10Jan/125
Suddenly can’t access USB hard disk in Windows 7: how to fix (reset permissions)
I fixed our neighbor's laptop the other day, and I plugged my USB hard drive into it to transfer some files. After I plugged the drive back into my own computer, Windows 7 suddenly couldn't access the disk (notice the drive space indicator disappeared in the first screenshot, below.
No amount of fiddling with the security/permissions/owner would bring it back, either.
This fix is to use the "icalcs" tool to reset the drive's permissions. To do so, follow these steps:Launch the Command Prompt as an administrator (Start > Search for "cmd" > Right-click on "cmd.exe" and select "Run as Administrator")
- Switch to your drive that is having problems (replace H: with your drive letter): CD /D H:
- Type: icacls * /T /Q /C /RESET
- Wait for a while. Mine took about 10-15 minutes.
When it's done, you should be able to access the drive as normal.
Sources:
January 23rd, 2012 - 12:05
what if there is no drive letter even assigned and it says
Disk 1
unknown
Not Initialized
above is what it says where the drive should be listed…just wondering if ya can help me out.
January 23rd, 2012 - 12:59
Is this THE Fred Shirley?
I’d try going to Disk Management (right-click on My Computer, go to Manage, then to Disk Management). Can you initialize the disk and assign a drive letter from that interface?
January 23rd, 2012 - 13:13
lol…yep it is!
i have tried doing what you mentioned that is how i have gotten to this point. when i had XP on the computer no problems now that i have windows 7…problems with this external drive.
when i do what you are asking it says I must initialize the drive and gives me 2 options to partition the disk both of which give me this result…incorrect function. got any ideas?
January 23rd, 2012 - 17:49
Hmm. Do you have an XP computer you can plug it into? Maybe delete the drive and reformat using XP, and then see if 7 will recognize it. Unless of course you need to get the data off of it first?
January 25th, 2012 - 15:53
used the xp computer I have laying around and sure enough the external hard drive is fried…so that was the problem.
now to find a new external hard drive…stink! actually is there any way to get the info off of it?