7 Fixes For Second Hard Drive Not Showing Up

If you’re facing the 2nd hard drive not showing up in the Windows 10 issue. There could be many reasons, but a hard drive not detected in Windows 10 is a primary concern. This usually takes place after a Windows 10 update. But don’t you worry.

You can fix the second hard drive not showing up in Windows 10 issues by following this guide. There are various solutions that cover a wide range of problems. 

Remember, if you can’t find files in a secondary hard drive, use data recovery tools. This guide is related to the ‘hard drives Windows 10 recognize’ option

Solutions To Fix Second Hard Drive Not Showing Up In Windows 10 Issue 

1. Check The Second Hard Drive Connection
2. Partition Manager For Disk Drives 
3. Assign Drive Letters And Path To Second Hard Disk Via Disk Management
4. Check The Hard Drive Drivers 
5. Hardware And Devices Troubleshooter
6. The BIOS Problem
7. Command Prompt To Fix Bad Sectors 

Fix 2nd Hard Drive Doesn’t Show Up In Windows 10 Issues

1. Check The Second Hard Drive Connection

The very first step should be to recheck if the hard drive is connected correctly. For this, you might have to open your PC and check the SATA or USB cable, whichever you use for the connection. 

Make sure that the second hard drive is receiving enough power from the PSU to operate. If you’re unsure, you can connect it to another PC or laptop. You can also buy a new SATA or USB cable. 

Remember that if your hard drive hangs while you use it, it could be a power supply problem.

Restart your computer and see if this step works.

2. Partition Manager For The Disk Drives

Once you connect the second hard drive to your PC, you will have to make it recognizable. For this, you might have to assign it a partition and initialize it. If you don’t do it, you won’t see it in the Windows File Explorer:

• Right-Click on ‘This PC or My Computer’ on your desktop.
• Go to ‘Manage’ and find Disk Management in the options.
• Once you launch Disk Management, find the new Hard Drive.
• Right-click on it and select ‘Initialize Disk.’
• Next, you will have to follow through with the instructions.
• This option will cover the step to allot the disk space. Don’t skip it. Make sure to follow through with it.
• Usually, this step covers the Drive Letter and path option. If it doesn’t move onto the second solution.

3. Assign Drive Letters And Path To Second Hard Disk Via Disk Management

The above-given instruction in the second solution should fix the issue. If it still doesn’t, you can try this step. 

Usually, if you’ve initialized the hard drive but can’t find it, you need to assign it a letter.

As you might have seen, each hard drive partition always has an alphabetical letter in it. You will have to assign a similar letter to the new hard drive.

• Once again, go to This PC > Manage > Disk Management and find the hard drive.
• Right-click on the drive and select ‘Change Drive Letter And Paths’ option.
• Now click on change and assign it the new letter. Apply the changes and click OK to save them.
• You will have to restart the PC.

4. Check The Hard Drive Drivers

If you have checked all the above three steps, then the problem might be the driver. Is the 2nd hard drive not showing up? The driver didn’t install it properly.

A PC driver is software that helps your hardware interact with the software. That’s how all devices you connect work with PCs optimally.

So, follow these steps to fix the issue:

• Right-click the Start Menu and select Device Manager. You can also search for it in the search dialogue box. There is also a step to Press Windows + R key and type devmgmt.msc to run it.
• Once you are on the device manager window, find the Disk Drivers section.
• Find the second disk drive on the list and right-click on it. Go to properties.
• Then move to the device tab.

Now, there are plenty of things that you can do. You can try to Disable the Device and come back to enable it. This usually works as a way of turning the hard drive off and on.

You can also click on Uninstall Driver. This will entirely remove the driver. Now, you will have to restart the PC and reconnect the 2nd hard drive. Then, it will install the relevant drivers.

You can also click on the ‘Update Device’ or ‘Update Driver’ option. Make sure to use the automatically search the internet option. This will automatically download the latest driver if there is any available.

If you can’t find the driver through that option, you can manually search for it. You will have to visit the 2nd hard drive’s manufacturer site and put details. Find the driver and install it.

5. Hardware And Devices Troubleshooter

There is a built-in troubleshoot on your Windows OS. It is the same as the good old diagnostic tool but better. 

If you’ve tried all the above steps and solutions, this step is worth giving a try. You can run a Hardware and Device troubleshooter by following these steps:

• Find and open the Control Panel of your computer.
• Use the top-right search bar to find the ‘Troubleshooting’ option in the Control Panel. You can also find it by changing the view icons to Large Icons.
• Once you’re in the troubleshooting window, click ‘View all’ from the left panel of the options.
• This will reveal all the troubleshooters available. Select Hardware And Devices.
• Now, follow the on-screen prompt to launch the troubleshooter.

It might ask you to have an active internet connection to fix the problem. See if this fix the issue of the  2nd hard drive not showing up.

6. The BIOS Problem

If you had no luck so far or couldn’t find the driver in Device Manager in the first place, it could be a BIOS problem. You might have the second hard drive disabled (off) from the BIOS and not the OS.

The reason for the Hard Drive not showing in BIOS is either a connection problem. If you don’t have a proper connection (from Step 1), it won’t show. But, it could also be that BIOS disabled Hard Drive. 

So, you’d have to enable it:

• Restart your computer and hold the key that opens the BIOS. For most, it is F2 by default. Some Laptops or PCs might use the Delete button or Esc button. Know your model to launch its BIOS.
• Now, go to the Setup Section. You can’t use Mouse in BIOS. You will have to rely on the keyboard. Check if it is turned off. There will be a guide given on which key to use to turn it on.
• Then exit the BIOS after saving the settings. Restart the PC, don’t go to BIOS this time.
• Let the Operating System load normally and check if you get the 2nd Hard Drive Visible.

7. Command Prompt To Fix Bad Sectors

You can try this step if you still haven’t had any luck with the ‘2nd hard drive not showing up’ problem. Windows 10 comes with a lot of scanning and diagnostic tools. One such tool is the Check Disk feature. It is for the Hard Drive problems. 

Don’t rely on DISM or SFC for this step. You need to launch the CHKDSK solution.

For this step to work, you will first have to assign the letter to the hard drive. After that:

• Find Command Prompt in the Search Bar at the Bottom. Right-click on it and select ‘Run As Administrator.’
• Next, type ‘chkdsk C:/f’ and replace the letter ‘C’ with the letter of your 2nd Hard Drive.

Now, press enter to execute the scanner. If it doesn’t work, there is some other error. But, if the option runs, let it scan the system and fix any mistake. You might have to restart the PC after it is done.

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