Secure Disk Initialization Steps:
- Press Win + R, type diskmgmt.msc, and then press Enter (open Disk Management).
- Look for disks with the status “Unknown” and “Not Initialized”.
- Right-click on the disk → select “Initialize Disk”.
- Select the partition table:
- MBR (Master Boot Record) → Suitable for disks<2TB or those that will be used on older Windows.
- GPT (GUID Partition Table) → More modern, suitable for disks>2TB or used on UEFI systems.
- Click OK and wait for the process to complete.
Solution 4: Save Data & Disk Format – The Last Step If All Else Fails
Disk still unreadable after initialization? Maybe the partition is severely damaged. But don’t worry, your data may still be salvageable!
Data Recovery + Format Steps:
1. Use Recovery Software (e.g., EaseUS Data Recovery, Recuva, or Disk Drill):
- Install the software → Select the problematic disk → Scan.
- Save the recovered data to another drive!
2. Once the data is safe, the disk format:
- Open Disk Management → Right-click → Format disk.
- Select the file system:
- NTFS → For Windows (support large files >4GB).
- exFAT → If you want to be compatible with Mac/Linux as well.
- Name the volume & click OK.
Don’t save the recovered data to the same disk! It can overwrite the original data.
If the disk still fails after formatting, there may be physical damage.