Seagate external hard drive (disk) not recognized in Windows 11 with my Aspire TC-885

Louise108

I recently got an Aspire TC-885 PC. When connecting the "Seagate One-Touch" external drive to any USB-A port, my PC does not recognize it. It was recognized on my previous PC, which opened the File Explorer automatically.
On my Aspire TC-885, the disk manager does not list the drive, and File Explorer does not "see" it either, even though the indicator light on the drive is lit.
My PC runs Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 with Windows 11 Home.
A solution would be greatly appreciated. 🤗

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/713632/seagate-external-hard-drive-disk-not-recognized-in-windows-11-with-my-aspire-tc-885

Hi, the Seagate may have an incorrect drive letter, see this link for things you can try: External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Disk Management on Windows 10/11 (easeus.com)

Larryodie

Did you connect with power off before you booted ?

Also try another port.

Plug and Play should assign a number

Louise108

I thought the external drive was not recognized because the files on it were copied from a different PC.

The driver (DT1000MX500SSD1) was already updated. I handles well my webcam and my cellphone. Should I nevertheless uninstall and reinstall it?

I also checked the BIOS to see if the drive was listed there, but I'm unable to locate it, since I'm not sure how to recognize it.

And in the "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter", the "Hardware and Sound" option is not listed in Windows 11 as it is in Windows 10. The options available in my Windows 11 are (my translation from French): Sound, Printer, Network and Internet, Windows Update, Bluetooth, Camera, Windows Multimedia Player, Video playback, Intelligent background transfer service, Program compatibility troubleshooting utility, Privacy resources.

Any thoughts/advice? Thanks.

Larryodie

It should show in Device Manager under Disk Drives

Louise108

@Larryodie. The external disk was left on when I rebooted. Also, I tried other ports with no success. Kindly tell me how to find "Plug and Play".

Louise108

@Larryodie The only driver under Disk Drives is "DT1000MX500SSD1", and it was already updated. I don't see any driver with Seagate or DT1000MX500SSD1 in its name in the BIOS.

Louise108

@Larryodie and @Puraw
Thanks, Puraw, for the External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Disk Management on Windows 10/11 (easeus.com) link. I read it through. Here are my findings and further questions.

Fix 1, Check the connection. On the external disk, the indicator light is on, and this external disk was recognized on my previous PC. Plugging the disk to other USB ports shows no improvement, but we can assume the connection is fine.

Fix 2, Update your drivers. I updated all drivers found in Device Manager. I used the automatic function to find the best drivers.

Fix 3, Reinstall Drivers for Unrecognized External Hard Drive, reads:
"If the driver update doesn't work, the external hard drive driver may be corrupt or damaged. Hence,
you need to reinstall the external HDD driver. Here are the steps:

• Go to Device Manager
• Select Disk drives and find your external hard disk.
• Right-click on it and choose Uninstall device.
• In the Uninstall device window, click "Uninstall" to continue.
• Restart your computer, and reinstall the hard drive driver.
• Check if the external hard drive can be shown in Disk Management."

I didn't see the need for this procedure, because the USB port recognizes my smartphone and my webcam.

Fix 4, "Check the Hard Drive in BIOS", reads:
"Another working solution to find the external hard drive is BIOS, and check if it shows inside BIOS.
Follow the steps below to check the external hard drive in BIOS:
• Restart your computer, and press F2/Del key to enter BIOS.
• Go to the "Boot" section in BIOS.
• Check if your external hard drive is listed there.
[I DON'T SEE IT IN PARTICULAR, JUST "Removable Device" APPEARING 3RD IN BOOT PRIORITY ORDER.]
• If the external hard drive is listed in the boot options, you can try to reconnect it to your Windows 10/11
PC with another cable or port.
• If it's not, go back to the BIOS settings' main page and the "Storage" section. [*]
• Find the external hard drive there and make sure the detection status is "Enabled".
• Save changes, exit BIOS, and check if it shows in Disk Management now."

Below, here is what the BIOS Boot Options on my PC shows:

Boot Options

Launch CSM: Never
Launch PXE OPPROM: UEFI
Launch Storage OPROM: UEFI
Launch Video OPROM: UEFI
Boot Filter: UEFI

Boot Priority Order

1st Boot Device: Windows Boot Manager
2nd Boot Device: CD&DVD
3rd Boot Device: Removable Device
4th Boot Device: LAN

► Hard Disk Drive Priority: Press Enter
► Optical Disk Drive Priority: Press Enter
► Removable device Priority: Press Enter
► Network Device Priority: Press Enter
Boot Main: Enabled
Bootup Num-Lock: On
Halt On: All, but Keyboard

[*] In reference to the point, "If it's not, go back to the BIOS settings' main page and the "Storage" section.":
I don't see any storage section on the BIOS main page. It contains details under the following headings: System BIOS, Processor, Memory, Product Name, System Serial Number, Base Board Serial Number, Asset Tag Number, System Date, System Time.

More help would be appreciated, thanks!

Larryodie

Have you retried it on another PC ?

Maybe it got damage, the cable too ??

Also

Use the Micro-B to USB-A cable to connect One Touch to a computer's USB-A port

. You can connect your Seagate device to a USB-C port on your computer. The USB-C port must support USB 3.0 or higher. A USB micro-B to USB-C cable is not included with this device.

Larryodie

Maybe toolkit is not installed ?

https://www.seagate.com/support/kb/one-touch-with-hub-is-not-listed-in-explorer-or-finder-and-appears-to-be-uninitialized/

Louise108

@Larryodie, thanks for the advice.

I will try the Seagate One Touch on a laptop next Saturday (October 12). We'll be able to see whether the drive or cable have been damaged. The One Touch has a USB 3.2 connector, and the Aspire TC-885 has a USB-C port on the front, but I didn't see on the Acer product page if this USB-C port supports 3.0 or higher.

In the meantime, from the Seagate link you provided,

• - On your keyboard, hold the Windows Key down and press R.
  - Type compmgmt.msc into to the run box.
  - Click on Device Manager on the left.
  - First check the Disk Drives section in the middle window by double-clicking it.
  - Look for your drive name. If you see the drive is detected here continue reading. [THE DRIVE IS NOT DETECTED.] If not:

• - Try connecting the drive to a different port on the computer. [NO CHANGE]
  - If possible, try using a different cable.
  - Try using the drive on a different computer. [ON OCTOBER 12]
  - Verify the drive light is on. Desktop Drives typically require a power adapter. No light could indicate the power adapter is not connected to power. [THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. WOULD INDICATE CABLE IS FINE.]
  - Try a different power outlet. (Desktop Drives) [THE EXTERNAL DISK IS CONNECTED TO MY PC'S USB-A PORT]
  - If using a surge protector or power strip, plug the power adapter directly into the wall outlet instead.(Desktop Drives)
  - If using a USB adapter, try connecting it without the adapter or use a different adapter. [SUGGESTION TO BE EVALUATED AFTER TRYING ON LAPTOP ON OCT. 12]

• I will keep you posted after October 12. Any other ideas are appreciated, though! :)

• Have a good night/day

Larryodie

I'm thinking to try the USB-C port when you get back to it.

I'm thinking that I had a Seagate OneTouch and they was something unique. It may have been the software.

I may still have it if so I'll experiment.

Good Luck,