Know How Do You Make Windows 10 to Recognize A New Hard Drive?

Upgrading to Windows 10 is always quite exciting however, it always ends up with some technical problems like the new hard drive is not been recognized. It is a general issue faced by the user that the new hard drive is not detected in Windows 10. Therefore, this post will resolve this issue in the right manner. So, before going to the solutions, let’s have a quick glance at the reasons why Windows 10 does not recognize the new hard drive.

Why the New Hard Drive Cannot be Detected in Windows 10?

• Bad Sectors: Sometimes due to many bad sectors in the disk, Windows does not recognize the second drive
• Hard Disk Without a Drive Letter: When the partition of the hard disk is not assigned any drive letter, then it cannot be found in Windows Explorer.
• Failures in Connection: Due to improper connection, poor power supply, improper insertion of cable or USB port, can cause Windows 10 to not recognize a new hard drive.
• Incorrect Initialization: Whenever the disk is marked as Unknown or Not initialized in Disk management, then it cannot be viewed in the File explorer either.
• Outdated Disk Driver: When a driver of the disk drive is outdated, then the second hard drive not being recognized by my computer 10.
• Drive Health Issues: In rare situation, the hard drive may be faulty or have compatibility problems.

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How to Fix this Issue Using Manual Techniques?

Now, understanding the above-discussed factors, one can get rid of this issue manually. However, to hard drive not being recognized by my computer with the manual techniques. One needs to possess adequate technical knowledge else it can lead to serious failures.

Solution 1: Change the Drive Letter of the Hard Disk

It may happen that the hard disk is properly connected and also functioning well. But, sometimes it won’t be displayed well. Hence, it is important to change the drive letter.

1. The initial step is to right-click on This PC and click on Manage option.
   
2. Now, on Computer Management wizard, select Disk Management.
3. Navigate the new hard drive and right-click on it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths option.
   
4. Then, go to Change and select the letter for the partition and click OK.
   
5. Now, close all the Windows and restart the computer.

Note: – Find the best and working solution for second hard drive not showing in disk management. The complete guide explained!

Solution 2: Change the USB Port to Recognize New Hard Drive

In this technique, when the user detects that the current USB port is not detecting the second hard drive in Windows. Then, try to connect it with some another USB port. As there could be a hardware problem with some USB ports.

• Firstly, remove the new hard drive from the connected USB port.
• Then, reconnect it to some other USB port.
• After that, restart the computer to check whether it detects.
• By this, one can get windows 10 to recognize a new hard drive.

Note: – Get step by step guide for error my external drive not showing up in Windows. Move for the complete guide.

Solution 3: Format the New Hard Drive Using Disk Management

• First of all, press Windows Key + X Key and choose Disk Management option.
• Once it is launched, identify the drive which is marked as Unknown or Not Initialized.
• Now, right-click on that drive and select Initialize Disk option.
  
• Then, select the partition style as either MBR or GPT (Note: Select MBR, if the size of the hard drive is smaller than 2 TB. Or. Choose GPT if the new hard drive is larger than 2 TB in size).
  
• After the drive is initialized, right-click on the Unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume and click Next.
  
• Enter the volume size or leave it as per the default size and click Next.
• Assign the drive letter and select the file system from the drop-down list and click Next and then Finish.

Solution 4: Find Cables & Connections

If the hard drive is still not recognized, examine if the cables or ports are working properly. A wrong or loose cable can prevent the drive from being detected.

Troubleshooting Cables:

• Try a Different Cable: If possible, use a different SATA or power cable.
• Switch Ports: Try connecting the hard drive to a different port on your motherboard or USB controller.
• Test the Drive on Another PC: If the drive still isn’t recognized, test it on another computer to rule out a faulty drive.

Solution 5: Check the BIOS/UEFI Settings

If your new hard drive is not appearing in Windows, it may not be accurately recognized in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Here is how to find:

Restart Your computer & click the proper key (usually F2, Del, or Esc) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings.

• Examine Drive Identification: Look for a segment called Boot Options, storage, or Hard Drive Configuration.
• Make Sure Hard Drive is Allowed: Ensure the hard disk is recognized & enabled in the BIOS setting.

If the drive is Not Registering, It could signal hardware error, like a faulty cable, a bad port, or even a failed hard drive.

Solution 6: Test the Hard Drive Health

If none of the above steps work, it’s possible the new hard drive has defects. You can use diagnostic tools to check the health of the drive.

Using Windows Built-In Tools:

• Run a Disk Check: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following command: chkdsk X: /f
  Replace “X” with the letter of the new drive.
• Use Manufacturer’s Diagnostic Tool: Multiple hard drive manufacturers (Seagate, Western Digital, etc.) provide diagnostic programs that can run a full health check on your drive.

If the app identifies a error, you may want to replace the drive.

Final Thoughts

The post will help all the users to get Windows 10 to recognize a new hard drive. As we have explained all major reasons with its respective solutions. I hope the solution explained above will help you to fix your query how do I make windows recognize new hard drive?