File explorer will not see second hard drive

Question

Hi, I just finished setting up a new Windows 10 desktop. I opened the case and plugged in my old hard drive to the second connector to try to retrieve files. I can feel the old drive spinning, but the drive does not show up in file explorer. What do I do? (I only have modest computer experience, so hopefully, not too technical! Thanks.

speedstep · Accepted Answer

Cloning drives causes Drive signature collisions so it will not mount.

The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible
The disk is offline because it has a signature collision
This disk is offline because it has a signature collision with another disk that is online.
Open Run and type diskmgmt.msc. Click Ok to open Disk Management to see if the drive is "seen"
Open Command Prompt and Run as Administrator. Type the command Diskpart to open Diskpart and hit Enter.
In diskpart
```
list disk
```

To change the disk’s signature and set the disk online, type the command unique disk ID= (New signature) where (New signature) is the new ID in hexadecimal.

For example, you can set the new id as uniqueid disk ID= 1456ACBD.

If you have given wrong format ID, the prompt will display the error:

The specified identifier is not in the correct format. Type the identifier in the correct format: in hexadecimal form for an MBR disk or as a GUID for a GPT disk.

When two storage devices have an identical disk signature, the secondary drive that creates disk signature collision will be turned offline, and cannot be mounted for use till the collision is fixed. Another way signature collisions can occur is with the creation and use of Virtual Hard Drives (VHDs). If for example a physical drive is converted to a VHD, or a copy is made of an existing VHD, then signatures will be duplicated and clashes can occur just as they do with physical hard drives.

OR

The sata operation for the drive is ATA or IRRT not AHCI or vice versa.

You may be able to fix this using a Drive Dock via USB3

https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Duplicator-Function-Protocol-Supported/dp/B00JJEUL5W/

If this is a REALLY OLD IDE DRIVE use this

https://www.amazon.com/BYEASY-Adapter-Universal-External-HD02/dp/B0828TP2GY

DELL-Cares · Answer

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RoHe · Answer

@beansweiners - Always include the exact PC model in your posts.

What kind of HDD is the old one: SATA1, SATA2 or SATA3, or maybe a really old IDE drive?

In addition to connecting the old HDD to a power source in the new PC, you have to connect the drive to a SATA data port on the motherboard, assuming it's a SATA HDD.

If you made both connections already, reboot and tap F12 when you see the Dell splash screen to open BIOS setup. Depending on the exact PC model, there may be a list or a separate tab showing what drives are connected. See if this HDD is listed...

Inspiron Desktops

File explorer will not see second hard drive

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