Windows doesn't see the hdd. There is a hard drive in the BIOS, but Windows doesn't see it

I have problems with my Seagate 7200.11 drive:
- The disk is not detected in the BIOS, but a normal reclamation sound is heard.
- BIOS correctly recognizes the model name, but has a zero size.

If you have additional questions about recovery problems, please ask a question and we will answer you at the specified email address. A hard disk, as a physical device, can contain several logical devices, which in the operating system are designated by Latin characters - A:, B:, C:, D:, ... Z:. Information about the location of logical disks and the type of their file systems is located in partition description tables, sometimes called partition tables. Each table can contain up to four descriptions of the partitions into which the hard drive is divided.
There are two types of partitions in Windows:

basic
additional

Main section describes the area of a specific logical drive. The first sector of each logical drive is called BOOT sector, contains its specific description, file system type, sector size, cluster size and other parameters.

Additional section describes the next area of the disk, which in turn can be divided further in the same way.

As a result of software failures, virus attacks, erroneous user actions, and similar actions, partition tables or boot sectors may become corrupted. Moreover, these distortions can only be noticed after reboot operating system. Depending on which area is destroyed, this can manifest itself in different ways:

The first sector of the hard drive is completely distorted, covered with garbage. The drive is visible in the BIOS, but there are no logical drives on this hard drive. If the disk is bootable, then the system does not boot and prompts you to boot from another device.Partial corruption of the first partition table. An erroneous disk partition occurs, the file system type changes or it becomes RAW, i.e. unidentified.The partition table of the additional partition is corrupted. The system does not detect logical drives that were described by a corrupted hard drive partition table.Distortion of the boot sector of a logical disk. The system considers this disk unformatted and prompts you to format it. If the distortions are partial, then the root folder may not be readable, or individual folders may contain garbage in the names of files and (or) subfolders.

Distorted area of the system	External manifestation

This type of distortion, as a rule, is not fatal and one hundred percent recovery is possible, and You can do it yourself!.
You can see what physical hard drives are connected to your computer, how they are divided into logical drives and view the directory tree using our programs:

The problem when the hard drive does not appear on the computer is extremely common. This can happen with both the built-in and the hard drive.

But before you try to correct the situation and solve this problem, you need to find its cause. Even an inexperienced user can find and correct existing difficulties by strictly following our instructions and acting as carefully as possible.

Possible reasons

There are a number of reasons why the hard drive may not be visible in my computer. Often this problem occurs with new devices that are just connected to a PC. These reasons are often:

To avoid complications, let's take a closer look at each problem when the hard drive does not open, its cause and an effective solution.

No letter specified

When connecting for the first time, a new HDD, whether external or internal, may not be recognized by the system. It will not appear like other local drives, but will be fully functional and intact.

The fix is quite simple:

After the system boots, it will begin to detect the new hard drive in the “My Computer” folder, and you can work with it.

Wrong format

However, what should you do if when you call up the menu there is no “Change drive letter” option. This is usually caused by a file system mismatch. For normal operation in the Windows operating system, it must be in NTFS format. That is, in order to start the hard drive, it must be reformatted.

For this:

After the system boots, the drive will be displayed and available for full operation.

Initialization

As we said above, new HDDs sometimes do not work the first time they are connected. However, there is nothing wrong with this, since if the drive does not initialize on its own, then this process must be carried out manually.

We do the following:

We repeat steps 1 and 2 from the first instructions again.
Find the desired hard drive, click on it and select “Initialize disk”.
In the window that opens, mark the disk that is no longer displayed, select MBR and click “OK”.
Right-click again, only on the initialized hard drive, and click “Create a simple volume.”
The Volume Creation Wizard will launch, click “Next”.
Next you need to specify the volume size. By default, the maximum size is set; it is not recommended to change the number set by the system. Click “Next”.
Select a letter and click “Next”.
We find the item “Format this volume..”, and in the “File system” field we set NTFS. Leave the remaining fields as they are and click “Next”.
The last window will open in front of you, in which all the specified parameters will be displayed. If you agree with them, click “Finish”.

After this, the disk that was installed earlier will be initialized, and all you have to do is restart the computer and begin full-fledged work.

Unallocated area

It happens that due to periodic failures in Windows or system errors, part of the HDD disappears and becomes inaccessible. This is why the explorer simply does not see the hard drive.

The fix is quite easy:

After you restart the computer, Explorer will begin to see it.

However, if this partition contained the data you need, you can do it without any loss.

Contacts and cable

When connecting the drive, you need to be as careful as possible. Your computer may not recognize your new hard drive due to a faulty or damaged cable. If there is no apparent reason why it does not work, then you need to take a similar wire with identical connectors and use it to connect the hard drive to the PC.

