Those users who decide to connect a second hard drive to a Windows 10 computer may encounter problems with its display. There are several reasons for this error. Fortunately, it can be solved using built-in tools.

First of all, you need to make sure that the disk is free of defects and damage. You can check this by connecting the HDD (or SSD) to the system unit. Also make sure you have connected the hardware correctly, it should show up in the BIOS.

Method 1: Disk Management

This method involves initializing and formatting the drive with a letter assignment.

Method 2: Format using “Command Line”

Using "Command line", you can clean and format the disk. Be careful when executing the following commands.

1. Call the context menu on the button "Start" and find "Command Prompt (Administrator)".



2. Now enter the command

   

   and press Enter.

3. Next do



4. All connected drives will be shown to you. Enter

   Where X– this is the number of the disk you need.



5. We delete all contents with the command



6. Create a new section:

   create partition primary



7. Format to NTFS:

   format fs=ntfs quick

   

   Wait until the procedure is completed.

8. Give the section a name:

   

   It is important that the letter does not coincide with the letters of other drives.

9. And after all, exit Diskpart with the following command:

Read How to fix an external hard drive that is not recognized by Windows. Causes and solutions to the problem of disk non-recognition. In this guide we will try to describe the problem of the external drive not being recognized in the operating system "Windows 10" and present possible ways to eliminate it.

Content:

External hard drive and user data?

Personal computers play a big role in the daily life of every person. We use them for work and entertainment, communicating with friends and communication. In addition to personal computers, other computer devices have been developed that complement and expand the possibilities of using computer technology for everyone. They greatly simplify any production process, allowing you to create, manage, edit and exchange any projects, documents, tables, presentations, etc. Computers also allow you to receive and send correspondence via email; process, view or listen to a variety of images, video streams or music; upload, download or exchange any information via the network; receive the latest news and communicate with friends on social networks and much more.

A huge amount of information is constantly stored on personal computers and is used by us constantly when necessary. Various storage devices are used to save data: hard drives and solid-state drives, external drives, memory cards, etc. Additionally, computer users can store their information remotely on the Internet in various cloud storages, download, upload and share it at will at any time. You can also use various online services and applications for exchange.

However, no matter how accessible such methods of storing and exchanging information are, users continue to use external drives and drives. Thanks to them, the user always has the information he needs and can use it at any time.

External drives – "USB drives" or external hard drives are very convenient and quite easy to use. But, as often happens, at a certain moment, the unexpected can happen. In some cases, you can connect your drive to a personal computer with an operating system "Windows" or another device using "USB port" and find that the hard drive is not recognized. This problem may be caused by partition problems on your external drive, incorrect file system, corrupted ports "USB", problems with drivers in "Windows" or other problems. In the worst case, the disk itself may simply be completely damaged.

The following steps described will be the same for both flash drives "USB" and large external hard drives that work in a similar way.

Additionally, you can watch our video: “Windows 10, 8, 7 does not see the hard drive or SSD - How to connect!”. It will help you if after reinstalling "Windows" one of the hard drive partitions no longer appears in "Explorer", or the new hard drive installed in your computer is also not displayed, although it is visible in the settings "BIOS".

Is the disk visible in the application?

First, you need to check if the operating system detects "Windows" your drive when you connect it. Connect your removable drive to your computer. If it's an external hard drive, you may need to set the power switch on the hard drive to "On" to activate it. Some heavy-duty removable hard drives may even need to be connected using a separate power cable before they will work.

Then open the disk management tool provided in the standard set of applications of the operating system "Windows". This tool allows you to fully manage all disks and partitions located on your computer, internal and external, currently connected. can be opened in various ways, but we will only show you a few of them. Select any method of your choice for further use.

Method one: Press the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + R" and open the dialog box "Run". In the request field "Open" enter the command "diskmgmt.msc", then click the button "OK" or key "Enter" on keyboard. The application will open.

Method two: On your desktop, find the file explorer shortcut "This computer" and right-click on it. In the menu that opens, select a section from the list of available actions "Control".

The application will open, which presents all the main controls and settings of computer settings. In the left pane of the window, select the section located at the following address: – –.

Method three "Start", located on "Taskbars" in the lower left corner of the desktop, or press the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + X", and open the pop-up menu. Select section from the list of available applications.

You should see your external drive in the window. And even if it doesn't show up in your computer's file explorer because it doesn't contain any partitions, it should show up here.

If you see your drive here, then you can skip straight to the last section of our guide, where we'll show you how to properly format it so that your operating system "Windows" or other devices could access and recognize it.

If the application does not show your drive, then move on to the next section of the guide, where we will try to determine the reason why your drive is not recognized.

