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Last updated: Aug 26, 2021

How to fix the issue when HDD showing 0 bytes

Here you will find out:

why the internals or external hard drive shows 0 bytes

how to fix the issue

how DiskInternals can help you

Are you ready? Let's read!

Hard drive shows 0 bytes

If your hard drive shows 0 bytes and want to know what to do, you have come to the right place. This article is dedicated to this problem and shows you how to get out of the trap quickly, efficiently and safely.

All solutions can be done even by beginners, not to mention more knowledgeable users.

To complete the picture, everything will be presented in order.

Reasons why HDDs may be showing 0 bytes

In principle, it is almost impossible to predict the problem of an external hard drive showing 0 bytes. But you can look at the factors that can lead to this error and continue to be careful.

This kind of error can occur due to a damaged hard disk, bad sectors, a downed file system, etc.

Sometimes, a person’s careless use of their computer can lead to disaster; for example, by removing an external hard drive in an unsafe way, interrupting disk formatting, suddenly shutting down the network, etc.

With that understanding, let’s proceed to fix the external hard drive shows 0 bytes problem.

If hard drive shows 0 bytes - reconnect external hard drive

Method 1. Reconnect external hard drive

If this problem occurs on an external hard drive and not on you main internal hard drive (this can happen on a second internal drive), you can remove it.

After that, restart the computer and reconnect.

This should help with the problem of an external hard drive showing 0 bytes.

Method 2. Upgrade drivers

This method can be implemented in several ways. You can simply download the latest updates on the device’s developer’s website and install them using the Wizard or update the drivers yourself through the Device Manager.

In the latter case, right-click on Start and select Device Manager. Next, open all the drivers and right-click the problematic disk (the one that shows 0 bytes). Next, click on the Update list and then on “Automatically find driver updates”. Now press Enter and wait for the process to complete. Updates will also be installed automatically, but a reboot is required.

Finally, check the health of the disk.

Method 3. Get your data from the hard drive

If the previous methods were ineffective, you will have to resort to heavy artillery.

But for this you first need to restore or backup data from the disk using DiskInternals Partition Recovery, since the probability of losing data is extremely high. But with Partition Recovery, you have nothing to worry about, since you can use the full recovery mode and all files, without exception, will be found.

You can also use the reader mode and view files but without the possibility of editing them. The hard drive is always full of information, and the number of formats is endless, but Partition Recovery will restore any type of data, no matter the size. The program has both a free trial version and a full-featured one with data export to any portable or stationary medium. In both versions of the program, viewing files is completely free — this is for your protection and safety.

Start recovery as early as possible, as overwriting data can also hurt.

Method 4. Use CHKDSK to fix hard drive

The CHKDSK utility is very effective, but also harmful to recoverable data. Use it only after you get all your files back with Partition Recovery.

Press Win + X at the same time and select Command Prompt, where you need to type the following: “chkdsk E: /r /f”.

Note: E is the letter of the hard drive that shows 0 bytes.

r- tells the program to detect bad sectors on the disk and restore information that can be read.

f - tells CHKDSK to correct the errors found.

Press Enter and await the results. Now reboot the system.

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