Drive Not Detected: data recovery
Drive not showing in File Explorer, Disk Management or Finder? It could be a cable, a board, firmware or a failing mechanism – and the data is often fine.
Safe checks you can do
- Try a different cable and USB port once
- Check Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac)
- Listen for clicking or beeping – if you hear it, stop
When to stop
If the drive is silent, clicking, or asks to be formatted, power it down and send it in.
Common questions
Should I run CHKDSK?
Not on a failing drive. It can make things worse.
Can you tell what is wrong before I pay?
Yes – that is what the evaluation is for.
Is my data kept private?
Yes. We access it only for the recovery and securely delete our copies afterwards.
Related pages
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RansomwareFiles renamed and encrypted, with a ransom note on screen? Before you pay or wipe anything, talk to us…
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Get a price from a technician
Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to sort it – normally the same working day.
020 7237 6805 Creative IT workshopUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm