Fix Maxtor External Hard Drive Not Recognized/Not Working on Windows

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External hard drives, such as those made by Maxtor, are frequently used for file transfers between devices, backups, and data storage. It can be annoying, nevertheless, to run into a problem where your Maxtor external hard drive is not detected or is not functioning on a Windows computer.

This issue can arise due to several reasons, including hardware problems, outdated drivers, incorrect system settings, file system corruption, or even power supply issues. The good news is that most of these problems can be resolved with a series of troubleshooting steps.

In this guide, we will go through a comprehensive set of solutions to help you fix a Maxtor external hard drive that is not recognized or not working on Windows.

Recover Data from Unrecognized Maxtor External Hard Drive

Before fixing Maxtor external hard drive not detected issues, you can use data recovery program - such as Donemax Data Recovery to help recover the files.

With advanced data recovery technology, Donemax Data Recovery can help export/recover inaccessible or lost files from the unrecognized Maxtor external hard drive to another drive.

Step 1. Connect the Maxtor external hard drive to your computer. Then download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your computer.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Recovery, find the Maxtor external hard drive and select it to start data recovery.

Step 3. Click on Scan button. It performs quick scan + deep scan automatically. After scan, it can find all existing files, hidden files, inaccessible files, deleted/formatted/lost files, etc.

Step 4. You can preview all recoverable files such as photos, videos and documents. Then select the wanted files, click on Recover button to save the files to your computer. Don't save the files to the Maxtor external hard drive.

💡 Tip: Donemax Data Recovery offers Disk Manager tool. It can help you repair damaged Maxtor external hard drive and reformat Maxtor external hard drive, etc.

How to Fix Maxtor External Hard Drive Not Detected/Not Showing Up?

Solution 1. Check Connections or Try It on Another Computer

Before diving into complex troubleshooting methods, start with these basic checks:

▪️ Check Physical Connections

• Verify that the USB cable is firmly attached to the computer and the hard drive.
• Try connecting your PC to a different USB port. Certain ports might not be functioning properly.
• Instead of utilizing a USB hub, connect the drive straight to the PC.
• Verify that the Maxtor drive is powered appropriately if it needs an external power source.

▪️ Try Another Computer

• Attach the external Maxtor hard drive to a different PC.
• If it works on a different device, the issue is likely with your PC, not the drive itself.

▪️ Be cautious for Drive Noises

• A hardware failure may be indicated if the drive is beeping or clicking. Expert data recovery services could be required in certain situations.

Solution 2. Repair Maxtor Drive in Disk Management

If your Maxtor drive is not appearing in File Explorer, it might still be detected by Windows but not assigned a drive letter or formatted correctly. To check this, we will use Disk Management, a built-in Windows tool that provides an overview of all storage devices connected to the system.

How to Open Disk Management:

1. Choose Disk Management from the list by pressing Win + X.

2. As an alternative, type diskmgmt.msc, click Enter, and press Win + R.

Once opened, Disk Management will display a list of all storage devices, including internal and external drives. Look for your Maxtor external hard drive in the list.

Possible Scenarios & Fixes:

After opening Disk Management, you might see different statuses for your Maxtor external hard drive. Let's go through the possible scenarios and how to fix them.

Scenario 1: The Drive Appears as "Unallocated"

What does this mean?

If your Maxtor drive is listed but marked as Unallocated, it means the drive has no partition and needs to be initialized and formatted before it can be used.

How to Fix:

1. Perform a right-click on the Maxtor drive's unallocated space.
2. Click Next after selecting New Simple Volume.

3. Assign a drive letter (e.g., E: or F:).
4. Choose NTFS or exFAT as the file system.
5. Click Finish, and Windows will format the drive.

⚠️ Warning: Formatting will erase all data on the drive. If you need to recover files, use a recovery tool like Donemax Data Recovery before proceeding.

Scenario 2: The Drive Has No Drive Letter Assigned

What does this mean?

Sometimes, Windows recognizes the drive but doesn't assign it a letter, making it invisible in File Explorer.

How to Fix:

1. Right-click the Maxtor drive in Disk Management.
2. Opt Change Drive Letter and Paths.

3. Tap Add, then choose a drive letter (e.g., G: or H:).
4. Click OK, and your drive should now be accessible.

If the Add option is grayed out, the drive may need to be initialized (see the next scenario).

Scenario 3: The Drive Shows as "Not Initialized"

What does this mean?

• A Not Initialized status indicates that the drive is detected but hasn't been prepared for use.
• This commonly happens with new hard drives or drives that have lost partition information due to corruption.