This problem, when cables fail and need to be replaced for normal operation, can affect both external and internal storage. Also, do not exclude the possibility that due to inexperience or carelessness, you simply connected the HDD to the computer incorrectly, and therefore it does not find it. Be sure to check the connection and make sure that the contacts are not coming loose.

BIOS Settings

If you connected a hard drive, but the computer does not see it, then the problem may be related to the settings. There are several possible causes of problems. Let's take a closer look at each of them and find an effective solution.

Download priority

If you connected a hard drive and the computer is connected, then it is possible that the device boot priority is incorrectly set in the BIOS settings. That is, we need to put the new hard drive in first place, so that when the computer starts, it boots first from it.

Let's take a closer look at how to do this:

Thus, after the system boots, the drive will be available for normal operation, and the problem when a new hard drive is connected, but the computer does not see it, will be solved.

Menu items may differ in different BIOS versions. Therefore, if the specified parameters are missing, you should look for the most suitable ones by name.

SATA operating mode

It is possible that my computer does not see the HDD due to the fact that the IDE-compatible operating mode is not specified in the BIOS. To fix this you need to:

Afterwards, the system will boot in normal mode and will be able to recognize and open the hard drive.

Resetting BIOS settings

If you installed a hard drive, but even the BIOS does not see the connected hard drive, then most likely the reason for this is a settings failure. This reason can arise either as a result of incorrect user actions, or due to viruses in the system and power outages. This type of problem is indicated by the system date - if it is not accurate, then it is a failure. To correct the situation, you will have to perform a reset and return to factory settings.

There are two ways to do this. Let's look at the first one first:

This way, the BIOS settings will be reset and the system will be able to detect the hard drive and start working with it.

The second option takes a little longer:

After this, the problem where Explorer does not see the hard drive should be resolved. I would also like to add that both options may require changing the download priority, as described in the instructions above.

Lack of power or cooling

If the hard drive is connected and working, but is not visible in Windows, then you should listen to the sounds it makes. For example, a buzzing indicates a change in cycles, and most likely the problem is a lack of power from the power supply.

You need to act according to the circumstances:

Buy a more powerful power supply.
Disable an unused device.

Motherboard failure

If the hard drive is detected by the system but does not open, perhaps the reason lies in a malfunction of the motherboard, namely the “south bridge”. It is he who is responsible for the correct operation of IDE/SATA devices.

To check this, connect the hard drive to a laptop or any other device, if it starts working, then we have found the “culprit”.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to fix the problem yourself. It is necessary to replace the motherboard or take it in for repair.

Damaged sectors

Inaccessible sectors (or so-called “BAD” blocks) are a common reason why a connected hard drive is not visible to the computer.

Before you start checking and, you should know that bads are divided into 2 types:

Logical – system errors. Most often they occur due to incomplete read/write to the sector. They can be fixed programmatically.
Physical – appear when the magnetic layer ages, overheats or physical damage to the magnetic plate. This screw can only be replaced.

You can fix logical problems using a free program or.

They are quite light and easy to use.

Mechanism malfunction

If the hard drive does not open, but the computer sees it, then most likely it has simply failed. This mainly happens due to a fall, impact, shock, overheating or wear of the mechanism.

In this case, knocking, clicking, buzzing, and system freezes may occur when connected to a PC or laptop.

If the above methods did not bring any results, then the only correct solution would be to take the HDD to a service center before it completely fails.

Detailed video lesson

Problems with hard drive detection can arise in different situations: when installing Windows XP, 7, 8 or 10, connecting a second or external hard drive. Depending on the conditions under which the error occurred, the methods for eliminating it differ significantly.

Search for disk during installation

If during installation Windows does not see the hard drive, then the cause of this error is the lack of necessary drivers. The crash usually appears on laptops and ultrabooks with SSDs. The Windows installation program does not contain the necessary software, so in order to install XP, “seven”, “eight” or Windows 10, you must first install the drivers.

Check your computer's specifications. You need to find out which processor is used - Intel, AMD. For Intel computers, you need to download the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology driver. If you have an AMD processor, then look for the necessary software using the query “SATA/RAID driver + motherboard model”.

Download and unpack the data archive. Place it on the Windows installation flash drive. If you are installing XP from a disk, then transfer the driver to the USB flash drive anyway; it must be connected along with the installation disk before turning on the computer.
Start installing Windows 10, 8, 7, XP. When you reach the stage of selecting a section, click on the “Download” link.
Specify the path to the downloaded driver on the flash drive.

After adding the drivers, you will see the available hard drive partitions and will be able to install Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 on your computer.

