Recover Data from Adata External Hard Drive Not Detected Easily

Adata external hard drive not showing up suddenly? If you are suffering from this problem, keep reading this article to get 8 useful ways to get yourself out of this mess and recover data from Adata external hard drive not detected.

By @Ivy Last Updated September 13, 2024

“HELP! My Adata Hard Disk cannot be detected through my laptop at all...I know it is obviously dead but is there anyway to retrieve all of the data in my hard disk? It make a clicking sound for a few second... then it dies down. Is there anyway or anyone can help me with this?” – Reddit

Ever found yourself staring at a blank screen, wondering how to recover data from Adata external hard drive not detected? If so, you're not alone. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the possible reasons behind this issue and explore step-by-step solutions to retrieve your valuable data.

💬The entire process of recovering data from Adata external hard drive not detected is divided into two parts: getting the operating system to detect it and then seeking help from powerful data recovery software or services.If your disk is still accessible, go straight to the 3rd part below.

Why Adata External Hard Drive Not Detected?

Before we dive into solutions, let’s understand why the Adata external hard drive not detected might be happening. Here are some common reasons:

  • Faulty hardware: Sometimes, the problem is as simple as a loose cable or damaged USB port.
  • Driver issues: Outdated, corrupted, or missing drivers can prevent your hard drive from being recognized.
  • File system errors: Corrupted or incompatible file systems can render the drive unreadable.
  • Virus or malware: Malicious software can cause your drive to malfunction.
  • Physical damage: Drops, spills, even general wear and tear can damage the drive, making it inaccessible.

How to Fix Adata External Hard Drive Not Showing Up

Now, let’s start fixing the "Adata external hard drive not showing up" issue and we will share with you 8 tested ways below.

Fix 1: Check Physical Connections

This might seem obvious, but it's crucial to ensure your drive is properly connected. Loose or damaged cables, or faulty USB ports, are often the culprits behind external disk detection issues.

- Disconnect and reconnect the drive: Unplug the USB cable from both the drive and the computer. Wait a few moments, then reconnect it securely.

- Try a different USB port or cable: Sometimes, the USB port on your computer may be faulty. Connect the external drive to another USB port or use a different USB cable to rule out cable or port issues.

- Connect the drive to another computer: If the drive still isn't detected, connect it to a different computer to see if the issue is with your primary computer or the drive itself.

Fix 2. Power Supply Check

Some external hard drives require more power than a single USB port can provide, especially larger or older models. Insufficient power can prevent the drive from being recognized.

- Use a powered USB hub: Connect your Adata external hard drive to a powered USB hub, which provides additional power to ensure the drive operates correctly.

- Ensure the power adapter (if available) is working: If your Adata external hard drive has a separate power adapter, make sure it's properly connected and functioning. Check for any signs of damage or wear on the adapter.

Fix 3. Disable the USB Selective Suspend Setting

The USB selective suspend setting allows it to power down individual USB ports when it is not in use. But sometimes it still powers down while in use. It may be one of the reasons why the Adata external hard drive not showing up.

Step 1. Press Win + S and type control panel in it. Then, select the top result.

Step 2. Click Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Edit power plan.

Step 3. Scroll down to Change advanced power settings and select it. Then, find the USB settings dropdown and select Disable. Click Apply to make changes.

Fix 4. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can prevent your computer from recognizing the Adata external hard drive. Updating or reinstalling the drivers can resolve this issue sometimes.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand the Disk Drive category and look for your Adata external hard drive.

Step 3. Right-click on the drive and select Update Driver. Follow the prompts to search for and install the latest driver.

Step 4. If updating doesn't work, right-click the drive again and select Uninstall Device. After uninstalling, restart your computer,and Windows should automatically reinstall the correct driver.

Fix 5. Check the Disk in Disk Management

Sometimes, you may find the Adata external hard drive is not showing up in File Explorer, but in Disk Management. It’s probably marked as Unallocated, Not Initialized, or only an asterisk. You can try the following methods to fix it.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Locate your Adata external hard drive. If it does not have a drive letter, right-click on it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Step 3. Then, click Add and choose a new drive letter, click OK.

⚠️Also, there is a chance your disk is displayed as Unallocated or Not Initialized. Select New Simple Volume or Initialize Disk instead. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

6. Use CHKDSK Command

The CHKDSK command can be used to fix file system errors and resolve issues that prevent the drive from being recognized.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar, select the top result, and Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk X: /f /r and press Enter. Replace X with the drive letter of your Adata external hard drive.

Step 3. Once the check and repair are complete, restart your computer and reconnect the Adata external hard drive after a while.

Fix 7. Scan for Viruses or Malware

Malicious software can interfere with your computer’s ability to detect external drives. Scan your system for viruses and malware with trusted antivirus software and remove any detected threats to eliminate this possibility. Afterward, restart your computer to make changes take effect.

