Windows not finding second hard drive

[Chupp4 Jo3]

Hi all,

I recently got a new hard disk for my laptop as my current one was too small. After installing it turned out that I forgot to attach it to the bracket properly and it disconnected from the power/data connector. After reinstalling (correctly) the hard disk has stopped showing up on windows (10). After checking in the BIOS both hard disks are detected and my Ubuntu install (using the GRUB thing) finds all the files as does my Win 7 desktop. However I can't locate any trace of it using device manager, disk manager or diskpart. Anyone know what I can do?

Cheers in advance,

Chupp4 Jo3

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, Chupp4 Jo3.

This sounds like a really weird coincidence. While mounting the drive properly, you might have dislocated a bit the cables or something, which would explain this, but not in your case if the drive is properly recognized by Win 7 and Ubuntu (if you've booted to those operating systems without disconnecting or moving the HDD in question).
Anyway, if the issue is just with Win 10 it really sounds like it might be an issue with the OS. Is there any chance that you might have installed any OS updates around the same time you re-mounted the HDD?
Just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend that you backup all the important files you have on that HDD and test it with its manufacturer's diagnostic tool, to see if there's anything out of the ordinary.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD

 

[Chupp4 Jo3]

Hey there, Chupp4 Jo3.

This sounds like a really weird coincidence. While mounting the drive properly, you might have dislocated a bit the cables or something, which would explain this, but not in your case if the drive is properly recognized by Win 7 and Ubuntu (if you've booted to those operating systems without disconnecting or moving the HDD in question).
Anyway, if the issue is just with Win 10 it really sounds like it might be an issue with the OS. Is there any chance that you might have installed any OS updates around the same time you re-mounted the HDD?
Just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend that you backup all the important files you have on that HDD and test it with its manufacturer's diagnostic tool, to see if there's anything out of the ordinary.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD

Cheers for the quick response Boggieman,

Even more coincidentally the drive in question is a WD blue Slim xD

I disconnected the drive to test it on the Win 7 machine however the Ubuntu install I tested it on is on a seperate partition of the same SSD I use for my win 10 install and the drive was not touched again after I tested it on Ubuntu. Would you know where I could find the diagnostic tool I would need?

Cheers again,

Chupp4 Jo3

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Thanks mate!

Actually the second part is not too coincidental as I would've helped regardless of the brand 😉
However now I can give you a direct link for the tutorial on how to test the HDD, so check this out: How to test a drive for problems using Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for Windows

Please keep me posted.
Cheers!

 

[Chupp4 Jo3]

So after installing the DLD Tool and using it there was still no sign of the drive. I attempted to restart the system (for probably the 4th time) in case that helped and whadda ya know the drive and both partitions are back *sigh* xD

Thanks so much for the help Boogieman however it seems we all forgot the good old 'turn it off and on again until you're blue in the face' tactic!

Thanks again

Chupp4 Jo3

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Oh well... it happens sometimes. I thought you had done that a couple of times, especially when you've disconnected and reconnected the drive. Did you hot-swap it without turning off the computer?

Anyway, I'm really glad that everything is running fine now and that there's no real issue.

Just a piece of advice - you saw how easily things can go south, so I'd strongly recommend that you backup your important files. Files that can't be replaced or downloaded like: pictures, videos, documents, projects, etc.

Cheers!