starkers starkers

Okay, I have an Issue With My External HDDs

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Okay, I have an Issue With My External HDDs

my machine thinks they're SSDs

from WinCustomize Forums

The title pretty much says what the problem is, and for the most part it isn't an issue.... until I want to use various 3rd party programs to defrag and/or clean up.

For example, the wipe free space in Ccleaner is unavailable, with the select boxes for each HDD greyed out and the drive description being SSD, which it isn't.  The other program I can't use is SmartDefrag.  Again, the select boxes for my HDDs are greyed out, and the drives are recognised as SSDs.

Thing is, I am unable to perform various maintenance tasks as required, and I do like to keep things in tip, top condition, so hopefully somebody here can help me resolve this dilemma.  I've looked all through Device Manager/Disc Management and found nothing useful, and a web search turned up nothing helpful, so here's hoping there is an answer for this here.

The machine is a HP Envy x2 Detatchable PC 13 with Windows 8.1 x64 on a 128Gb SSD.  There's 4 standard platter HDDs connected via a USB 3.0 Hub to a USB 3.0 port, yet various tools and etc identify them according to the OS drive.

TIA for any assistance offerred. :)

152,688 views 31 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, so I have tried everything and come up empty handed.  There seems to be something missing that identifies hardware, namely SSDs, and nothing I've tries has resolved it.  Therefore, as loathe as I am to do it, given how much time I've invested to set things up as I want, I'm going to do a factory reset and start from scratch.

Quoting Jafo, reply 24

Try uninstalling every Win update since Dec. 7 .
End of Jafo's quote

Yeah, tried that, but certain updates will not be uninstalled... especially those connected to Win 10.   Anyway, this factory reset will eliminate those and I can then go through those updates that are necessary, while igning/hiding the rest.  I have a list of those 'less desirable' ones, so I know what to look out for.

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I make full image back ups so when, not if, disasters like this happen, I can load the image up and put everything back as it was without starting from scratch.  I have too many programs and updates installed to reinstall if I did that  I use ToDo Workstation. Don't you have a backup plan, Mark? I try to image my system at least once a month, or as needed.

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Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

As far as windows ten being a downgrade from windows eight that is actually confusing. Eight is one of the worst operating systems out there. It's vista all over again

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 27

I make full image back ups so when, not if, disasters like this happen, I can load the image up and put everything back as it was without starting from scratch.  I have too many programs and updates installed to reinstall if I did that  I use ToDo Workstation. Don't you have a backup plan, Mark? I try to image my system at least once a month, or as needed.
End of Wizard1956's quote

I did have backup images on an external drive, but somehow they got wiped when the drive got accidentally formatted.  It was one of the first things I turned to, so you can imagine I did some cussing when I couldn't find the images.  I'm still not sure how the drive got reformatted.  I don't recall doing it... all I know is that the images were on drive F, along with a few other odds and end, then next I know the drive is empty.

Oh well, nothing else of importance was lost so I'm not too upset.  Besides, the machine could do with a reset anyow, it is getting a little sluggish compared to when I first got it.

Quoting admiralWillyWilber, reply 28

As far as windows ten being a downgrade from windows eight that is actually confusing. Eight is one of the worst operating systems out there. It's vista all over again
End of admiralWillyWilber's quote

Actually, I reckon that you wouldn't notice the difference between this machine with Win 8.1 and an identical one with Win 7, not the way I have it set up.  Up until now I've not had a problem with Win 8.1, and even then I believe the cause may well be a Windows Update.... one which I cannot uninstall for some weird reason. 

I won't go into what I think is behind it.  Let's just say I'm taking a break from conspiracy theories cos my doctor reckons my tinfoil hat is reflecting the sun away and I've become vitamin D deficient as a result.

;P :-" :grin:

Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, so I reset this little beastie to factory settings and all is well again in the computing world of starkers.  My maintenance proggies are doing those previously unavailable tasks and everything else is just that bit snappier.

Anyway, thanks again to all who offered ideas to resolve the issue, I appreciate it. :) :thumbsup: |-)