Possible causes and solutions to the problem of disk not being recognized

If the system "Windows" does not see your disk at all, then there may be a hardware problem "USB port" your computer, there is a driver problem, or you may simply have a bad disk.

First disconnect the drive from "USB port" and try connecting it to another "USB port" your computer. If he works in one "USB port" but doesn't work in another, then it's probably yours "USB port" spoiled. If you connected the drive via "USB hub"(a device that allows you to increase the amount "USB ports" and provides the ability to use them simultaneously), then try connecting the drive to the computer directly. Some "USB hubs" may not provide enough power to operate the external drive.

If the disk does not appear in the window even after you remove "USB hub" and connected the disk to another "USB port" on your computer, it's difficult to know for sure whether your drive is bad or perhaps the computer itself is experiencing some problems. If you have another computer nearby, try connecting the drive there to see if it can be detected there. If the drive doesn't work on any computer you connect it to, then it's probably completely damaged and will need to be replaced.

If the disk is detected and works on other computers, then there is a high probability that the operating system "Windows" There are problems with the drivers for your disk. You can check this using the application, which can be opened in various ways. The list of ways to access the application is quite large, but we will describe only three of them.

Method one: Right click on the button "Start", located on "Taskbars" or press the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + X" and open the pop-up menu. Select the section from the list of available applications.

Method two: Open the dialog box "Run", for example, by pressing the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + R". In the request field "Open" enter the command "devmgmt.msc" and press the key "Enter" or button "OK".

Method three: Open the application window in the way we described earlier in this guide. In the left pane of the window, go to the following address: “Computer management (local)” – "Utilities" – .

Find a section "Disk devices" and check for any device with a yellow exclamation mark located near it. This marking of the disk device means that in the operating system "Windows" There are some problems with the driver for this device. Right click on the device with the yellow exclamation mark, select partition "Properties" and see the error message. This message may help you troubleshoot the problem - you can search for a solution to the indicated error on the Internet and fix the problem.

However, not all problems are easy to fix, and they can be quite difficult to fix. If the problem is recent, you may want to run a system restore process using the operating system's internal tools "Windows". Or in the properties window of the problematic disk, go to the tab "Driver". Then you can use the button "Update driver" to install a new updated driver for your device. Or use the button "Roll back" to undo any changes and revert to the previous driver. Or use the button "Remove device" to remove it from your system and allow the operating system "Windows" Reinstall the driver yourself and configure it correctly when you reconnect the drive.

Don't forget to press the button "OK" or key "Enter" on the keyboard to save your changes.

Disk partitioning and formatting

You can use the standard application "Windows" to fix problems with the partition and file system of the drive. If you see that the selected drive is not partitioned and is marked "Not distributed", then you will have to create a new partition on it. This will allow devices based on "Windows" or other operating systems, use it.

Use any method described above and open the application. Then right-click inside the unallocated space of the connected device and select "Create Simple Volume".

Will be launched "Simple Volume Wizard", which will offer you help creating a volume on the disk. Click the button "Further" to continue.

Then select a volume size between the minimum and maximum values. Typically, the wizard sets the default simple volume size based on the characteristics of your disk. Click the button "Further" to go to the next assistant page.

Assign a drive letter and click the button "Further".

Select whether you want to format this volume and what formatting options to use, or not format it by checking the appropriate box. By default, you will be prompted to format the volume, you just need to choose which file system you will use. Click the button "Further" and go to the last page.

Here in the main window you will see all your selected options, click the button "Ready" and complete the simple volume creation process. If you want to change anything, use the button "Back" to go to the desired page "Create a Simple Volume Wizard" and making the required changes.

If your drive is partitioned but you still don't see it in File Explorer, then make sure you assign a drive letter to it so you can access it in your operating system "Windows". As we described above, this happens automatically, but if you manually override the drive letter, the drive may not appear and may not be accessible on the system "Windows".

To assign a drive letter, right-click the removable drive partition, select "Change drive letter or drive path...".

Click the button "Add", and then assign a new drive letter by choosing your option or using the default option. For example, assign a drive letter "D" and it will be reflected in the file explorer under the specified letter. Then press the buttons "OK" to save changes.

In some cases, the disk may be partitioned, but may have the wrong file system. For example, you can format the disk for the file system "ext4" from "Linux" or file system "HFS Plus" from "Mac". operating system "Windows" cannot read such file systems. Therefore, reformat the disk to a newer file system "NTFS" or an older file system version "FAT32", to "Windows" was able to recognize her.

To reformat a partition, right-click on it, select partition "Format…" and specify the desired file system.

Please note that the formatting process will erase all files on your drive. Therefore, if you want to save all important files, then connect the disk to the file system on which you formatted the disk earlier (for example, if you formatted the disk on a computer with "Linux" or "Mac", then connect it to a computer with appropriate controls) and copy your important files before continuing.

