Your computer cannot detect the new hard drive: first configuration, testing

Sooner or later every PC user encounters the data storage problem, and many solve it by purchasing an additional hard disk. HDD is inexpensive and great solution for storing large amounts of information. You can easily install several hard drives into the computer case to increase the available space, but you need not only to insert a new solid-state drive, but also to correctly configure it. You computer will not be able to see the hard disk immediately after it is connected by wires to the motherboard, and you will need to take several steps to correct the situation.

---

Table of contents:
1. Why your computer doesn't detect a new hard disk
2. How to configure a new hard disk in Windows 10

---

Why your computer doesn’t detect a new hard disk

Windows 10 does not allow you to install a new hard drive on your computer and immediately start working with it. Before you start using a new drive, you need to check whether it works properly and whether it is detected by the system. Generally there might be several reasons for a computer not to be able to detect a new hard drive:

• Hard drive is incorrectly installed or incorrectly connected to the motherboard and power supply;
• Hard drive does not work due to mechanical damage;
• There were problems when the new HDD was detected by the operating system.

It is quite easy to make sure that Windows 10 is detecting the new hard disk and it is possible for you to start configuring it. To do this, right-click on the start button in the lower left corner and select the “Device Manager” line. Next there will open a menu where you need to double-click the left mouse button on the “Disk Drives” section.

Find the new drive in the list of available disks and check its status:

• If it is not displayed, you should check if the HDD wires are connected with other components of the computer in a proper manner;
• If there is a red or yellow exclamation mark next to it, then there are problems with the identification of the carrier, and you should fix those problems (most often in this situation you will need to download separate drivers for your new hard disk);
• If there are no extra icons next to the new hard drive, it means that it is connected normally and no problems have been detected so far.

In case the new HDD is connected normally, and information about it is available in the device manager, you should proceed to its configuration.

How to configure a new hard disk in Windows 10

Setting up a new hard disk in Windows 10 is pretty easy. If it was detected correctly you just need to follow these simple steps in order to make the drive available for data storage:

1. Right-click on the “Start” icon in the lower left corner of the screen, and select “Disk Management” in the drop-down menu.
2. Select a disk that is not configured (it will be displayed in black on the panel with disks). Right-click on it and select “New simple volume …”
3. Now there will open a menu where you need to specify the size of the volume — choose the maximum size if the hard disk is required for storing data, and not for specific purposes (such as installing a second operating system). Select the size of a simple volume, click “Next.”

4. At this step, you have the opportunity to select a drive letter – select any one that is not yet occupied.

5. Then finally you will be asked to format the hard disk – this procedure is required when installing a new media. Select the desired file system (we recommend NTFS for data storage) and click “Next”, after that your new HDD will be formatted and the “Finish” button will appear very shortly.

6. This completes the hard disk setup, and it will appear in the “This PC” menu on Windows 10.

If you are planning to use your new hard drive regularly, make sure that the HDD is not turning off automatically when working, otherwise the drive will quickly become unusable. If you wish, after the initial settings, you can always return to the “Disk Management” menu and create a new volume on the hard disk, format it with a different file system, or change the drive letter.