Fault-finding
The drive is not detected by the computer
Check whether the firmware sees it before assuming it has died. A drive visible in the BIOS but not in Windows is usually a partition or file system problem and the data is intact. A drive invisible in the BIOS is a hardware or connection fault, and that is a different conversation.
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BIOS first, because it splits the diagnosis
Enter the firmware setup and see whether the drive is listed. Visible there means the drive is powered, spinning and communicating — so a missing drive in Windows is a partition table, file system or drive letter problem, and the data is very likely fine. Invisible there means power, cable or drive.
If the firmware sees it
Check disk management for a drive with no letter, an unallocated span, or a partition marked raw. A missing drive letter is a two-click fix. A raw partition means the file system header is damaged, which is recoverable but should be done from an image rather than by running repair tools on the original.
If the firmware does not see it
Reseat the cables — on a desktop both data and power, on a laptop the drive connector. Try a different port or a known-good cable. An external drive that is not detected on any machine and makes no sound has usually lost its enclosure electronics, and the drive inside is often perfectly healthy.
Do not let a repair tool write to it
Running a file system repair against a drive with a hardware problem can convert a straightforward recovery into a difficult one, because those tools write to the disk. If the data matters, image the drive first and work on the copy. That single discipline is what separates a good recovery from a lost one.
Why is my hard drive not showing up?
The drive shows in BIOS but not in Windows. Is the data safe?
Usually yes — that combination points at a partition or file system problem rather than a hardware failure, and the data is normally intact underneath. Resist running repair utilities against it; image it first, then work on the copy. The temptation to click 'repair' is what turns these into recovery jobs.
My external drive is not recognised on any computer. What now?
Often the enclosure's controller board has failed rather than the drive inside it, which is a much better outcome than it appears. Removing the drive and connecting it directly frequently brings the data straight back. Do not assume the drive is dead because the enclosure is.
Windows says I need to format the drive. Should I?
No. That prompt appears when the file system cannot be read, and formatting discards the structure that recovery would use. It is asking to make the drive usable, not to save what is on it. Decline, and get an assessment — this is one of the most common ways data is lost by a single click.
Rather have it done?
Data recovery pulls files off drives that have failed, been formatted or been encrypted by ransomware. Assessment is PKR 3,000 and tells you what is actually recoverable before you commit. Logical recoveries start at PKR 8,000; physical failures needing a cleanroom are quoted after assessment.
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