If you can't access the drive from another device, e.g. "DVD player", "SMART" TV, game console or media center, then the disk may be formatted for the file system "NTFS". Many devices, even your own "Xbox 360" from the corporation "Microsoft", can't read "NTFS" from "Windows". They can only access drives formatted with the old file system "FAT32". To fix this problem, simply reformat the partition "NTFS" re-login to the system "FAT32". Now the disk will be recognized when connected to such devices.

Please note that this process will delete files on your external drive. Therefore, if necessary, copy files from the disk to another device.

Click the button "OK" or key "Enter" to start the reformatting process.

By following these steps you should be able to resolve most drive recognition issues you may encounter. If the drive is not recognized by any computer it is connected to and never appears in the application window, then it may be completely damaged and you just need to replace it.

Have you ever tried anything to fix problems with disk recognition? Let us know about this or leave your comments under the article about which methods helped you.

The release of the new Windows 10 operating system took place back in July. Therefore, many users have already updated the software and are actively using the new OS, because it is distributed free of charge. But, as always happens, the new Windows has its imperfections. For example, many complain that Windows 10 does not see the DVD drive after a system update.

Why doesn't Windows see the drive?

So, when updating the old OS to the new Windows 10, some users experience the following problem: Explorer stops seeing the DVD drive. At the same time, when viewing equipment through the BIOS, the installed CD/DVD-ROM is displayed correctly.

The reason is usually at the software level of the operating system. But if we consider all the possible reasons, we can highlight the following:

• drive driver failure;
• malfunction or incompatibility of some programs with the Windows system;
• The CD/DVD drive has failed.

Correcting the first two reasons is entirely within the user's power. What needs to be done for this, we will consider further.

Error correction methods

It is worth saying that Windows developers are aware of the existing problem, so on the official Microsoft forum you can find one of the solutions to this error.

Using the Command Line

When using this option, the sequence of actions is as follows:

After rebooting, the drive will work and display correctly in Windows Explorer.

Using DVD Drive (Icon) Repair Utility

Another option to correct the situation with a missing CD/DVD-ROM is to use special programs and utilities. One of these programs is CD-DVD Icon Repair, with its help it is very easy to fix the problem, for this:

Finally

If, despite your efforts, the operating system does not see the DVD drive, then you can directly contact the Windows 10 developers.

The official Microsoft website has a Russian-language forum for user support (located at: http://answers.microsoft.com/ru-ru).

Here, after a simple registration, you can ask a question to community members or ask for help from Microsoft specialists.

The network environment is the basis for building a computer network, be it in the office or at home. Very often, apartments already have several computers, some of them can be for work, others for gaming. But at the same time, everyone has access to the Internet. And therefore they are connected together to the Internet gateway either wired or wireless. For a long time they can work normally without the need to create a local network. Until, for example, you need to print a document on a printer connected to a nearby computer.

And then it turns out that the computer is not visible on the network. There can be quite a lot of obvious and hidden problems. But the problems that may occur when working with Windows 10 are not entirely ordinary. And solutions for them are not entirely common on the Internet.

The most common reasons, which are similar to working in other versions of Windows

Of course, the general standard for building networks is the same not only for Windows-based computers, but also for other operating networks. Therefore, some errors are not specific to Windows 10, but simply spread across all versions of this operating system. And they need to be solved just like any other. Therefore, it is not worth focusing serious attention on them in this article, the reasons for which we may not be able to see the computer on the network:

Possible problems with Windows 10

However, with all the old problems of a computer not being on the network, new ones have appeared in the new operating system. And they are worth considering. Before making changes to the system, we recommend making a restore point.

Reason #1. There is no user on the computer with a password set

Security policies in Windows 10 by default require online login using a password. Even if there is a user on the computer, but he does not have a password, he will not be able to log in via the network. Often passwords are not set on home computers, especially if you do not need to work in the OneDrive cloud and set up synchronization.

In this case, you can try setting up security policies. Another option is to enable the "Guest" user, but it is best to create a user with a password. Set a new, equally strong password to an existing password; to do this, right-click on the “This PC” icon --> Manage --> Local users --> Users

In the event that you do not want to enter a password each time to log into the system, where a choice of two users will appear, this can always be disabled.

Reason #2. Can't see a computer on the network from another running Windows XP

The latest fresh builds of Windows 10 will not be detected over the network if an attempt is made to log into them while using the old OS. For example - Windows XP or lower (Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2000).

This happens due to the fact that OSs run on different protocols by default. Windows XP is at least ten years older. And the basis for network work in it was SMBv1. It is already disabled by default in the latest line of Microsoft OS. It is disabled for security reasons. However, you can turn it on.
This requires:

Please remember that when you connect or disconnect a component, you will need to reboot. Otherwise, no changes will occur. And everything will remain in its place.

