I bought a WD Elements 20 TB external HDD about a year and a half ago, and it's been working perfectly until recently. Now, when I plug it in, Windows 11 takes forever to boot—like five minutes—and the hard drive doesn't show up. When I unplug and replug it, I hear some weird noises, but eventually, Windows recognizes it. I checked the disk with CrystalDiskInfo and Hard Disk Sentinel; both say it's in great shape, with Hard Disk Sentinel rating it at a perfect 100%. What could be causing this issue, and what should I do?
2 Answers
You should definitely back up your data first, since messing with BIOS settings can lead to data loss. As for the problem, it seems like the initial connection is the main trouble, especially since it works fine once the computer is on. If you suspect the enclosure, connecting it directly as suggested might be the best way to troubleshoot.
It sounds like there might be an issue with the AC power supply to the hard drive. Have you tried running a long sequential read/write test to see if the performance is as expected? Might be worth unshelling the drive and connecting it directly inside your PC via a SATA line to check if the enclosure is the problem, although that can be a bit tricky.
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