Fix 8. Format Adata External Hard Drive

If the above methods are not working, try to format the Adata external hard disk to a compatible file system, such as FAT32, NTFS, etc. This will delete all the data on this drive, so please recover data from Adata external hard drive if necessary.

Step 1. Go to Disk Management. Right-click the Adata external hard disk and select Format.

Step 2. Be sure the Perform a quick format option is checked. Select a compatible file system (e.g. NTFS, FAT32, etc.) and click OK.

How to Recover Data from Adata External Hard Drive Not Detected

Now, you can recover data from Adata external hard drive not detected without worries. The most effective method is to use a powerful data recovery software like MyRecover. In addition, it’s worth considering data recovery services if the damage is serious.

Option 1: Recover Data from Undetected Adata External Hard Disk with Software

If your drive is detected but files are missing, powerful Windows data recovery software - MyRecover can help you recover deleted files from Adata external hard drive in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server. It’s easy to navigate, even for beginners.

MyRecover
Best Adata External Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
  • Two crucial scanning technologies: Scans your Adata external hard drive to find deleted or lost files thoroughly, laying the basis for a high success rate of data recovery.
  • 200+ recoverable file formats: recover deleted files, ranging from documents (.docx, .xlsx, .csv, .ppt, .pdf) to images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif), audios(.mp3, .wav), videos(mp4, .mov, .wmv, mpeg), compressed files (.zip, .rar), etc., up to 200 file formats.
  • Different types of Adata external drives, such as SE770G, SC610, HC300 ECO, SE880, EC700G, etc., regardless of the file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, exFA, and ReFS.
  • Filtering the desired files and previewing them before recovery, ensures you get exactly what you want.
  • Recover deleted files from external hard drive for free over 500MB.

Now, FREE download powerful data recovery software - MyRecover and follow the steps below to recover data from Adata external hard drive.

Step 1. Open MyRecover. Hove the mouse over the Adata external disk and click Scan.

Step 2. It will run Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically to find all the recoverable data. The Quick Scan searches for deleted files while Deep Scan searches for lost files.

Step 3. Just wait for the software to complete the scan. Select the deleted or lost files on Adata external hard drive and click the Recover x files button. Please select a new location to save the recovered files instead of the original location.

To select deleted or lost files, you have two ways in the following:

✦ Through sidebar directories: Expand Deleted files or Other Missing Files, go to the original location of deleted audio files, and select them.

 Use the Filter feature: Click the funnel-shaped button, and select Type Documents. Then, type the file name or .xlsx in the search box to narrow it down.

⚠️Notes:
  • The x refers to the number of deleted or lost files. The total size is also included.

  • Restoring deleted files to their original location may result in data overwriting.

  • MyRecover only supports 500MB of free data recovery. Once exceeds, you need to upgrade to MyRecover Pro or Technician.

You can also use it to recover data from WD external hard disk which is not detecting as well as other disk brands, such as Samsung, Seagate, Toshiba, and more.

Option 2: Employ Professional Data Recovery Services

In severe cases, such as physical damage, you need to employ professional data recovery services with advanced tools and techniques, such as Geek Squad, Ontrack, DriveSaver, CBL data recovery, etc.

Research and choose trustworthy software with good reviews. Explain the problem with your Adata external hard drive, including any troubleshooting steps you've already taken. If necessary, send it for a detailed analysis and data recovery.

Conclusion

Losing access to your Adata external hard drive can be frustrating, but you can still fix Adata external hard drive not showing up and recover data from Adata external hard drive by following the steps outlined above. Be sure the disk is detected before recovering.

MyRecover

Best free data recovery software for Adata external hard driive

Remember, prevention is better than cure – always back up your data regularly to avoid such situations in the future.We recommend you using free Windows data backup software - AOMEI Backupper Standard.

FAQs

1. How to recover files from external hard drive but not detected?

Using data recovery software will be a great choice but it will not scan the disk if it’s not detected. So please think carefully about possible cause and make it recognize this disk.

2. Can files be recovered from a failed external hard drive?

The most safe way is to restore files from backup image if you have copies of files. If not, but the drive is still accessible, you can still recover deleted files from failed external hard drive using software.

3. How to repair external hard disk not detected without formatting?

To repair external hard disk not detected without formatting, the first thing is to find the possible reasons, such as connection issues, outdated drivers, file system error, etc. You can then fix this issue respectively:

  • check if the USB cable or port is connected well.
  • update disk drivers
  • run chkdsk command
  • Scan for virus or malware
  • ....

4. How to retrieve data from a corrupted external hard disk?

It depends if your external disk is accessible. If yes, the fastest way is to employ a reliable data recovery software. If not, try professional data recovery services, such as GeekSquad, DriveSaver, etc.

5. How to prevent Adata external hard drive not detected issue

Always monitor the disk health, scan it for viruses and malware regularly, and create multiple copies of your files on it.