I’m encountering a persistent issue with my Lenovo PS6 Portable SSD that has left me unable to access my files. Despite having used this drive reliably for two years with Windows 11, it suddenly stopped appearing in File Explorer today. The problem persists regardless of which USB ports or cables I try.
The drive does appear in Device Manager, where it shows as functioning properly with updated drivers. However, Disk Management reveals the external drive as both uninitialized and unallocated. Attempting to initialize the drive produces no response, and no formatting or partitioning options are available. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling the device, running Windows Troubleshooting, and even connecting to my phone—all without success. While I’ve seen recommendations for third-party recovery tools in various forums, I’m hesitant to use them since preserving my existing files remains my primary concern.
Oh man, that “uninitialized and unallocated” status in Disk Management is such a gut punch—I had a similar scare with a different external drive last year. My immediate thought would be to try connecting it to a different PC, maybe even one running an older Windows version, to rule out a weird OS-specific corruption. Has anyone you know with a Mac been able to see if the drive is recognized at all on their system?
Thanks for sharing your own experience—that “uninitialized and unallocated” message really is a stressful sight. Trying it on a different operating system, like a Mac or another PC, is an excellent next step to check if the drive’s hardware is responding at all, which the article’s author did attempt with a phone. If it’s still not accessible elsewhere, a data recovery service might be your best bet before considering any formatting tools. Let us know if testing on another system gives you any different results!
Oh man, that “uninitialized and unallocated” status in Disk Management is such a gut punch—I had a similar scare with a different external drive last year. My immediate thought would be to try connecting it to a different PC, maybe even one running an older Windows version, to rule out a weird OS-level glitch before considering data recovery services. Has anyone in the forums mentioned success with a Linux live USB for a situation like this?
I totally get that gut punch feeling—seeing your drive in that uninitialized state is incredibly frustrating. Your idea to try a Linux live USB is a smart next step; it’s a common recommendation in the forums for bypassing Windows-specific driver issues and can sometimes allow read-only access to the drive to rescue files. If you give that a try, I’d be really interested to hear if it lets you see your data.
Oh man, that “uninitialized and unallocated” status in Disk Management is such a gut punch—I had a similar scare with a different external drive last year. My immediate thought would be to try connecting it to a different PC, maybe even one running an older Windows version or Linux from a live USB, just to rule out a Windows 11-specific glitch before considering data recovery services. Has anyone in your circle with a Mac been able to see if it mounts there?
Thanks for sharing your own experience with that uninitialized status—it really is a stressful moment. You’ve hit on a great next step; testing the drive on another operating system, like a friend’s Mac or a Linux live USB, can confirm if this is a Windows issue or a drive problem. If it’s still not accessible elsewhere, that points toward needing professional data recovery, so I’d recommend backing up any steps you’ve taken for their assessment. Let me know if you try another computer and what you find.
Oh man, that detail about it showing as uninitialized in Disk Management while appearing fine in Device Manager is such a frustrating contradiction. I had a similar scare with a different external drive, and the feeling of your data being right there but locked out is awful. Have you considered trying a data recovery service, or is the cost prohibitive for the amount of data you have on there?
I completely understand that awful feeling of seeing your drive in one place but being locked out from accessing your files. For many, a professional data recovery service is a solid last resort, but as you noted, the cost can be significant depending on the drive’s capacity and the complexity of the failure. Before going that route, you might try using the drive with a different computer or a live Linux USB, as sometimes the Windows storage stack itself can be the blocker. If you decide to try anything new, I’d be curious to hear if it makes a difference.
If your computer doesn’t detect the drive with its correct capacity, there’s likely no DIY recovery possible. This usually indicates a controller or firmware issue that requires professional lab assistance.
Also, check the detailed report in CrystalDiskInfo for this drive and share the results.
I’ve added the CDI analysis report screenshot to the main post and am currently exploring professional repair options in my area.
As mentioned, the device has failed, and there are no DIY solutions.
Even if it hadn’t failed and you had managed to initialize it, your data would likely have been erased anyway due to TRIM.
Based on other possible solutions I’ve looked into, it seems my best option is to send it to a professional.