My computer was reformatted and D drive doesn’t work
Hi @mlk,
Please refer to the article: Resolve Drive Not Initialized and Access Denied in Windows Disk Management: Resolve Drive Not Initialized and Access Denied in Windows Disk Management
Please contact the WD Technical Support team for best assistance and troubleshooting:
https://support-en.wd.com/app/ask
If your D drive is not functioning after a computer reformat, it could be due to various issues. Begin by checking cable connections, both internal and external. Access the computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings to see if the D drive is recognized; if not, this suggests a hardware problem. In Windows, navigate to Disk Management to initialize and format the drive if it appears without a drive letter.
Ensure your D drive has the necessary drivers, especially for external drives. Run a disk check for errors using the “chkdsk /f D:” command in an elevated Command Prompt. Test the D drive on another computer to rule out issues with your computer’s configuration.
If data recovery is necessary, consider using specialized software before further troubleshooting. If none of these steps resolve the problem, consult a professional technician or the drive manufacturer’s support for assistance. Always back up your data before formatting or initializing the drive to prevent data loss.
If you’re encountering a “D:/ Not Accessible” and “Access Denied” error message after your computer was reformatted and your D drive is not working, there could be several reasons for this issue. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the problem:
- Check Drive Connection: Ensure that the D drive is physically connected to your computer correctly. If it’s an internal drive, open your computer case and verify that the data and power cables are securely connected. If it’s an external drive, make sure the USB or other interface cable is connected properly.
- Drive Letter Assignment: In Windows, the drive letters can change after a reformat or when additional drives are added. Check if the D drive letter is still assigned correctly. Here’s how you can do it:a. Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer” (depending on your Windows version) on your desktop or in File Explorer. b. Select “Manage.” c. In the Computer Management window, click on “Disk Management” under “Storage” in the left pane. d. Look for the D drive in the lower section. If it appears without a drive letter or with the wrong drive letter, you can right-click on it and choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths” to assign a letter.
- Drive Format: Check if the D drive has been formatted correctly. If it was reformatted during the reinstall, make sure it’s in a format that your operating system can read. Common formats for Windows are NTFS or exFAT.
- Driver Updates: Ensure that your motherboard and storage controller drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause issues with drive accessibility.
- Permissions and Ownership:a. Right-click on the D drive in File Explorer. b. Select “Properties.” c. Go to the “Security” tab. d. Check the permissions and make sure your user account has the necessary permissions to access the drive. You may need to click “Edit” to modify permissions.
- Virus or Malware: Perform a full system scan for viruses and malware, as these can sometimes interfere with drive access.
- File System Errors: Run a disk check to scan and repair any file system errors on the D drive. Open a Command Prompt with administrator privileges and run the following command:
bashCopy code
chkdsk /f D:
This will check and repair errors on the D drive. You may need to restart your computer for the process to complete.
8. Data Recovery: If you’ve tried all the above steps and the drive is still inaccessible, there might be a hardware issue with the drive. In such cases, you may need to consult a data recovery specialist to recover your data or replace the drive if it’s under warranty.
Remember to back up important data regularly to prevent data loss in case of drive issues or failures.