External drive detection

If Windows 7 does not see a hard drive that is connected via USB as an external drive, then the first thing you should do is make sure that the correct letter is assigned to the drive.

Open Control Panel, set the View option to Large Icons. Go to the "Administration" section.
Launch the Computer Management tool.
In the menu on the left, find the “Storage Devices” section and launch the “Disk Management” tool.

On Windows 8 and 10, the procedure is completely identical; on XP there are some differences: in particular, the “Administration” section is opened through the “Programs” menu in Start. In any case, in the Disk Management window you should see all the drives connected to the computer: the main, external, second internal.

If the external hard drive is correctly detected by the system, right-click on it and select “Change letter”. Assign a letter that is not already used in the system: for example, X or M.

If the external hard drive is new and you haven’t written anything to it yet, then try formatting it so that the hard drive becomes recognized in the system. Formatting will delete all data, so you need to be sure that there is nothing important on the media. An unformatted external drive will be labeled “Unallocated”.

Right-click on the disk and click “Create Simple Volume.”
Enter the space size of the new volume. If you want the external disk to consist of one partition, then enter the maximum size, that is, the entire volume of the media.
Assign a letter and click Next. Format the volume to the NTFS file system. Leave the remaining parameters unchanged.

After formatting is complete, the external drive should be correctly detected by the system and appear in “Computer”. These steps are performed the same on all versions of Windows, from XP to Windows 10. If changing the letter and formatting does not solve the problem, then make sure that the USB port works without errors - look in the device manager controller drivers. Make sure the cable used to connect the external drive is working properly. If previously the hard drive was detected without problems, but now it is not detected by the system, then check it with an antivirus.

Problems with the second disk

If Windows 7 does not see the hard drive connected to the system unit as a second drive, then you first need to make sure that this drive is detected in the Disk Management utility.

Press Win+R and enter “diskmgmt.msc” to open the Mounted Drive Management Tool. The command is relevant for all versions of Windows, from XP to 10.
Find the second drive among the connected drives. Look at what status it has - depending on this, the methods for correcting the error will differ.

If there are no error messages, try first simply changing the letter to a value that is not yet used on the system. As for errors, the disk may not be initialized, not allocated, or simply have a RAW file system. How to fix these problems.

Hard disk (HDD) is a storage device or the main storage device in most PCs. A large number of people are faced with the fact that their computer (laptop) does not see the hard drive. What to do in this case?
In computer slang it is called a hard drive, and it can be external or internal. On a device that operates on the principle of magnetic recording, not only user information is stored, but also an operating system that processes service data.
How can we still solve the problem of the “invisibility” of the hard drive? Let's step by step understand what a hard drive is and how to make it so that the PC detects it.

If problems occur with the hard drive, then the computer does not display all the recorded information. The PC may not see the hard drive for many reasons. We will try to describe all the causes of malfunctions and available methods for eliminating them.

All these reasons apply to both internal and external hard drives, and the “treatment” in both cases will be the same.

Diagnostic measures

If such a problem occurs, a diagnosis must first be carried out. Its purpose is to identify the source of the problem. After all, the problem may not be in the hard drive, but in the operating system. To find out, the hard drive is connected to another PC.

If the computer boots, it means that it is not the hard drive that is sick, but the operating system itself. And if not, the problem, accordingly, lies in the malfunction of the hard drive. In this case, it is best to take the device to a workshop for repair or exchange it for a new one if the warranty is valid.

In the first case, when the problem lies in the operating system, you can fix it yourself. There are several methods on how to do this yourself, without financial expenses.

1. While the operating system is loading, click Del/F2 several times. If everything is successful, you will see the BIOS settings.
2. If you disconnect the internal hard drive from your computer, wrap it in antistatic material to prevent damage due to electrostatic discharge.
3. Before any manipulations with the hard drive, thoroughly study how to connect it.
4. Antistatic agent is also useful for the bottom of the hard drive (where the boards are).

Main problems and solutions

There are problems related to hard drives that you can fix yourself. For example, if the contacts come loose, it is not necessary to contact a repair shop.

Outgoing contacts

If the contact is disconnected, the computer will not see the hard drive. To resolve the problem, reconnect all cables in the system unit. Check all connections carefully, and then perhaps the problem will be solved.

Incorrect BIOS settings

Even if the BIOS (basic input/output system) does not see the hard drive, the problem may lie in the system date. If the operating system crashed, the date could have been changed, sending your computer back in time. Reset the system date settings by removing the battery on the motherboard for 20-35 minutes and then installing it back.

If the problem lies precisely in incorrect date settings, the computer will recognize the hard drive as a physical storage medium.

