Internal drives not showing after reinstall


  1. Posts : 42
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Internal drives not showing after reinstall


    I've done a reinstall of Windows 10 today. I unplugged my internal storage HDD's to isolate the SSD for the install, wiped the SSD, and reinstalled 10.

    Now it's installed, I've plugged my 2 internal HDD's back in, started up Windows, and neither drives are showing. Neither in device manager or in Explorer. What could be the issue here, and how do I resolve it?

    Any advice is much appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #2

    abibee said:
    I've done a reinstall of Windows 10 today. I unplugged my internal storage HDD's to isolate the SSD for the install, wiped the SSD, and reinstalled 10.

    Now it's installed, I've plugged my 2 internal HDD's back in, started up Windows, and neither drives are showing. Neither in device manager or in Explorer. What could be the issue here, and how do I resolve it?

    Any advice is much appreciated.
    Check in Disk Management to see if they've been assigned Drive Letters.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 42
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    They're not showing in Disk Management either. It's like they don't exist.

    When I disconnected them, I did it by just pulling out the sata cables from the drives. Could I have messed something up by doing that? I've not killed them have I? I've put the cables back in fully, triple checked, and in the same order.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    Abibee, would you check and make sure that the data and power cables are fully seated on both ends. Sometimes it is easy to slightly move a cable which disconnects it and not realize it..

    If that doesn't help, right click on the start flag and select Command Prompt (Admin) allow access and type diskpart and press enter, then type list disk and press enter. See if they show up there. If they do, let us know and we'll try to help you fix it.

    You could also go into BIOS and under Sata configuration it should list each disk that is connected. See if they are seen there.

    With all drives connected, have you restarted your computer?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Diskpart - list disk, didn't show them. However, I restarted and went into bios and changed the boot sequence from the cd rom to the ssd. While in bios I could see the 2 hdd's listed. Now after restarting the drives are showing up properly!

    So I don't know what fixed it, it's a mystery. But all seems to be well, thank goodness. Windows eh!

    Thanks for your input guys, it's appreciated. :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    No problem, I am glad it is working for you. Good job. Sounds like the restart helped.
      My Computer


 

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