External hard drive is showing 'Unknown Not Initialized'


  1. TechSavvy
    Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       New #1

    External hard drive is showing 'Unknown Not Initialized'


    Hi Jumanji,

    My external HDD (WD) is not getting recognized in my laptop from last few weeks. I have followed different threads but didn't get any working solution.

    I have tried below options:

    1. Disk management : Initially showing MBR/GPT options but none worked. After that its showing my external HDD as 'Disk1 unknwon not initialized'.

    2. MiniTools Partition Wizard : Installed MiniTools Partition Wizard v9 in my laptop however my external HDD is not showing in the tool as Disk2.

    Could you please help me to get the issue resolved or recover the data at least.


    Many thanks !!
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  3. jumanji
    Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       New #2

    Welcome onboard.

    External HDD - Western Digital Model No/Name: ? Capacity : ?

    Please post a screen shot of Windows Disk Management with only the faulty external connected. Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
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  4. CKWD
    Posts : 408
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       New #3

    Hello TechSavvy!

    I would like to additionally ask what happened when the drive suddenly showed as Unallocated? Were there any error messages? How were you using it? The model of the external WD drive is important, also is it a desktop or portable one, and the capacity.

    Have you tried it on another PC, have you changed the cable? Does it show in Device Manager, as well? If so, is there an exclamation mark beside it perhaps?

    CK_WD
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  6. Hurtysumit
    Posts : 2
    window 7 ultimate 32 bits
       New #4

    100% correct option ,, just run your hdd on windows xp. as window xp does not have option to automatic initialised. so just run it and u will be able to format it and mini tools works in xp also.
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