Buffalo External Hard Drive Not Working Recognized

Uncover the complexities of a Buffalo external hard drive not being recognized in this expansive guide. Delve into the root causes, troubleshooting methods, and effective recovery steps using MyRecover. 

Lori

By Lori / Updated on July 17, 2024

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Encountering the frustration of a Buffalo external hard drive not being recognized is a common hurdle users face. This extensive guide aims to dissect the intricacies surrounding this issue, providing a detailed roadmap for understanding, troubleshooting, and resolving recognition challenges.

hard disk drive

Buffalo External Hard Drive Not Working Recognized: Understanding the Challenge

Discovering that your Buffalo external hard drive isn't working or recognized by your system can be perplexing. Let's unravel the potential causes behind this common dilemma and explore step-by-step troubleshooting methods to rejuvenate your external storage.

Unraveling the Causes

Connection Quandaries:

Loose or faulty cables may disrupt the seamless connection between the Buffalo external hard drive and your computer.

Driver Dilemmas:

Outdated or incompatible drivers could be hindering the proper recognition of your external hard drive.

File System Fiascos:

Issues within the file system of the external drive may lead to recognition failures.

Drive Letter Disputes:

Conflicts with assigned drive letters could impede the rightful recognition of the external hard drive.

Solutions to Buffalo External Hard Drive Not Working Recognized

Effectively addressing the recognition issue mandates a systematic approach. Below are comprehensive solutions to revive your Buffalo external hard drive and restore its recognition.

1. Check Cable Connections

Start by ensuring all cable connections, including USB or Thunderbolt, are secure. Experiment with alternative cables to rule out potential faults in the existing ones.

2. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Navigate to the device manager, locate the Buffalo external hard drive, and either update or reinstall drivers. Confirm their compatibility with your operating system.

To update your storage drive's drivers, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type "devmgmt.msc" in the Run text box, and press Enter to launch the Device Manager.

2. In the Device Manager, expand the Disk Drives menu.

3. Right-click on the storage device displaying the I/O Device Error and select "Update driver."

update driver

4. Choose "Search automatically for drivers."

3. Create New Volume

Creating a new partition is the easiest way to fix unallocated partition on Windows 10 or 11. Be sure your data is recovered and follow the steps below.

1. Right-click the Start menu and select "Disk Management".

2. Right-click the unallocated partition and select “New Simple Volume”. 

new simple volume

4. Format Buffalo External Hard Drive

If the drive partition shows as RAW in Disk Management, it means your file system has a problem and your format cannot be recognized. So you need to format the external hard drive.

1. Plug the external hard drive and open the Disk Management.

2. Right-click the external hard drive and choose Format from the drop-down menu.

3. Select the file system and set the volume label. (Check the Quick Format.)

4. Click Start to format your drive.

format in disk management

MyRecover: Recover Data Before Troubleshooting

When conventional troubleshooting falls short, MyRecover emerges as a robust tool for data recovery from Buffalo external hard drives. This section delves into the distinctive features of MyRecover and outlines the steps to utilize this tool seamlessly.

  • Deal with data loss caused by deleted, corrupted, formatted or system crashes.
  • Recover over 200 file formats: images (JPG, PNG, DNG, TIFF, etc.), videos (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.), MS Office and WPS files, folders, compressed files, websites, etc.
  • Advanced scanning methods: Automatically run Quick Scan and Deep Scan to find all recoverable files.
  • Easy to find: During scanning, you can filter and preview the files you need according to file name, file format, saved path, storage volume, deletion date, etc.
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Step 1. Connect the Buffalo external hard drive to the working PC. Then, hover the mouse on the Buffalo external hard drive and clickScan.​

select-a-partition-to-scan

Step 2.Next,Quick Scan & Deep Scan will automatically scan all the lost or deleted files on the Buffalo external hard drive.

scan-lost-data

Step 3. Select all the files you want to recover and click Recover x files. Then, select a location to store these files and it will retrieve files to the selected folder automatically.

select-deleted-word-files-click-recover

Conclusion

In this troubleshooting guide, we've meticulously addressed the common issue of a Buffalo external hard drive not being recognized. By dissecting potential causes and offering step-by-step solutions, users can navigate recognition challenges effectively. The incorporation of MyRecover as a powerful recovery tool ensures a comprehensive approach to data retrieval.

FAQs: Addressing Additional Queries

Why is my Buffalo external hard drive not recognized after connecting?
 
Dive into the guide for a detailed exploration of potential causes and comprehensive troubleshooting steps.
Can MyRecover retrieve data from a physically damaged Buffalo external hard drive?
 
MyRecover excels in various recovery scenarios, including physical damage. However, the degree of success depends on the extent of the damage.
Are there preventative measures to avoid recognition issues with Buffalo external hard drives?
Discover preventative measures such as regular driver updates, using reliable cables, and practicing safe ejection to avoid recognition issues.
Lori
Lori · Editor
Lori receives professional technical training since joining AOMEI, and aims at helping users troubleshoot problems on data recovery and protection. She focuses on simple, efficient and practical methods, and provides professional advice. Being able to help readers and users is her ultimate goal.