How to fix 'Device Not Migrated' error of external hard drive? Read this article to learn what causes this error and 10 corresponding fixes, and learn another easy way to keep your data safe.
Have an error with my external hard drive, can anyone help me?
"When I installed a new external hard drive for my desktop, I couldn't find it from File Explorer. When I try to find the hard drive from Device Manager, I get an error message: Device not migrated due to partial or ambiguous match. I went to check the meaning of this error message, it may be caused by incompatible motherboard or damaged device. But my external hard drive is brand new, and I looked at the desktop's motherboard and it should work with my new hard drive. To fix this error message, I tried using the sfc /scannow command in the Command Prompt to repair system files and replace the motherboard's data cable socket. But these efforts are all in vain. All I can say for sure is that mine is brand new, including the SATA cables. Hope someone can help me!”
- Question from Microsoft Community
When your Windows system is updated, data is moved from one device to another, a process known as device migration. If this process cannot be completed, it means that the new Windows version does not recognize the hard drive (external and internal hard drive), Realtek HD audio, monitor, microphone, etc. connected to the computer, and an error like "Device Not Migrated" will appear.
The following will mainly introduce the reasons and solutions for the device not migrated on external hard drive in Windows 10. External hard drive is a common external storage device. When it is connected to the computer, the "Device Not Migrated" error appears. You can't use the external hard drive because it doesn't work properly. So what is causing this error? Below is the answer for you.
This error is caused by incompatible existing drivers or corrupted system files. The following scenarios can also cause a "Device Not Migrated" error:
Now that we know what's causing this error, we need to know how to confirm if the same error occurs on our computer. Next, you'll learn how to view this error message.
If you're not sure if your computer is getting the "Device Not Migrated" error, you can check it out by following these steps:
Here are 10 ways to fix the "Device Not Migrated" error on an external hard drive, you can browse through it first and then learn the specific steps.
Restarting the computer can effectively solve most problems, when you encounter the external hard drive device not migrated error, you can try restarting the computer first to see if it fixes the problem.
Click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the desktop, then click Power options, select the Restart option in the expanded menu, and wait for the computer to restart.
Most external hard drives are connected to the computer via a USB interface. Therefore, when encountering the "Device Not Migrated" error on an external hard drive, you should first check if the USB port on your computer is in working order.
Most USB ports are exposed and can collect dust over a long period of time. At this point, it is recommended that you wipe them carefully with a soft, dry cloth. If your computer has a free USB port, you can try to replace the port and plug the external hard drive connection data cable into another port.
In addition, you can also check whether the current USB interface is working properly by replacing other USB devices (mouse, keyboard, etc.). If you confirm that the USB interface is damaged, please contact professional repair personnel immediately, do not try to repair them without authorization.
Microsoft's regularly released Windows update program may fix errors on your computer, which may help you fix the external hard drive device not migrated error on your external hard drive. In addition, if you have problems with your current Windows system, you can also roll back to the previous system version, which may also help to fix this error.
Open the Update & Security window and switch the tab to Recovery on the left. Click Get Started in the right window, then follow the prompts and restart your computer.
The "Plug and Play" feature allows automatic and dynamic connection of hardware and drivers. Normally, this function is no problem. But when your computer uses incorrect BIOS settings, the "Plug and Play" function is forced to stop, resulting in the "Device Not Migrated" error on the external hard drive. To do this, you need to reset the BIOS to factory settings. Also, updating your computer's BIOS can help fix this issue as well.
If your computer's chipset drivers are too old, it may cause "Device Not Migrated" error on external hard drive in Windows 10. So, you can try to update the chipset driver to fix this error.
Reinstalling the system can effectively solve most problems or errors. In the same way, reinstalling the hard drive driver can also effectively fix the "Device Not Migrated" error on an external hard drive.
System File Checker (SFC Scan) can comprehensively inspect your Windows system, scan for corrupted system files and replace them with the correct ones.
A restore point is a saved state of the operating system in a normal operating configuration, which allows you to restore the system to a point before the error occurred. Please note that this method requires that you have previously set a system restore point, otherwise errors cannot be fixed using this method.
The hardware and device troubleshooting tools built into Windows can help you fix many errors. So, when you encounter the error "Device Not Migrated" on your external hard drive, you can try this tool, maybe it can help you fix the error.
Although it may seem a little incomprehensible, there are users who have fixed the "Device Not Migrated" error on their external hard drive by partitioning the external hard drive, maybe you can give it a try.
I believe you can fix the "Device Not Migrated" error on the external hard drive after trying the above 10 methods in turn. Then make it appear correctly in the File Explorer and migrate the data to another device in its entirety. But it must be reminded that although the convenience of an external hard disk can provide you with more convenience, it is still a storage device in essence, and its service life is limited.
Therefore, for the consideration of data security, it is recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper Standard to back up the disk to prevent the loss of hard disk data. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free and professional disk backup software for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and other system versions. When the "Device Not Migrated" error is fixed, you can use this software for disk backup. With just a few simple steps, you can safely escort your hard drive data.
The external hard disk has limited space. In order to save the storage space of your external hard disk, you can use the Incremental Backup function of AOMEI Backupper Standard to improve the backup efficiency and reduce the use of storage space. In addition, you can also use this software to perform Partition Backup and System Backup to provide all-round protection for your data.
The following will introduce the detailed operation steps of AOMEI Backupper Standard disk backup. But before that, we need to download and install the software. If you are Windows Server users, try AOMEI Backupper Server.
โก Note: This process allows you to add multiple source disks, with the caveat that you cannot restore multiple disks contained in one image file to a larger disk. Therefore, if you want to add multiple disks, you need to restore them individually.
Tipsโ: โฉ Options: You can click Options in the lower left corner to customize the comments, enable email notifications, enable image encryption, and more. โฉ Schedule: You can click Schedule in the lower left corner to customize the backup frequency, daily, weekly and monthly. โฉ Scheme: You can click Scheme in the lower left corner to customize the backup method (full backup, incremental backup, differential backup), and if it is the professional version, you can also enable the automatic backup cleanup function.
Other useful features you might use:
For data security reasons, it is strongly recommended that you create a Windows PE bootable disk in case you need it. As long as you have created a system backup before, you can use the bootable disk to restore your Windows system in the event of a system crash.
When you encounter the error "Device Not Migrated" on the external hard drive, you can first understand the cause of this error, and then try the above 10 methods in turn, which can help you effectively fix this error. For security reasons, it is recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper Standard to make regular backups of the disk.
AOMEI Backupper Standard is easy to operate, and you can realize disk backup in just a few simple steps. If you have additional needs like disk restoration and system cloning, you can also use this software to do it.