to ensure your data is safely retrieved. Always prioritize backing up your data to avoid permanent loss in the future.

Explore more detailed guides to tackle related data recovery challenges:

If you’ve lost data from your USB flash drive, our detailed guide on How to recover data from USB Flash Drives can help you retrieve it.

For external hard disk detection issues, check out our comprehensive guide on How to Fix External Hard Disk Not Detected in Windows.

If your PC has encountered the common restart problem, this article on How to fix your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart offers clear solutions.

Troubleshoot SATA hard drive issues with this step-by-step guide on How to fix ATA/SATA hard drive not detected in BIOS.

Let’s look at some commonly asked questions now.

FAQs

1. How to open Disk Management in Windows 10?

Press Windows key + X and select  Disk Management  from the menu. This will open Windows Disk Management, where you can view and manage your storage devices.

2. What should I do if I bought a new hard disk but it’s not showing up in Disk Management?

If a new hard disk isn’t showing up in Disk Management, check the cables and drivers. Ensure the disk is properly connected, and initialize it if needed.

3. Why is my HDD not detected in BIOS?

An HDD not detected in BIOS could be due to incorrect BIOS settings or a faulty connection. Verify the BIOS settings or try reconnecting the drive.

4. What is an HDD manager and how does it work?

An HDD manager is a tool used to manage and optimize hard drive performance, including partitioning and formatting. It helps in maintaining the efficiency of hard disk drives.

5. Are hard disk drives considered storage?

Yes, hard disk drives are considered storage devices. They are used to store data and applications on your computer.