Windows cannot recognize and access external ssd disk

Question

Hello,

Windows cannot recognize the disk, writes that it does not have access to it and does not appear in the disk manager. However, the external drive is recognized by another Windows computer and is operating normally. Therefore, the problem is somewhere in my computer or more precisely in its operating system.

How can I solve it? And no, it's not an option not to use this drive.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm Israel M., I'm an independent consultant.

Welcome to the Microsoft community!

I understand that you are experiencing difficulties, follow the steps below:

Apologize for the difficulties that you're experiencing in Windows 10.

Please be assured that we will do our best to help you.

Initially, I suggest you to start your computer in safe mode with Networking and check if the issue appears there as well. If it does not appear in safe mode with Networking place the computer in clean boot state to identify the culprit program running in the background creating this issue.

Step 1: Safe Mode with Networking

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started.

Refer: Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-10/s...

If the problem does not exist in safe mode, try to perform a clean boot and check.

Step 2: Clean Boot.

Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue.

Follow the article How to perform a clean boot in Windows in the below link and check if it helps:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

(Applies to Windows 10 as well).

NOTE: Once you perform clean boot do refer to the section How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting to boot the computer in normal mode.

Step 3: Run the Chkdsk.exe program to try to recover files from any damaged areas of the disk.

To do so, follow the steps:

Press Windows + X keys.

Click on Command Prompt (Admin) to bring up an elevated command prompt.

In the command prompt type chkdsk / r and then press ENTER.

Press Y, and then press ENTER.

Restart your computer. During startup, Windows will scan your disk for errors, and Windows will try to recover any files that are located on damaged areas on the disk.

Disclaimer: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive, while the bad sectors might be recovered however there might be pertinent data loss.

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Best regards,

Israel M.

Outside consultant