External Hard drive cannot be recognized by laptop


S

spring1

Member
Local time
6:26 AM
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1
OS
Windows 11
Hello guys.

I bought a laptop(used), did a fresh windows install and I tried to plug in an external hard drive(usb 3.0) to my laptop.

The laptop won't recognize this hard drive or any other one. I tried the same hard drives in my windows 10 laptop and they are recognized just fine.

I opened disk management and the external hard drive shows us as Gpt Protective Partition.

Is there any help please? Thank you!

image.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion TP01-2xxx
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 5300G
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics 4.00GHZ
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    wireless Microsoft
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avira
  • Operating System
    Updated Windows 10 to 11 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i3 8100 @3.60 GHz
    Motherboard
    HP 8653 (U3E1)
    Memory
    8.GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD 360 (HP)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic
spring1 said:
I opened disk management and the external hard drive shows us as Gpt Protective Partition.
Click to expand...
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

This may help....

The GPT Protective Partition is used to protect the GPT disk from being overwritten by older software that only recognizes Master Boot Record (MBR) partitions. In a GPT disk, the protective MBR is located at the beginning of the disk (LBA 0). It contains a single partition entry that covers the entire disk, making it appear as if the disk is fully utilized.

If you still want to use this disk, you have to clean the disk and initialize it again. Open CMD as administrator and run diskpart.exe, then run the following commands

list disk
select disk 0
clean

Then open Disk Management to initialize and format the disk again.
Please note that this will cause data loss so backup data before any operation.
Click to expand...
answers.microsoft.com | Disable GTP Disk's "Protective partition" so you can move disks between computers

Make sure you select the correct disk number in Diskpart, that's why you should use 'list disk' first. Your PC's own drive is likely to be disk 0, with external drive(s) as disk 1, 2, etc.

spring1 said:
I tried the same hard drives in my windows 10 laptop and they are recognized just fine.
Click to expand...
If you can read the drive on the Windows 10 laptop, then copy any data you need to keep before for cleaning and reformatting the drive.

When you have cleaned the disk you can intialize it in Disk Management before partitioning and formatting it. If this disk is a 2TB disk then you can initialize it as MBR, the largest partition that can be used on MBR is 2TB.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
First thing I do with any new external storage is delete all partitions and then re-partition. Avoids all the ills of proprietary whims that come built in to new external devices

Minitool Partition Wizard
AOMEI Partition Wizard
(both freeware version)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
@Bree Should you not have told him to initialize disk 1. Disk 0 is his OS drive.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3194
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Please run disk partition information > post a share link



Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first
www.tenforums.com www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first
www.tenforums.com www.tenforums.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation
spring1 said:
I tried the same hard drives in my windows 10 laptop and they are recognized just fine.
Click to expand...
Also post a Windows Disk Management Screenshot with the external HDD plugged into the Windows 10 PC. That will help us see the disk capacity and freespace.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version:24H2 OS Build: 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC Model: SEi12
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel core i5-1235U(Alder
    Motherboard
    SEi (manufactured by AZW)
    Memory
    16*2 (32 GB) DDR 4-3200(1600MHz) Crucial Technology
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Internal)
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ GW2283
    Screen Resolution
    1920*1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB NVME (Kingston SNV2S500G)
    1TB (Crucial CT1000BX500SSD1)
    PSU
    Power Brick 19V-6.32A , 120.08W
    Keyboard
    Dell KB3322Wi (Wireless)
    Mouse
    Dell WM118t (Wireless)
    Internet Speed
    4G/5G
    Browser
    MS Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium - Subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home Version 24H2 Build 26100. 3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3280 AIO 22"
    CPU
    Intel Core i3 8145U
    Motherboard
    Dell inc. 027W48
    Memory
    Intel Optane 16GB module + DDR 4 16GB (Optane disabled.)
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Monitor 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial CT1000BX500SSD1 ; 1000,2 GB
    PSU
    Power Brick
    Case
    All-in one
    Mouse
    Dell Wireless KM 636
    Keyboard
    Dell Wireless KM636
    Internet Speed
    4G
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Upgraded from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home on 28 Oct 2023
glasskuter said:
@Bree Should you not have told him to initialize disk 1. Disk 0 is his OS drive.
Click to expand...
The '0' was not my suggestion, it was in the quoted answer from microsoft.com. That's why I added the "Make sure you select the correct disk number..." bit immediately below the quote.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
jumanji said:
Also post a Windows Disk Management Screenshot with the external HDD plugged into the Windows 10 PC. That will help us see the disk capacity and freespace.
Click to expand...
I think that is the image in post #1. Disk 1 is shown as GPT Protective Partition
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
spring1 said:
Hello guys.

I bought a laptop(used), did a fresh windows install and I tried to plug in an external hard drive(usb 3.0) to my laptop.

The laptop won't recognize this hard drive or any other one. I tried the same hard drives in my windows 10 laptop and they are recognized just fine.

I opened disk management and the external hard drive shows us as Gpt Protective Partition.

Is there any help please? Thank you!

View attachment 117795
Click to expand...
right click > change drive letter > "x"
 

My Computer

System One

idgat said:
I think that is the image in post #1. Disk 1 is shown as GPT Protective Partition
Click to expand...
You have misunderstood. The OP said "I tried the same hard drives in my windows 10 laptop and they are recognized just fine." I have requested the OP to take the screenshot of Windows Disk management with the disk connected to that Windows 10 PC and post it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version:24H2 OS Build: 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC Model: SEi12
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel core i5-1235U(Alder
    Motherboard
    SEi (manufactured by AZW)
    Memory
    16*2 (32 GB) DDR 4-3200(1600MHz) Crucial Technology
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Internal)
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ GW2283
    Screen Resolution
    1920*1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB NVME (Kingston SNV2S500G)
    1TB (Crucial CT1000BX500SSD1)
    PSU
    Power Brick 19V-6.32A , 120.08W
    Keyboard
    Dell KB3322Wi (Wireless)
    Mouse
    Dell WM118t (Wireless)
    Internet Speed
    4G/5G
    Browser
    MS Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium - Subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home Version 24H2 Build 26100. 3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3280 AIO 22"
    CPU
    Intel Core i3 8145U
    Motherboard
    Dell inc. 027W48
    Memory
    Intel Optane 16GB module + DDR 4 16GB (Optane disabled.)
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Monitor 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial CT1000BX500SSD1 ; 1000,2 GB
    PSU
    Power Brick
    Case
    All-in one
    Mouse
    Dell Wireless KM 636
    Keyboard
    Dell Wireless KM636
    Internet Speed
    4G
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Upgraded from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home on 28 Oct 2023
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