How to Fix:

1. Right-click the Maxtor drive in Disk Management.
2. Choose Initialize Disk.

3. Choose among MBR or GPT:
   • MBR: Best for older systems and drives under 2TB.
   • GPT: Recommended for newer systems and drives over 2TB.
4. Click OK, then proceed to create a partition and format the drive.

💡 Tip: If you're unsure whether to pick MBR or GPT, GPT is usually the better choice unless you're dealing with an old computer.

Scenario 4: The Drive Appears with "RAW" File System

What does this mean?

A RAW file system means the drive is recognized but is unreadable because the file system is either missing or corrupted.

This usually happens due to improper ejection, file system errors, or virus infections.

How to Fix:

Method 1: Using CHKDSK Command

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Win + S, type cmd, right-click and select Run as administrator).
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   chkdsk X: /f /r

(Replace X with your actual drive letter.)

Method 2: Format the Drive

If CHKDSK doesn’t work, the last resort is formatting:

1. Right-click the Maxtor drive in Disk Management.
2. Select Format > Choose NTFS or exFAT.

3. Click OK to proceed.

Important: Formatting erases all data, so try recovering files first with a tool like Recuva or Donemax Data Recovery.

Scenario 5: The Drive is Not Showing Up at All in Disk Management

What does this mean?

If your Maxtor external hard drive isn’t visible in Disk Management, it could be due to:

• Driver issues (corrupt or outdated drivers)
• USB power supply issues
• Hardware failure

How to Fix:

Step 1: Check if Windows Recognizes the Drive in Device Manager

1. Choose Device Manager by pressing Win + X.
2. Locate your Maxtor external drive by expanding the disk drives.
3. If a yellow exclamation point (!) is displayed, right-click and choose Update driver.
4. If the drive is listed but not working, right-click and select Uninstall Device, then restart your PC.

Step 2: Show Hidden Devices in Device Manager

1. In Device Manager, click View > Show Hidden Devices.
2. Increase the number of Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Locate a device where the text is grayed out, then right-click and choose Uninstall device.

4. Give your computer a restart.

Step 3: Check USB Power Supply Settings

1. Press Win + X > Device Manager.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Right-click each USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management tab.
4. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Solution 3. Update or Reinstall Device Drivers of Maxtor Drive

Outdated or corrupt drivers can prevent Windows from recognizing the Maxtor external hard drive.

Steps to Update Drivers:

1. Press Win + X > Select Device Manager.
2. Expand Disk drives and find your Maxtor drive.
3. Right-click it and select Update Driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Steps to Reinstall Drivers:

1. Right-click the Maxtor drive in Device Manager.
2. Select Uninstall device and choose Restart your PC.

3. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver after rebooting.

If Windows fails to detect the right driver, visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver manually.

Solution 4. Run Windows Troubleshooters

Windows provides built-in troubleshooters that can help detect and fix hardware-related issues.

Steps to Run Troubleshooter:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
3. Select Hardware and Devices and run the troubleshooter.

Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows diagnose and fix any detected issues.

Solution 5. Check File System Errors and Repair Drive

If the drive is recognized but not accessible, there may be file system errors.

Method 1: Use CHKDSK Command

1. Press Win + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type:

   chkdsk X: /f /r

   (Replace X with your drive letter)

3. Press Enter and let Windows check and fix any errors.

Method 2: Use Windows Error Checking Tool

1. Open File Explorer and right-click the Maxtor drive.
2. Select Properties > Tools > Check under Error checking.

3. Follow the prompts to scan and fix errors.

Solution 6. Change USB Power Management Settings

Windows power management settings might be preventing the drive from working properly.

Steps to Disable USB Selective Suspend:

1. Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting.

5. Set it to Disabled and click Apply.

Solution 7. Consider Hardware Failure and Seek Professional Help

If none of the solutions work, your Maxtor external hard drive might have a hardware failure.

Signs of Hardware Failure:

• The drive is not detected on multiple computers.
• It makes clicking, beeping, or grinding noises.
• The drive frequently disconnects or crashes.

What to Do Next?

• Contact Maxtor/Seagate support if your drive is under warranty.
• Use professional data recovery services like Ontrack or DriveSavers.

Conclusion

Maxtor external hard drives can stop being recognized for various reasons, including hardware failure, driver issues, or power management settings.

Key Measures:

• Check physical connections and try another computer.
• Use Disk Management to initialize, format, or assign a drive letter.
• Update or reinstall drivers via Device Manager.
• Run built-in troubleshooters and CHKDSK to fix errors.
• Disable USB selective suspend to prevent power-related issues.
• Use recovery tools if data loss occurs.
• If hardware failure is suspected, consult an expert.

By complying these solutions, you should be able to fix your Maxtor external hard drive and recover your valuable data. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to a professional repair service.