Cannot access external hard drive.

mkmkmk4780 · 20 May 2013

I've been using this hard drive for a while, and now all of a sudden I cannot access it. Under My Computer, it is referenced by Local Disk (H: ). Usually, it says MK HD (F: ) or (E: ). When I left or right click on the disk, Windows Explorer freezes. I have tried changing the letter of the drive by using Disk Management,however Disk Management gets stuck while saying "Connecting to Virtual Disk Service...".

Any suggestions on how I can access my hard drive? Data recovery is sort of important, but if a reformat is necessary, then that is fine.

Dude · 20 May 2013

I would try another cable first, or another port. What type drive is it?

mkmkmk4780 · 20 May 2013

I've already tried those suggestions. It is a 500GB Verbatim hard drive.

jumanji · 20 May 2013

Please post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management with your external drive plugged in. Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Please make sure that you hide the Actions pane by clicking on the Show/hide action pane in the Toolbar, so that we get a full view.

If you have problems on your PC, try connecting it to another PC to get the screenshot.

mkmkmk4780 · 21 May 2013

I will have access to another PC tomorrow. I will test the hard drive on that to help identify the problem.

In the mean time, here are some screenshots of Disk Management:

-Here is what it looks like without the hard drive connected:

Cannot access external hard drive.-disk-management-no-hd-.png

-Here is what it looks like when I connect the hard drive while the Computer Management window is open:

Cannot access external hard drive.-disk-management-hd-not-responding-.png

Note that Disk 1 is my external hard drive. When I try to click on it, the window becomes non-responsive.

-Here is what it looks like when I close Computer Management, connect my hard drive, then re-open Computer Management:

Cannot access external hard drive.-disk-management-hd-loading-disk-configuration-information-.png

It stays like this for a while (but doesn't become non-responsive). Note that this is the first time I have seen the message at the bottom "Loading disk configuration information".

-Finally, here is the screen that I have always been getting:

Cannot access external hard drive.-disk-management-hd-connecting-virtual-disk-service...-.png

It stays like this, but doesn't become non-responsive.

jumanji · 21 May 2013

OK,that is one too many screenshots.

My bad, it doesn't take me anywhere but I shall not jump into any hasty conclusions.

My thinking at this point of time is that if it repeats the same in another PC, we may have to get into data recovery mode. I shall wait for the screenshots from another PC. (If by any chance your external drive is readable on another PC, copy all data in it to another external drive/storage media and then we shall format it. That is my plan as of now.)

mkmkmk4780 · 23 May 2013

The problem definitely lies with the hard drive. We'll have to do the undesirable: re-format it. The only way I know how to do that is by right-clicking on the hard drive and selecting "Format". However, as I mentioned before, whenever I click on the hard drive the window becomes non-responsive.

jumanji · 23 May 2013

What happened? Did you try the HDD on another PC? With what results?

Now Run MiniTools Partition Wizard Home edition. Download the bootable CD version from Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the last one on this page)

You may either burn the ISO to a CD and boot from it or create a bootable pen drive with that ISO using Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Note: If you had created a bootable pen drive, when booting with it you have to type linux0 against the boot prompt and press Enter for the boot process to continue. ( It is zero and not the alphabet O. You may press TAB key to see all available options linux0, linux1, local, I think.)

Let us know how it shows up in Partition Wizard. Take a camera snapshot and post it. Let us see whether data recovery is possible before trying to format.

octoben · 24 May 2013

I seem to have the exact same problem with my hard drive. It freezes when I try to do anything with it and will only be read if the power supply to the hard drive is reset, disconnecting and connecting the USB does not let my computer read the drive.

The weird thing is, the drive works on Macs and not other Windows PC so I was wondering what steps I should take to solve this.

As a sidenote, I did not format it for the Mac.

jumanji · 24 May 2013

Hi Octoben.

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Just a quick note before leaving station.( I am out for the next two days.)

When you can read the drive, copy all data to another drive (backup) and then try to format your problem hard drive. ( If Windows Disk Management cannot format it, try formatting with MiniTools Partition Wizard. I would prefer that you run PW from a bootable CD/pendrive.)

Download the bootable CD version from Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the last one on this page)

You may either burn the ISO to a CD and boot from it or create a bootable pen drive with that ISO using Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Note: If you had created a bootable pen drive, when booting with it you have to type linux0 against the boot prompt and press Enter for the boot process to continue. ( It is zero and not the alphabet O. You may press TAB key to see all available options)

OK, I got a call to rush to the Pickup vehicle. Bye.