Hard Drive Not Showing Files

It is never a pleasant sensation when you cannot find that particular file that you need at this very moment. However, it is ten times worse if you plug-in your external hard-drive, and the important work-related or personal information stored on it appears to have simply vanished. Do not panic just yet! The files might still be there or at least you could try to salvage some of them.

First, check if the external drive is not experiencing any interference in its connection to your computer. Look for any breaks in the cables and then check if the device name and information are being displayed properly in Windows Explorer. You can also right-click the device and go to 'Properties' to see if the displayed capacity information is correct.

One simple solution could be to simply reconnect the device; however, do not simply unplug it. Instead, open Windows File Explorer, locate the external device and right-click it. Select 'Eject' from the available options. Now, unplug the connector and wait for several seconds before reconnecting it. Check if the files are now being displayed properly.

If the issue persists, users should turn to the Windows built-in recovery features. Before we start, it is important to note the exact letter that has been assigned to your external drive and remember it. Then type cmd in the search box on the Taskbar. Right-click 'Command Prompt' and select 'Run as administrator.' Now, that we have an elevated Command Prompt window running, we can proceed to initiate the recovery tools. Type in the following command:

chkdsk d: /f

*Remember to substitute 'd' with the letter that corresponds to your external hard drive. 

The check disk tool will then attempt to fix any corrupted data that has been identified on the hard drive.