Reason #3. Feature Discovery Resource Publishing service disabled

Windows 10 has acquired a large set of new features. In particular, for greater security of the computer and user data. On some versions, some services may simply be disabled. This is especially true for home or single-user versions of the OS. Therefore, it must be enabled to provide access.
In particular, a very important service is Function Discovery Resource Publication.

However, because of this service, sharing may not always work. And to solve the problem, you should turn to it almost as a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted.

Reason #4. The file sharing component is not checked for the established network connection

In this case, the connection itself will refuse to provide access. Typically, connection sharing is enabled automatically. However, antiviruses or Windows Defender may disable this component. Again, for security purposes for a reason that is known only to the antivirus itself)

It's easy to fix or check:

1. You need to select the connection at the bottom near the clock and left-click.
2. Select "Network and Internet Settings"
3. On the left, select Ethernet (or if the connection is via WiFi, then WifFi - you need to check what access is being made through)
4. Adapter Settings
5. Double-click to open the connection
6. Select properties
7. In the components window, locate the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks component.
   Check that the component is enabled. If not, turn it on and then click OK. And close all the windows. After this, it is recommended to restart your computer.

Why Windows 7 does not see computers on the network we looked at

There are many ways to exchange data between PCs, but not all of them are equally convenient or effective. It is also important in which network such exchange takes place, global or local. If the network is local, using cloud services will be less rational than combining computers into one workgroup, in which data can be transferred without any intermediaries.

Technically, organizing on a local network is not particularly difficult, but the same cannot be said about fixing one of the most common problems when the computer does not see other computers on the Windows 7/10 network. The problem can be caused by various reasons, but most often its source is incorrect network settings and disabled services. So, what often prevents computers from seeing each other on a local network?

It’s easy to view the list of PCs available on the network; just expand “Network” in the Explorer navigation bar or run the command net view.

If the computers are connected and the command returns "no items in the list", check the following settings one by one.

Network discovery

Open with command control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter"Network and Sharing Center", go to advanced settings and make sure that the network type of the network profile you are using is "Private". Next, make sure your profile settings enable network discovery, file and printer access, and allow Windows to manage homegroup connections.

Now go to the “All networks” profile and enable (if disabled) general access for network users, and, on the contrary, disable password protection.

Return to Network Sharing Center, click “Change adapter settings”, go to the properties of your adapter and check if the “File and Printer Sharing...” checkbox is checked. The checkbox for IP version 6 (TCP/IPv6) must also be checked.

In Windows 10, you can access all of these settings from the Network & Internet section of the Settings app. Please note that the “Make this computer discoverable” option in your connection properties must also be active.

Working group

The reason that computers do not see each other on the Windows 7/10 local network may be incorrect workgroup settings. Open system properties, on the “Computer name” tab, click “Identification”, and when the wizard starts, select these settings in sequence:

• The computer is part of a corporate network;
• My organization uses a domain-free network;
• The workgroup name is WORKGROUP.

After this, you need to restart your computer and once again make sure that the network type is set to “Private”. The name WORKGROUP is the default, do not change it if possible. All computers on the network must use the same (same) workgroup name, and this is a very important point.

Network Browser Service

In Windows 10 1703 and higher, problems with the network environment may be associated with the Network Browser service being disabled or running. Check to see if SMB 1.0 CIFS is active in your Windows Components section. If yes, try disabling it, which will deactivate Network Explorer.

If the Browser is disabled (as it should be in recent versions of Windows 10), try turning it on, then reboot and check that it detects computers on the network correctly.

Other network services

You encounter network discovery problems in Windows 10 1803 more often than in other versions of the system. This is due to the limitation of the functionality of workgroups, which Microsoft considers an obsolete component. In this version, a number of services responsible for detecting other computers on the local network may be disabled. If computers are not visible in your Windows 10 Network Neighborhood, you need to make sure that the following services are enabled:

• Publish feature discovery resources (type "Automatic");
• SSDP detection;
• Computer Browser (see SMB 1.0 above);

After enabling these services on all computers, reboot. If other settings are correct, your PC should detect other resources on the local network.

Reset

If Windows 7/10 still does not see computers on the network, it might be worth resetting the network settings to default values. To do this, open a command line or PowerShell console as an administrator and run the following commands:

• netsh int ipv4 reset My.log;
• netsh int ipv6 reset My.log;
• netsh winsock reset.

To reset the settings, you will need to restart the computer, which Windows will notify you about. But even this measure does not guarantee correct network discovery. There are other reasons why a computer may not be visible on the network, in particular, incorrect driver operation (rarely), as well as connection blocking by a third-party firewall and antivirus.