Fix: “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” Issue on Windows

Do you know how to Fix “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” Issue on Windows? Getting stuck on the “disk unknown not initialized no size” message? Having a hard time fixing this problem and getting to the data on the drive? If the answer is “yes,” keep reading this article. You might get a “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” error when you connect an external drive to your computer to copy files to it or to make a backup of your system data. This error on your disk makes the drive unreadable, so you can’t get to the files that are stored on it.

When you try to copy files from a USB or external hard drive to your PC, you will get the “disk unknown not initialized or unallocated disk space” error. Well, it’s really annoying when you can’t copy the files you need. When you plug in an external hard drive, you might get a message telling you that the drive was successfully installed. On this PC, however, there is no sign of the hard disk, and you can’t open it or get to the data on it at all. That’s why we’re going to talk about 9 possible ways to Fix “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” Issue on Windows in this post.

What are the causes of “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” issue?

1. Uninitialized Disk: This is the most common reason. If a disk has not been initialized, Windows won’t recognize it. You will need to initialize it using Disk Management.
2. Corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT): The MBR or GPT might be corrupted, preventing the disk from being recognized. In such cases, you may need to repair or recreate the MBR or GPT.
3. Faulty or Loose Connections: Loose or damaged cables, connectors, or power supply issues can lead to the disk not being properly detected.
4. Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause problems with disk recognition. Updating or reinstalling drivers may resolve the issue.
5. Disk Hardware Failure: If the disk itself is damaged or has failed, it won’t be recognized. This could be due to physical damage, bad sectors, or other hardware issues.
6. Virus or Malware: Malicious software can corrupt disk structures or interfere with disk recognition.
7. File System Corruption: Corruption of the file system on the disk can prevent Windows from recognizing it. You may need to use tools to repair the file system.

Fix: “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” Issue on Windows

Update device drivers

1. Pick up the Start button and press “Device Manager.”
2. Find the Disk drives section and make it bigger.
3. Click the “Update driver” button when you see the “unrecognized drive” on the list.
4. Select the “Search automatically for drivers” option and then wait for the setup to finish.
5. After you’re done, restart your computer to make the changes take effect.

Check for disk collisions

1. For Windows to find cmd, type it in.
2. Find the Command Prompt and right-click on it. Then, choose Run as administrator.
3. Press “Yes” to agree to the changes.
4. Type diskpart and hit “Enter.”
5. Type “list disk” and write down the number of the disk that isn’t recognized.
6. Type “select disk” and then the number of the disk.
7. To see the disk’s ID, use uniqueid disk. If it’s the same as another one, change it by adding a new ID after the uniqueid disk ID.

Initialize the disk

1. Click on Windows Search and type “Disk Management.” Then press “Enter.”
2. Pick up the disk that isn’t recognized and press the “Initialize Disk” button.
3. Based on your needs, choose between MBR and GPT partition styles.
4. Click OK to confirm.

Assign a drive letter

1. Start up Disk Management.
2. Right-click on the drive partition that isn’t being seen and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
3. Type in a drive letter and click “Add.”
4. Make sure with OK.
5. Test to see if the error “Disk unknown, not initialized” is no longer there.

Check the physical connection

1. Shut down your computer.
2. Make sure the connections are secure before disconnecting and then reconnecting the drive.
3. You might want to try a different SATA cable or a motherboard port.
4. Start up your computer and look in Disk Management.

Rebuild the MBR

1. Use a Windows installation or recovery disk to start up.
2. On the Microsoft official website, you can get Windows 10 or Windows 11.
3. Click on Fix your computer.
4. Go to Troubleshoot, then Advanced, and finally Command Prompt.
5. To fix the MBR, type bootrec and press Enter.
6. After running the command, restart your computer to get back to normal Windows.

Conclusion

Does the message “Disk Unknown, Not Initialized” show up in Disk Management when you connect a pen drive, SSD, HDD, or external drive? The main reason for the problem is that the MBR is corrupt. The error can also be caused by bad disk sectors, data corruption, connecting the drive to your computer incorrectly, or a hard drive that is failing. Check out these fixes if you want to get rid of this problem and load the data successfully.

Questions and Answers