Windows 10: Unable to open certain files on external HDD

I have an external HDD for some time now WD My Book 25EE, and recently when I am trying to move my old files from it to a new SSD, I realised some files are inaccessible.... And it is a little complicated, hear me out...So, out of the many folders I have in the HDD, only some are inaccessible, others are functioning properly. By inaccessible, I mean:i.e. for JPG files, it shows "it looks like we don't support this file format" when I opened using Photos. The other JPG file works, only the JPG in certain folders. same goes to other files i.e. .xlsx, where it shows "file format or file extensi

:)

 

My external hdd doesn't show all files in one specific folder.

Dear dazarkhramfb,

Thank you for your prompt response. I appreciate you attempting all the suggested troubleshooting steps. Given that the issue persists and you have verified the integrity of your data via backups, formatting the HDD can indeed be a viable next step to ensure that it functions correctly moving forward.

Using a drive across multiple platforms such as a PC, MacBook, and Mac mini can sometimes cause file system compatibility issues, especially if the drive is formatted in a file system (e.g., NTFS, HFS+, or exFAT) that is not natively supported across all operating systems or if it was not safely ejected during use. This could potentially lead to the kind of issues you've described.

Before proceeding with the format, please ensure that all critical data is backed up, as formatting will erase all existing data on the drive.

Here’s how you can format your HDD:

For Windows:

1. Connect the external HDD to your Windows PC.
   
2. Open "This PC" (or "My Computer") and right-click on the external HDD.
   
3. Select "Format".
   
4. Choose the file system you prefer (exFAT is recommended if you intend to use the drive across both Windows and macOS).
   
5. Ensure "Quick Format" is checked, then click "Start" to begin the formatting process.
   

For macOS:

1. Connect the external HDD to your Mac.
   
2. Open "Disk Utility" (found in Applications > Utilities).
   
3. Select the external HDD from the sidebar.
   
4. Click on the "Erase" button.
   
5. Select the desired format (exFAT is recommended for compatibility with both Windows and macOS).
   
6. Click "Erase" to begin the process.
   

If you continue to work directly from the external HDD with Premiere Pro, ensure the drive is properly ejected before disconnecting it from each computer to avoid file corruption. Once the format is complete, you can transfer your backed-up files back onto the external HDD and resume your workflow. If you encounter any further issues, or if the drive continues to exhibit problems even after formatting, it may be worth considering a replacement.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance or encounter any issues during this process. I'm here to help.

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Unable to access external HDD

I have Windows 10 Pro Version 1903 and use Macrium Reflect for my scheduled backups

to an external HDD housed in a caddy. Recently the backups have failed four times

due to an error "the semaphore timeout period has expired". Despite trying various

suggestions to fix from Google - no luck! Now I have no access to my external HDD

as the drive cannot be seen in ‎File Explorer. Your help for a fix will be greatly

appreciated. Regards

 

Unable to Access External HDD

Hi,

Have you tried all usb ports on your surface pro 4? If yes then I highly suggest you to try these steps from this link: Fix
The Parameter Is Incorrect on External Hard Drive. Skip the reset part and make a backup of your HDD to one of your other PC's incase it gets formatted in any way. Try to go through the troubleshooting steps one by one and see which one works.

Please reply if the issue still remains so that I can help you with solving it .