Disk will not initialize in Windows 10.

[DavidJAlsberge]

The drive is a Seagate 3Tb expansion desk external USB 3.0 drive.
It appears in Disk Management, but when I try to initialize it, I get the error "The system cannot find the file specified" in a window titled Virtual Disk Manager.
Properties says "This device is working properly", but will not allow volume to be populated.
Are there software solutions possible?
Is the disk potentially reparable by physical means?
Is the disk toast and beyond any repair?

 

[thejackal85]

Does it work okay on other machines? Are you able to read it okay? How do you have it plugged in? I know some drives have the option of USB3.0 cable or SATA connection.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there DavidJAlsberge,

Do you have some data stored on the drive? Initializing could be data destructive. In that case, you may try using some data recovery software.

As thejackal85 suggested, you need to try the device on another system. In case it works over there, you can go to your MOBO's website and update all drivers, especially the USB ones.

In case you get similar error when attached to another system, you can try something simple as just attaching it with different cable. You can test it as well: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utility
Keep in mind that there is a possibility that the drive has failed.

Let us know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

 

[DavidJAlsberge]

Does it work okay on other machines? Are you able to read it okay? How do you have it plugged in? I know some drives have the option of USB3.0 cable or SATA connection.

Yes, I have tried it on 3 systems total, 2 Windows 10 and 1 Windows 7.
Doesn't read on any.
[ started a reply with reference to another drive problem, please ignore that if you read it already ]
I have tried different ( known working ) and cables with it already; same results.
Since it's a Seagate drive, I have also tried their software, Seagate dashboard, which doesn't see the drive at all.

 

[DavidJAlsberge]

Hi there DavidJAlsberge,

Do you have some data stored on the drive? Initializing could be data destructive. In that case, you may try using some data recovery software.

As thejackal85 suggested, you need to try the device on another system. In case it works over there, you can go to your MOBO's website and update all drivers, especially the USB ones.

In case you get similar error when attached to another system, you can try something simple as just attaching it with different cable. You can test it as well: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utility
Keep in mind that there is a possibility that the drive has failed.

Let us know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

Including my reply to thejackal85 here :
Yes, I have tried it on 3 systems total, 2 Windows 10 and 1 Windows 7.
Doesn't read on any.
[ started reply with reference to a different drive; please ignore if you have read it already ] I have tried different ( known working ) cables with it already; same results.
Since it's a Seagate drive, I have also tried their software, Seagate dashboard, which doesn't see the drive at all.

Yes, it has 2Tb full out of 3Tb space.
Sadly, I suspect the drive has permanently failed, but, at risk of destroying data, IF I can even initialize it to get it to run, I'll try data recovery software afterwards.

Do you know if it's possibly the microcontroller card failing instead of the drive itself?

 

[D_Know_WD]

The fact that the drive can't be recognized by the brand specific software is not really a good sign.
I guess you can try attaching the drive internally(SATA+power cable). Then you can try accessing it with some data recovery tool: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html
I guess you can try to initialize it and run that afterwards.

If this doesn't work and the data is really important, my suggestion would be to contact some data recovery company. Most of the HDD manufacturers offer their own data recovery services or have some sort of trusted partners.

D_Know_WD