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FIX: Unallocated hard drive with no data loss [Windows 10/11]

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Have you ever noticed your external hard drive not appearing in the Devices and Drives section of This PC (My Computerin earlier Windows editions)?

The first thing you should do here is to reconnect the drive. If it’s still missing from the page, then troubleshooting begins.

The Device Manager can say that the connecteddevice is working properlyand healthy. However, you see that the drive is alsounallocated.

Data can’t be written to unallocated space on your hard drive.

Several things can cause the unallocated hard drive issue, but before figuring out the cause, you need to learn how to fix an unallocated hard drive without losing data.

How do I fix unallocated hard drive without losing data in Windows 10?

1. Use Command Prompt

At this point,DiskPartshould create a new volume.

Note:In case the above-mentioned steps fail, follow the steps described below to create the volume manually.

2. Use CHKDSK

Note:In the command above, remember to changezto the correct drive letter of the unallocated hard drive./frepairs drive errors,/rrecovers data in bad sectors, and/xunmounts the drive to begin the process.

3. Update your hard-drive driver

If you still don’t see your drive after the reboot, return to these steps and start all over. InStep 4, selectUninstallinstead ofUpdate Driver Software.

After restarting this time around, your driver will be re-installed. This is another useful tip when learning how to fix an unallocated hard drive without losing data inWindows 10.

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Vlad Turiceanu

Windows Editor

Passionate about technology,Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world.

Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, with a complete expertise in touch-based devices, he is constantly keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!

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Vlad Turiceanu

Windows Editor

Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.