6 Ways to Fix Unallocated Disk On Windows 10: Quick Fixes Guide

By Last Updated: November 9, 2023

You have an unallocated disk on your personal computer. It can make you scared and force you to find the one that has disappeared. This write-up will teach you what you should do to your valuable data before making any changes to your disk partition. Further, you will learn how to install a new operating system, create new disk partitions, and extend existing ones to fix unallocated disk on Windows 10. 

In general, you have a list of all internal or inserted hard drives in This PC or My PC when you buy a new or second-hand personal computer. Through this list, you open a particular drive to access a certain file. Sometimes, your desktop or laptop does not show the list of disks in This PC or My PC. Instead, it shows up as an unallocated disk on a Windows 10 device. You need not to worry about it as you can fix this issue. 

What Is An Unallocated Disk On Windows 10?

When you purchase a new PC or an external hard drive, it might not be ready to store your data/files. It is like having an empty room without any labels or sections. You cannot put your things in there yet.

Sometimes, even if you have been using your personal computer, you might experience a part of your storage space is like an empty room, or even the whole thing. You cannot put your files there like you normally would. This can be a problem for you, especially with external hard drives on Windows 10. And it might lead to losing your data. This worries a lot of computer users.

Why Does An Unallocated Disk Issue On Windows 10 Occur? 

Such an issue occurs due to the following reasons:

  • Broken or messed-up partition plan – The partition plan keeps track of where your data is stored on your computer. If it gets messed up, your computer might not find your stuff.
  • Disk mistakes or bad spots – Imagine your disk has some places where it can’t read or write properly. That makes it seem like parts of your disk are missing.
  • Wrong setup or format for your disk – If your disk isn’t set up right or formatted correctly, it might look empty. This can happen if it wasn’t set up correctly in the beginning or if there were problems when it was being prepared.
  • Sneaky computer bugs – Nasty computer bugs can mess up your data and the plan for where your stuff is kept. When that happens, your disk can seem empty.

Ways to Fix An Unallocated Disk on Windows 10?

Having an unallocated disk on Windows 10 is not a big issue. You can fix it if it occurs with your PC. Here are some simple, but effective ways to fix it:

  • Update your drivers

Your personal computer might not have the right software driver to make it work well when your hard drive states it is unallocated or does not show up. You should go with the installation or downloading of some specific programs to fix it. Some of you have such an issue as you do not have something like the Virtual Disk Driver on your PC. To have this, browse the official website of your hard drive maker and get the latest software for the hard drive.  

After the installation of the Virtual Disk Driver, you will be able to use your hard drive and see your files. This solution worked for Seagate hard drives, and it might work for other brands too. If you don’t want to download the software by yourself, you can use a tool that can do it for you with just a few clicks.

  • Use Command Prompt and diskpart command

Using Command Prompt (Admin) can be helpful for you. Here are the steps you can follow to fix an unallocated disk on Windows 10:

  • Select PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) after pressing the Windows key with the X key
  • Input diskpart and list volume after hitting the Enter after each one
  • Use a volume number after giving the command Select Volume X to replace X and click on the Enter button
  • Run these three commands – Delete Volume, Delete Volume Override, and List Volume 

  • Apply a professional partition assistant software

Manually managing drive allocations can lead to potential data loss. To address issues with an unallocated hard drive, you should utilize a specialized software tool/program. While Windows provides tools for partition creation, deletion, and resizing, locating an unallocated hard disk may require additional effort. And the use of dedicated partition management software. Many users prefer third-party solutions like AOMEI Partition Assistant because they offer greater flexibility compared to the built-in partition manager, making these tasks more straightforward and efficient.

  • Utilize Disk Management

The use of Disk Management is helpful in this regard. You need to follow the following steps to resolve your unallocated disk problem:

  • Press the Windows key with X. You will get a list on your computer screen. 
  • Select Disk Management from the options popped up on your screen 
  • Find the unallocated space when the Disk Management tool opens. After that, click on its right and select New Sample Volume
  • Select its letter after setting the size of the new partition you have just created
  • Go to the Perform A Quick Format option to format your drive if you have a new hard drive. Avoid formatting it if you have already some files in there  

  • Change the drive letter

Changing the drive letter can help you fix unallocated disk on Windows 10. For this, you need to follow the following steps:

  • Go to the Disk Management Tool and open it 
  • Find the drive that is not showing up in the list of drives in My PC or This PC. Click on the right and select the Change Drive Letter and Paths
  • Go ot the Change Button and click it
  • Click on the OK option to save the made changes after setting the wished drive letter 

Assigning a letter to the drive can help you fix an unallocated disk on Windows 10 if you are having this issue. Going to the Disk Management Tool and following the above-mentioned steps will help you resolve the issue and access your files on your Windows device. 

  • Install the hard drive driver again 

Installing the hard drive driver again can help you fix an unallocated disk issue on your Windows device. The steps you should follow are as follows:

  • Go to the Start Button, click on the right, and choose the Device Manager

  • Click on the right after finding the new hard drive. Go to the menu there and click on the Uninstall Device
  • Click on the Uninstall option after the appearance of confirmation dialog 

  • After removing the driver, go to the Scan For Hardware Changes icon and click on it

 

Following the steps mentioned above will help you with the installation of the default driver and resolve the issue of unallocated disk.

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