Portable hard drive capacity not showing up is a common problem and is usually caused by a variety of reasons. This article will delve into this problem and give possible solutions. First of all, physical damage to hard drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs) is one of the main reasons. This can be due to a sudden power outage, physical shock, or firmware software failure. Second, connectivity issues can also cause capacity not to be displayed. For example, a faulty USB port or a damaged cable can affect its proper functioning. In addition, partition table corruption or file system errors can also be the culprits of hidden capacity.
When the capacity of the portable hard disk is not displayed, there are several ways to keep the files:
1: Stop using it immediately: Once you find that the capacity of the mobile hard disk is not displayed, you should stop using it immediately. Persistent read and write operations may result in data corruption or loss.
2: Use data recovery software: You can try to use professional data recovery software to repair your portable hard drive. These software are usually capable of scanning and repairing partition table and file system errors to recover the possibility of showing capacity. The recovery steps for portable hard disk capacity not showing are as follows:
The capacity of the portable hard drive does not show the recovery tool: Count Finder software.
Recovery Step 1] :* and open the recovery software, select the disk that needs to be recovered in the software, and then click "Start Recovery", the software will scan the data of this disk.
Recovery Step 2]: After the software scan is completed, the data of this disk will be listed, check the data to be recovered in the software, and then click "Save As" to copy the file.
The portable hard drive capacity does not show recovery** steps are illustrated below
3: Seek professional help: If self-repair does not solve the problem, it is recommended to seek help from a professional data recovery service. Professionals have extensive experience and advanced tools to handle complex hard drive failures more efficiently.
Note that no matter which method you use, you should back up all your important data first to avoid data loss during processing. Additionally, if the portable drive is still under warranty, consider contacting the manufacturer or after-sales service center to find out if warranty or replacement service is possible.
There may be 11 reasons why the capacity of the portable hard drive is not displayed:
Connectivity issues: First, the connection between the portable hard drive and the computer may malfunction, such as a damaged USB port or poor cable contact, causing the computer to not properly recognize the capacity of the portable hard drive.
Drive failure: The drive inside a portable hard drive may have a physical failure, such as a damaged head on a hard disk or a controller failure on an SSD, resulting in an inability to read and display storage capacity properly.
Partition Table Corruption: The hard disk partition table is a file system table that records the partition information of the hard disk, if the partition table is corrupted or tampered with, the computer will not be able to properly recognize and read the storage space of the portable hard drive.
File system errors: The file system is the operating system hierarchy used to organize and store data, and if the file system is wrong or corrupted, the capacity of the portable hard drive may not be displayed.
Viruses or malware: Some viruses or malware can interfere with communication between your computer and your portable hard drive, causing capacity not showing up issues.
Insufficient power: Some portable drives require additional power** to function properly. If the power supply is insufficient, the portable hard drive may not display its capacity properly.
Firmware or software failure: The external drive's firmware or related software may malfunction, resulting in storage capacity not being properly reported.
Hot-swappable: Unplugging a portable hard drive without properly unmounting it may result in file system corruption or partition table errors, preventing capacity from being displayed.
Physical damage: Severe vibration, impact, or crushing of a portable hard drive can cause damage to internal components, such as a scratch on the platter of a mechanical hard drive or a faulty controller on an SSD.
Incompatibility issues: Some operating systems or computer hardware may not be compatible with portable hard drives, resulting in storage capacity not being properly recognized and displayed.
Memory chip failure: The memory chip is one of the core components of a portable hard drive, and if the chip fails or is damaged, it may cause the storage capacity to not be displayed properly.
To sum up, the portable hard drive capacity not showing up can be due to a number of reasons. When you encounter such issues, it is advisable to back up your important data first and then try to fix it or seek professional help.
If you don't need to keep files, there are a few ways to solve the problem of portable hard drive capacity not displaying:
Format the hard drive: By formatting the portable hard drive, you can erase all the files and re-establish the file system. Once formatted, the computer will re-recognize the capacity of the portable hard drive. Note that this action will delete all files, make sure you don't need to keep any data.
Low-level formatting: Low-level formatting is a more thorough method of hard drive repair. It erases all the data and partition tables on the hard drive and reinitializes the entire hard drive. With low-level formatting, issues such as partition table corruption or file system errors can sometimes be resolved, allowing the portable hard drive to redisplay its capacity.
