Optiplex Tower 7020, not recognising external HDDs

Hi

I would install a CE Community Edition of Paragon Partition Manager, and examine the drives using that.

Assign Drive Letters to them, like S and T.

@anne_droid​  Thanks for message

Paragon doesn't see the drives!

If all different external hard drives were not seen by the 7020 computer, it could be a faulty USB port or cable.  Test with different cable and/or connecting to different USB ports.

If the drives were seen but with access error, that's a different story.  The drives security settings and share owner were changed by other computers.

@Chino de Oro​ Thanks

The drives, cables and power supplies work fine on another pc!

Did you try a different USB port?

If you hear audio sound for device connected, disconnected, or, if you get error message to delete recycle bin, the latter of my previous response would be the issue.

@Chino de Oro​ 

I have tried front and back USB ports so the answer is yes 

There are no sounds or pop up messages when HDDs are replugged in. There is sound and message when USB stick is plugged in

Just to clarify Windows does not see the drives in File explorer nor in Disk Management

If all those drives were recognized by this computer before and not now, my last guess is checking BIOS settings for any USB disablement.

If this is the legacy 7020, replace a new coin cell battery to ensure that it can keep the settings in BIOS.

@Chino de Oro​ 

Looked at BIOS

Front and rear USB ports are all enabled as is also Boot support

Restarted PC now 1 HDD is seen but not the other HDD!

This is a brand new PC so battery not a problem?

With the HDD not seen being plugged in, open and check Device Manager for any issue with USB driver.  Also, open Disk Management and check for any unassigned (drive letter) or inactive drive.

@Chino de Oro​ 

Just to clarify;  for the Maxtor HDD Windows does not see the drive in File explorer, Device Manager  nor in Disk Management

Now the WD drive is seen and working OK although I haven't changed anything!

In Device Manager, not looking for Maxtor HDD, look for yellow triangle symbol that indicated USB device issue.  If there is any, that would block the Maxtor drive from being recognized.

With the WD drive just being recognized automatically, keep on trying with the Maxtor drive I guess.

In Device Manager, right-clicking and selecting Scan for hardware changes (or whatever it is called in your language / Windows) did nothing?

thanks for msgs

Neither WD or Maxtor now working!

Device manager shows WD with no warning triangle and properties says working OK 

 Device Manager not showing Maxtor (even after rescan hardware)

File Explorer not showing either HDD

Very puzzling !!