Now TestDisk should display the current partition structure. Select Analyze option and press Enter to let TestDisk utility to analyze your hard disk drive and find the lost partition table structure. Now select the partition table type and press Enter. Wait until TestDisk scans your computer for connected disks.Ĭarefully select the unrecognized external USB hard drive like WD Ultra and press Enter to Proceed to disk analysis. Now in the extracted folder double click on “testdisk_win.exe” to open the TestDisk utility.Īt the TestDisk utility first screen, Select Create then press Enter. In many cases, the windows check disk utility seems to fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it error but if it didn’t work don’t worry just continue to the next method.ĭownload TestDisk utility to your computer from here: Įxtract the TestDisk utility from the downloaded file. If the above command doesn’t work try: chkdsk (driveletter:) /f If you are asked to recover files select Yes. Example: The drive letter is our example is “H:” hence the command should be chkdsk H: /r

Type the command in cmd: chkdsk (driveletter:) /r (Change drive letter with your own). Right click on the Windows button (Start Menu) and select “Command Prompt(Admin).” Note the driver letter in the error, for example, “You need to format the disk in drive H: in drive before you can use it.” In this example the drive letter is H.įix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it Method 1: Using Check Disk Utility Method 2: Use TestDisk utility Write Partition Structure back to disk.Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it # Method 1: Using Check Disk Utility # Close any programs or windows that might be using the device and then try again’, then restart your computer. And in case you receive a warning message ‘This device is currently in use. To avoid losing your data or corrupting the storage drive’s partition table always make sure that you use the safely remove option before unplugging your drive. The above error occurs when you remove your external USB drive without using the Safely Remove Option which results in the USB drive Partition Table to become corrupted and unreadable.

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