Keep losing access permission to external HDD


G

Gil80

Member
Local time
3:57 PM
Posts
23
OS
Windows 11 Pro
I have a brand new WD Red 4TB external HDD. I use this as a backup for my windows.
It is externally powered.
I used multiple of USB3.0 cables to test it out.
At least once a week I'll get external HDD getting corrupted/locked with the following message:
You don't currently have permission to access this foler.
Click Continue to permanently get access to this folder.

I replaced the HDD with a WD Black 2TB drive to test... a week later the same issue.

I keep losing my backups!

My PC has also an internal WD Black 2TB HDD with no issues whatsoever. This only happens to my external device.


Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz 3.50 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.9 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
 
Windows Build/Version
Win11 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3007

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 ProIntel Gen11 i9Corsair 32GBRTX3070
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Gigabyte
CPU
Intel Gen11 i9
Motherboard
Z590I AORUS ULTRA
Memory
Corsair 32GB
Graphics Card(s)
RTX3070
Monitor(s) Displays
MSI Artymis
Screen Resolution
2K
I use self-powered WD MyBook External USB 3 drives plugged into a self-powered USB 3 Hub and haven't seen the issue. Haven't needed to open the cases to check if the drives are Red, Black, Green or Blue as used in Desktops or Servers or NAS. Same for my 2 My Passport drives. Also have not seen that issue when plugging drives into a USB3 2-bay Drive Dock for working with them. Have you tried the drive/s on a different computer?
 

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System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
    OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz16GBOnboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA a...
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11
OS
W11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
2 HP Desktops, 1 Dell Desktop, 2 Dell XPS Laptops, 1 HP Laptop
Keyboard
Logitech
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4 & 3
Internet Speed
500 mps
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Bitdefender
I have not experienced permission problems but I definitely have battled my external drives not being detected when the PC wakes from sleep. I can not say for certain why, just that I know it has something to do with the way 11 handles power. I found using externally powered drives connected to an externally powered hub has solved most of my problems though it's not 100%. It still happens occasionally.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655
    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
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.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
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
I also use an external drive for images on one of my systems, but I only turn it on when I need it. Don't know if that would help.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11
OS
W11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
2 HP Desktops, 1 Dell Desktop, 2 Dell XPS Laptops, 1 HP Laptop
Keyboard
Logitech
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4 & 3
Internet Speed
500 mps
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Bitdefender
One thing just came to my sometimes-feeble mind, when losing access to a drive occurs it may help to open Task Manager and go to Windows Explorer/File Explorer and Restart it, force re-reading the drives available. Quicker than rebooting.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
    OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz16GBOnboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA a...
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
I had seen a similar issue on my enclosure (external SATA HDD).
it's related to energy-saving, sleep-mode, , ,. no good solution even I turned off all settings of energy-saving, sleep-mode.

Once idle awhile, my PC will lose the connection of enclosure. Now I simply turn it off if NOT in use.
 

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Windows 7/11Intel i7-11800H32GB DDR4 3200MHzNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
OS
Windows 7/11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP/Lenovo/Asus
CPU
Intel i7-11800H
Motherboard
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro Gen 6
Memory
32GB DDR4 3200MHz
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 35WN65C-B
Screen Resolution
3440 x 1440
Hard Drives
1TB PCIe SSD
Other Info
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2
Installed on ‎12/‎12/‎2025
OS build 26200.7462
Gil80 said:
I replaced the HDD with a WD Black 2TB drive to test... a week later the same issue.

I keep losing my backups!
Click to expand...
My thanks to Gil80 -
This post may be what I've been battling, my external drive(s) not being detected when Macrium scheduled B/U's try to run. I can see the drive in File Explorer but Macrium does not. I use external drive for my Macrium images. Both 4GB / USB 3.0 - WD Elements and a Toshiba Canvio

Per Berton's post I'll try Windows Explorer/File Explorer Restart and see if it fixes the problem.
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200 8655Intel Core I9 12900K32 GBNvidia GeForce RTX 3060 24GB
OS
Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200 8655
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Omen45L
CPU
Intel Core I9 12900K
Motherboard
HP 8917
Memory
32 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 24GB
Sound Card
HP
Monitor(s) Displays
2 HP 27 & 23
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
2 TB Samsung 990 EVO 2 TB Samsung 1 TB SATA ST1000
PSU
HP 800 Watt
Case
HP
Cooling
Water
Keyboard
Logo Tech G 213
Mouse
Logi Tech 502
Browser
FireFox
Antivirus
MS Defender / Malwarebytes Prem.
Other Info
Omen 45SL purchased from HP 12 2022 - Brother Printer MFC-L2700DW APC 500 Back UPS Macrium Reflect Home 8.1 25H2 Oct 2025 KEK CA 2023 cert April 2026
For my problem - a simple file explorer restart did the trick. The Macrium form only offered (1) a new 3.0 drive (2) new cable.
Now got to figure out how to automate it before any of my scheduled back up's start.
Berton said:
File Explorer and Restart it
Click to expand...
Thanks Berton ;-)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200 8655Intel Core I9 12900K32 GBNvidia GeForce RTX 3060 24GB
OS
Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200 8655
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Omen45L
CPU
Intel Core I9 12900K
Motherboard
HP 8917
Memory
32 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 24GB
Sound Card
HP
Monitor(s) Displays
2 HP 27 & 23
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
2 TB Samsung 990 EVO 2 TB Samsung 1 TB SATA ST1000
PSU
HP 800 Watt
Case
HP
Cooling
Water
Keyboard
Logo Tech G 213
Mouse
Logi Tech 502
Browser
FireFox
Antivirus
MS Defender / Malwarebytes Prem.
Other Info
Omen 45SL purchased from HP 12 2022 - Brother Printer MFC-L2700DW APC 500 Back UPS Macrium Reflect Home 8.1 25H2 Oct 2025 KEK CA 2023 cert April 2026
(y)
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
    OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz16GBOnboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA a...
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
In the meantime, I disconnected the drive.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 ProIntel Gen11 i9Corsair 32GBRTX3070
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Gigabyte
CPU
Intel Gen11 i9
Motherboard
Z590I AORUS ULTRA
Memory
Corsair 32GB
Graphics Card(s)
RTX3070
Monitor(s) Displays
MSI Artymis
Screen Resolution
2K
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