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I have a hard drive that is detected on Windows 7 but I cannot access it.

I plugged in the HDD and and I see it on the "Devices and Printers" but I cannot find it on my Computer.

Is clicked on it on "Devices and Printers" and found these details: Manufacturer: Unavailable Model: External HDD Model Number: Unavailable Categories: Storage Device Description: Unavailable

My HDD is Toshiba Fujistu

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2 Answers 2

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Go to Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> On the left Side Under "Storage" click on 'disk Management"

From there there should be a list of drives and volumes that it detects. You may need to select the drive and right click on it and select "initialize" from there you can format the drive as NTFS.

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I have only known a drive to be seen by Windows, but not be accessible if it had no drive letter associated with it (barring the drive is not damaged, usb cable not damaged and so on). This has happened to me due to the multi card readers with a "gazzilion" slots.

You could try this:

  • right click "computer"
  • Left click "Manage" (brings you to computer management screen)
  • Left click "Disk Management" - you should be able to see the disk with no letter, if that's the case.

  • Right click that drive, select "change letter and paths..."

  • Change letter - I suggest using a letter way down the alphabet as
    card readers/slots may have e:,f:, g: and so on... I like z: myself then work my way back to c:.

You may or may not have to format/initialize the disk from there, Windows will tell you.

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