External Hard Drive Not Recognised.

Used one of my external USB drives (WD Elements) on a smart TV to record various programmes. It was formatted on the TV before it would work.
Decided it wasn't what we wanted (We can also record to tape and DVD) so returned it to it's PC jobs...back up etc.
When connected the PC 'Peeps' as it does with any newly connected device, but I can't find it.
Normally it would show in the list of drives as a USB item.
Windows 10...Any help please?

PS. Tried it on 3 PCs.

 

Have you looked in disc management ? Usually it will show there, and will probably need reformatting (Right click start button> disc management)
If not try using Partition Wizard https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/minitool_partition_wizard_home_edition.html
I have found this will often pickup a hard drive, and can indicate problems, besides fixing , partitioning etc:

 

Found it in Disc Management as Disc 2.
When I right click it, it only offers 'Convert to dynamic disc'.
Do I do that?

 

You should find all available options by right clicking inside each partition.

 

Yes seen that...Thanks.
However the only option is 'Delete Volume'....the rest are greyed out?

 

As it is seen as basic, and healthy in both partitions, but not recognised in anywhere else - do not want to format and have it to use as storage.?
Have you tried left click on drive 2 ….. Then look at top of the box for actions - (ignore convert to dynamic disk ) and click the actions button, then click all tasks, What options are there- ? Just convert to dynamic disc? If so come back, so we know where we are.
It is often easier , if you have limited knowledge to use Partition Wizard, as you can see what is happening.
Your disc shows 2 partitions, , so you should normally be able to save data etc: to either/both partitions, if sufficient space, without doing anything else.
Have you tried right clicking 'This Pc' (w10 version of this computer) and see if it shows there.?

 

I asked if 'convert to dynamic disc' was in the list, as I don't see that in the actions menu - was that on right clicking the volume ? Don't do that.

 

If I right click (left click gives nothing) the left hand 'Disk 2' box:-
Convert to Dynamic Disk
Properties
Help
only the above are highlighted.

Left click either partition and it shades the box.

Right click either partition and it lists:-
Open
Explore
Mark partition as active
Change drive letter and path
Format
Extend volume
Shrink volume
Delete volume
Properties
Help

Only Delete volume and Help are highlighted.

I want to use the drive as back up storage.

Hope that's enough info.

 

Have a look at this- From what I see, this video shows one way to do it , to allow usb connection
Come back and let us know

 

When I get to Right click on drive, in the video, it brings up the options as in my last post:-
Right click either partition and it lists:-
Open
Explore
Mark partition as active
Change drive letter and path
Format
Extend volume
Shrink volume
Delete volume
Properties
Help

This doesn't allow me access to 'Change Drive Letter and Path' as per the video.
I do keep Googling but haven't found much else!

PS. Have tried on 2 PCs.

 

If I type 'disc' into the start button search box, I get nothing but 'help' enabled. To get the most option enabled instead go to
>start button
>all programs
> administrative tools
On the drop down list
>computer management

When that opens ..... Right click on disc management and select
>run as ........
This will open with admin privvy and all options available for that partition will be enabled.

 

I couldn't do the above as when right clicking I only got 'help'.
However I did delete the volume, I know I had tried that before and it hadn't worked!
It worked this time and allowed me to format back to NTFS...I just need to amalgamate the two partitions which I hope I will manage!
Thanks for the various comments

 

We are pleased to see you have managed to get a bit further - Basically you should be able to extend the first partition to take up the new freespace, again through disk management.

 

At least the first partition is only 1GB....but will try and merge it with the main.
Thanks again