Try using it on a different computer: If the portable hard drive shows capacity normally on the other computer, there may be an issue with the current computer's USB port or driver. Trying to replace the USB port or update the driver may help resolve the issue.
Check the enclosure: Some portable drives use enclosures to connect and protect the drive. If the enclosure is faulty or poorly connected, it may cause the problem that the capacity of the portable hard drive is not displayed. Inspecting and replacing the damaged enclosure may help resolve the issue.
Firmware fixes: Some portable hard drives have firmware fixes that can be used to fix issues caused by faulty firmware. If your portable drive has firmware repair capabilities, refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer or contact technical support for further assistance.
Physical repair: If there is physical damage to a portable hard drive, such as a damaged head of an HDD or a faulty controller of an SSD, a more specialized physical repair or replacement of components may be required to resolve the issue.
Seek professional help: If none of the above methods can solve the problem, it is recommended to seek the help of a professional data recovery service. Professionals have extensive experience and advanced tools to handle complex hard drive failures more efficiently and help you recover the capacity of your portable hard drive.
Please note that it is important to back up important data before performing any operations to avoid data loss during processing. Additionally, some physical damage may not be repairable by conventional methods, so if you need to repair or replace components, seek professional help to keep your data safe.
In order to use the portable hard drive properly and avoid the problem of capacity not showing up and data loss, the following measures can be taken:
Back up your data regularly: Make it a habit to back up your data regularly to prevent any accidents that lead to data loss. Backing up your data can help you recover your lost files and keep your data safe.
Avoid excessive reads and writes on portable hard drives: Frequent reads and writes can cause wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the hard drive, affecting its performance and longevity.
Properly unplug the external drive: Before unplugging the external drive, make sure that all files have been safely unmounted. Avoid unplugging the portable hard drive without proper unmounting to prevent file system corruption or data loss.
Use a stable cable: Make sure to use a *** cable to connect your portable hard drive to your computer, and avoid using an adapter. Damaged or poor connections of the cable may result in interrupted data transmission and data loss.
Avoid storing too many files on your portable hard drive: Storing a large number of files on your portable hard drive can cause the file system to become cluttered, affecting its performance and longevity. Try to store your files in smaller folders and organize the files on your portable hard drive regularly.
Pay attention to the working temperature of the mobile hard disk: The working temperature of the mobile hard disk should not be too high, so as not to affect its performance and lifespan. Make sure that the portable hard drive is well ventilated during use and avoid placing it in a high-temperature environment.
Update your hard drive drivers regularly: Keeping your hard drive drivers up-to-date ensures compatibility and stability with your computer and reduces data loss or capacity not showing up due to driver issues.
Avoid using portable hard drives for illegal operations: Don't use external hard drives for illegal operations, such as accessing malicious or opening unknown email attachments. These actions can lead to virus or malware infections that can damage the data in the portable hard drive.
Use a reliable antivirus: Installing a reliable antivirus and updating your virus database regularly can protect your portable hard drive from virus attacks and malware.
Avoid arbitrary formatting of portable hard drives: Formatting erases all data and re-establishes the file system, so be sure to back up important data before formatting. Arbitrary formatting can lead to data loss and capacity not showing up issues.
Pay attention to the use environment: Avoid using the portable hard drive in an environment with high humidity, high temperatures, or strong magnetic field interference, which may cause data loss and capacity not being displayed.
Following these tips can help you use your portable hard drive properly and reduce the risk of capacity not showing up and data loss. Remember to handle data and hardware devices with caution at all times and take appropriate precautions to keep your data safe.
The capacity of the portable hard drive not showing up can be caused by a variety of reasons, including partition table errors, driver issues, hardware failures, and more. To fix this, you can try things like checking your hardware connection, updating drivers, repairing partition tables, or backing up and formatting your data. In addition, using the portable hard drive correctly and avoiding it in an unstable environment is also an important measure to avoid capacity failure and data loss. When dealing with the problem of the capacity of the portable hard drive not being displayed, you should back up your important data first and operate cautiously to avoid data loss. If you can't fix the problem, it's advisable to seek professional help to keep your data safe.