More recently, any person who considers himself a rational computer user has used CDs to store important information. For example, many still have collections of their favorite movies and games recorded on CDs and DVDs. Conventionally, we can assume that the well-known video tapes received a second incarnation in the form of discs.
At the same time, the field of storage media is one of the fastest growing. CDs were replaced by DVDs, subsequently replaced by Blu-ray technology CDs. And now the constant drop in the cost of flash memory indicates that a completely new, revolutionary way of storing information is approaching: suffice it to say that the guaranteed shelf life of recorded data is at least 10 years (unattainable time for budget disks). But this is in the future.
Currently, in parallel with the development of flash devices, there is another promising way to create a home collection or copy of important data. This is the use of a second hard drive (hard drive) as a backup storage of information . It's simple: the cost of a gigabyte of hard drive space has now decreased significantly, making it accessible even to a person with an average income. The obvious advantage of the second hard drive over compact discs is protection against scratches, higher reliability, and quick search for the necessary data.
However, the more people began to do this, the more often the question is asked why Windows 7 does not see the second hard drive. There are now three types of hard drives: IDE, SATA and USB. The first ones are almost no longer available, since motherboards have lost native support for IDE. The latter are represented by the most popular type at present, and the third is the prerogative of external devices.
If Windows 7 does not see the external hard drive, then the problem may be in the computer port itself. For many laptops, the USB controller is a "sore spot" because such a malfunction accounts for a high percentage of repairs at service centers.
In the event that Windows 7 does not see the hard drive, do not panic - in many cases it is possible to independently restore functionality. Imagine a situation: a user connected a hard drive to a computer and loaded the Windows operating system . But having opened My Computer, I did not see another drive letter. The reason can be either hardware or software. Software, due to which Windows 7 does not see the hard drive, includes:
- the port channel to which the device is connected is disabled in the BIOS of the computer. We check that the “Enable” status is set for all SATA and USB ports;
- the connected new hard drive is not properly prepared and does not contain partitions; as a result, Windows 7 does not see the hard drive. Download, run and partition the disk using Paragon Partition Magic, Acronis Disc Director, or, not quite correctly, but efficiently - starting to install Windows 7, at one stage it will be offered to perform the required partitioning (we won’t confuse drives!);
- error inside the operating system itself. Occurs rarely and unpredictably. You can try installing the driver on the motherboard. If there is no result, then reinstallation is required;
- non-standard file system on disk. For example, a disk created on a Linux system will not be visible on Windows. It is eliminated by repeated breakdown for the desired system;
- too much volume. Not all boards and systems can work with such devices.
Hardware reasons why Windows 7 does not see the hard drive:
- The interface cable connecting the computer and the hard drive is damaged. Replace with a new one and check. For SATA, it is recommended to use a cable with metal latches: reliability is higher and the price differs slightly;
- problems with power contacts. If the drive does not spin up when turned on (this can be heard from the noise from it), then there is definitely a hardware problem. Check the power cable. For external USB hard drives, the power supply deserves special attention;
- when you turn on and after from the device, a continuous knock is heard. With high probability, the drive requires replacement;
- defective port. Connect to other free connectors or check on another computer.