External Hard drive won't show up in file explorer but it does show up in device manager?

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maxjet2012

Reputable
Oct 29, 2015
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4,540
Hello again! So my external hard drive is acting odd, here's what I have:
1. The hard drive turns on and shows up on the computer under devices and loads like any other storage with the whole USB icon and all but when I go to file explorer it isn't there what so ever.
2. Unknown files are on it and I've tried it with my Mac and my PC and the PC is the only one that can mount it.
3. Troubleshoot doesn't detect any problems.
4. It's only labeled something like ":/D" and is faded ghost like text
5. I've updated the driver software
6. When I go to properties the volume tab is absolutely blank
7. I run on Windows 10
8. Tried all possible USB connections.

How do I fix this?? It shows up but doesn't show up in file explorer and doesn't show anything in volume etc.
 
Solution
Blankie440
I would right click on "Computer" and go to "Manage" then Storage->Disk Management-> and locate the storage device on the list. If it is shown as grey on this table instead of with a blue header then you may need to right click on the drive and go to "Mark Partition As Active". Walk through the few steps with that and see if it unlocks. Let me know if this doesn't work and what the status is on the drive in question within the Disk Management and we can try another step or two to resolve this.
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utroz

utroz

Splendid
Nov 9, 2010
2,184
1
21,565
Use Macrium Reflex Free to recover the data. Make sure to save it to a different target drive as any data written to the drive will overwrite whatever data is on it. It is possible that the drive is dying or you didn't safely remove it, a bad cable, and many other things. Try using a program to check the SMART data.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj4tu_c_ujMAhWmpYMKHTxzCxQQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macrium.com%2Freflectfree.aspx&usg=AFQjCNG0f_QPhbenn0BJ2ONmmZgr1fsSNg&sig2=6D01imA7F7HlmemV4WKjRw&bvm=bv.122676328,bs.2,d.dmo

Here is a link on how to use SMART http://www.howtogeek.com/134735/how-to-see-if-your-hard-drive-is-dying/
 
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Blankie440

Blankie440

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2011
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18,660
I would right click on "Computer" and go to "Manage" then Storage->Disk Management-> and locate the storage device on the list. If it is shown as grey on this table instead of with a blue header then you may need to right click on the drive and go to "Mark Partition As Active". Walk through the few steps with that and see if it unlocks. Let me know if this doesn't work and what the status is on the drive in question within the Disk Management and we can try another step or two to resolve this.
 
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Solution
M

maxjet2012

Reputable
Oct 29, 2015
40
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4,540

alright i found the disk management and all but all seems blue...but a few boxes in the graph are black. it doesnt make any sense. Nothing is grey and its all active.. https://gyazo.com/b31c08b2fd6a9452d02efc5e6103ac0b
when i right click on the blue parts no options show up but delete volume and help.
 
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M

maxjet2012

Reputable
Oct 29, 2015
40
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4,540
Never mind guys thanks for all of your time and help. Ive plugged it into my mac and it makes sense now because it was under a mac format but before it didnt show up on mac. All good now!
 
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