There is another problem, which lies in the fact that the devices are not loaded in the correct order. In BIOS, find “Boot” and make the HDD the priority device that will boot first.

Insufficient nutrition

If the hard drive makes suspicious sounds and from time to time disappears and then “reads” again, the problem is hidden in insufficient power, so periodically the PC does not see the hard drive (HDD). There are two ways to fix the problem: the first is to buy a good power supply, the second is to remove some device from the boot.

Device conflict

If your computer has two hard drives of the same model installed at once, they may conflict with each other. In this case, the following will help you:

1. Run diagnostics on both devices to identify faults.
2. Connect both hard drives to the operating system separately.

Bus version

Older versions of Windows OS may not support SATA.

The smartest thing to do is to upgrade to a new OS version. If for some reason you cannot do this, you will need to reinstall the operating system and integrate drivers that are supported by SATA.

Problem with operating system settings

If everything is fine in the BIOS, but the operating system does not recognize the device, it must be configured manually using the capabilities of the OS. Do the following:

Step one: Go to the “Control Panel” from the “Start” menu and click on the “Administrative Tools” section.

Step two Click on “Computer Management”.

Step Three Click on "Disk Management". Here you will see all the drives that are connected to the computer. One of the devices will not have a letter. Right-click on the unnamed device and open “Change Drive Letter” and assign your volume letter.

After this, you need to reboot the system.

If all these methods did not help and the computer (laptop) still does not see the hard drive (HDD), then most likely you need to bring it in for repairs. You are unlikely to be able to detect the malfunction on your own, but a computer technician can do it quickly. And there are cases when only professional help is recommended.

There are cases in which a normally turned on computer, after a normal boot process, displays the message “ Operating system not found". This can only tell us that our OS was unable to detect the required system files to boot. If in your practice you have encountered this kind of problem, then thanks to these instructions you can get rid of this problem.

Reasons why Windows 7 will not be able to see the hard drive

There are several reasons why the system does not see the hard drive:

The hard drive is damaged
The Master Boot Record (MBR) of Sector O is damaged or has errors.
Incorrectly set priority of disks responsible for which disk the operating system will be loaded from.
It also often happens that in BIOS There is an error in your computer, and because of it there is no way to detect the hard drive.
Among the hardware reasons, we can name the following: the interface cable that connects the computer and the hard drive is damaged, then it needs to be replaced and checked. And for SATA It is best to choose a cable that has metal latches.
If you just installed a new hard drive and did not have time to properly prepare it and create partitions, then Windows 7 definitely won't see him. To solve this issue, simply download the program Acronis Disc Director and quickly split our disk into partitions. Just don't mix up the discs!

Now let's try to solve the problem. To begin with, we need to find the item "" by clicking on the icon " My computer» using the right button of your mouse.

Then at the point “ Computer management", select the sub-item "". Next, feel free to right-click on the required disk and then select an item such as “ Change drive letter«.

You definitely can't go wrong further. In order to swap two disks, you will have to rename them several times. First, you will need to replace the letter on any of the drives with an unallocated one: drive “D”, for example, change to “X”, and drive “E” to “D”, then you can change the former drive “D”, and now "X" - to "E".

Windows 7 does not detect hard drive after system reinstallation

Very often there are cases when, after reinstalling the OS, the hard drive ceases to be visible.Then it will help with this problemthis instruction.

If you have a case in which Windows 7 cannot detect the hard drive due to a conflict coming from the motherboard, then first try downloading the necessarydrivers for your computer's motherboard. Save them to disk and downloadthesedrivers to the root folder of your OS. To do this, insert your driver disk into the drive and after restarting the computer, click the " F6«.

Another way to solve the problem. While the computer is booting, you need to go toBIOS (read how to do this), and in the settings of the system itself, find the parameter responsible for disablingAHCI, and only when you disable this setting will the hard drive be found immediately. You will see how to do this in the pictures below.

If this does not help you, then you need to tackle such a difficult task as integrating driversSATA, or even have to download entire driver packages. Also, there is a possibility that integrating all driver packages along with their updates will help. And they need to be integrated into the OS distribution using any of the methods presented below.

In order to select the necessary drivers and updates, you need to go to the website of your motherboard manufacturer (in order to quickly find out the motherboard model, read).

The solution to this problem is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. In most cases, users who have installed or reinstalled the operating system encounter this problem. Don’t immediately panic and call service centers to have a specialist come to your home, first try BIOS disable option like AHCI, then try to integrate all the motherboard drivers into your computer's distribution.

If the above does not help, then try to determine how the connector is connected HDD, and how correct. This very device, thanks to which it is possible to connect a hard drive to the motherboard, has only two connectors - black and blue, which should be connected to the hard drive, since it works more stably.

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