How to reinstall an external hard drive
Jan 20, 2020 15:21:06 #
wrangler5 wrote:
I thought Windows had an option you could set that didn't require dismounting before unplugging. I've been on a Mac for 8-9 years now and don't remember for sure, but my wife still uses a Windows box for some things and I have to muck about with it occasionally when I get the "it's not working" diagnosis from her.
Nope. See above for why.
Jan 20, 2020 15:40:40 #
wrangler5 wrote:
I thought Windows had an option you could set that didn't require dismounting before unplugging. I've been on a Mac for 8-9 years now and don't remember for sure, but my wife still uses a Windows box for some things and I have to muck about with it occasionally when I get the "it's not working" diagnosis from her.
I've never seen this option in Windows.
Some USB devices (sticks) do not require a dismount, and the dismount operation is not available -
go figure...
Jan 20, 2020 15:55:46 #
wrangler5
Loc: Missouri
Longshadow wrote:
I've never seen this option in Windows.
Some USB devices (sticks) do not require a dismount, and the dismount operation is not available -
go figure...
Some USB devices (sticks) do not require a dismount, and the dismount operation is not available -
go figure...
Well, it turns out there is such an option, but in Windows 10 you have to go looking for it in the Device Manager of the Control Panel - right click the drive and select the Policies tab. (So I'm not completely losing it.) You can set it separately for each disk drive, which includes thumb drives. For Best Performance you have to pick the choice that requires using the Safe Removal procedure, but if you're willing to give up some performance you can allow a device just to be unplugged. It affects write caching - whatever that is.
Jan 20, 2020 16:09:45 #
wrangler5 wrote:
Well, it turns out there is such an option, but in... (show quote)
THAT's why I've never seen it, I don't have 10.
Writing cache - memory containing file information that will be written later at a "non-busy" (less busy) processor time.
AKA the "Allow Delayed Write" option for "drives".
I have allow delayed write turned OFF, as it is possible to unplug a USB stick that has NOT been completely written to yet (delayed......).
Ever try to dismount a device and the message returned is "Can't dismount, device in use."?
Jan 20, 2020 16:18:07 #
wrangler5
Loc: Missouri
So that's probably why the choice screen for hard drives says something about insuring that the drive has a separate power supply. (I'm on the Mac now and can't call it up to check - but I think I remember words something like that, which don't appear when you're choosing what to do with a thumb drive.)
Jan 20, 2020 16:27:32 #
Jan 20, 2020 19:11:41 #
I have two external drives that are only connected when I'm backing up. As long as it said it was ok to disconnect that drive it should remount fine. It may remount with a different drive letter, but that will be OK. If it was removed before it was finished there may be problems.
Jan 21, 2020 07:02:20 #
Longshadow wrote:
??
You received the "safe to remove" message?
Did you dismount AND unplug it or just dismount it?
Plug it in and see what the computer does/says about it?
If not listed as available and you didn't unplug it, unplug it and wait 10 seconds and plug it back in.
Safest may be to power-down the computer and it should re-mount on startup IF PLUGGED IN.
(Based on a Windows
BTW - To me "disconnecting" is unplugging.
You received the "safe to remove" message?
Did you dismount AND unplug it or just dismount it?
Plug it in and see what the computer does/says about it?
If not listed as available and you didn't unplug it, unplug it and wait 10 seconds and plug it back in.
Safest may be to power-down the computer and it should re-mount on startup IF PLUGGED IN.
(Based on a Windows
BTW - To me "disconnecting" is unplugging.
I am using Windows 10. I uninstalled it. I did when I got the safe to remove message. So just unplugging it may reinstall it? I will try with the computer off. Thank you for the help.
Jan 21, 2020 07:07:20 #
JD750 wrote:
You say it has most of your work in it. Do you have your work backed up?
Yes I do. I am not worried about photos lost. Once I get it reinstalled I should be ok.
Jan 21, 2020 07:12:51 #
thephotoman wrote:
I am using Windows 10. I uninstalled it. I did when I got the safe to remove message. So just unplugging it may reinstall it? I will try with the computer off. Thank you for the help.
When you plug in a disconnected USB drive, Windows will see it and mount it for use.
Jan 25, 2020 16:46:06 #
thephotoman wrote:
Yes I do. I am not worried about photos lost. Once I get it reinstalled I should be ok.
Excellent!
You don’t have to turn the computer off. If it is un-mounted, you can just just unplug the USB cord from the computer, then wait a few seconds and plug it back in.
Jan 25, 2020 18:02:20 #
JD750 wrote:
Excellent!
You don’t have to turn the computer off. If it is un-mounted, you can just just unplug the USB cord from the computer, then wait a few seconds and plug it back in.
You don’t have to turn the computer off. If it is un-mounted, you can just just unplug the USB cord from the computer, then wait a few seconds and plug it back in.
Jan 25, 2020 21:39:01 #
JD750 wrote:
Excellent!
You don’t have to turn the computer off. If it is un-mounted, you can just just unplug the USB cord from the computer, then wait a few seconds and plug it back in.
You don’t have to turn the computer off. If it is un-mounted, you can just just unplug the USB cord from the computer, then wait a few seconds and plug it back in.
You may have to move it to a different USB port, if you don't reboot the computer before reinserting.
Jan 25, 2020 23:37:51 #
Najataagihe wrote:
You may have to move it to a different USB port, if you don't reboot the computer before reinserting.
That is not the case if you have properly umounted the drive.
Jan 26, 2020 09:29:24 #
Not necessarily.
I sometimes have to change ports when the PC doesn’t recognize the drive after initial boot from a proper power off.
I sometimes have to change ports when the PC doesn’t recognize the drive after initial boot from a proper power off.
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