Cannot access my HP Simple Save

[Henry_3842]

Cannot access my HP Simple Save model hpsd640a

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Henry_3842,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If you’re having trouble accessing your HP Simple Save external hard drive (model HPSD640A), here are some steps to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Physical Connections:

• Cable and Ports: Ensure the USB cable connecting the drive to your computer is securely plugged in. Try using a different USB port or cable if available.
• Power Supply: If the drive has an external power supply, make sure it’s properly connected and powered on.

2. Check Device Manager:

• Open Device Manager: Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• Look for the Drive: Under the "Disk drives" section, check if your HP Simple Save drive is listed. If there’s a yellow triangle or if the device isn’t listed, there might be a driver issue.

3. Update or Reinstall Drivers:

• Update Driver: In Device Manager, right-click the drive and select Update driver. Choose to search automatically for updated driver software.
• Reinstall Driver: If updating doesn’t work, right-click the drive, select Uninstall device, then restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver upon reboot.

4. Check Disk Management:

• Open Disk Management: Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.
• Look for the Drive: Check if the HP Simple Save drive appears here. If it does, it might need to be initialized or assigned a drive letter.
• Initialize or Assign Letter: If the drive appears but isn’t initialized, right-click it and select Initialize Disk. If it doesn’t have a drive letter, right-click and select Change Drive Letter and Paths to assign one.

5. Run Hardware Troubleshooter:

• Open Troubleshooter: Go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters and run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

6. Check for Drive Issues:

• Test on Another Computer: Try connecting the drive to another computer to rule out issues with your computer’s USB ports or software.
• Listen for Sounds: If the drive is making unusual sounds (like clicking or grinding), it might indicate a hardware failure.

7. Use Data Recovery Software:

• Recover Data: If the drive is recognized but you can’t access your files, consider using data recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill.

8. Check for Encryption or Security Settings:

• Encryption Software: If the drive was encrypted or protected by security software, ensure you have the correct passwords or security settings.

9. Reset or Format Drive (as a Last Resort):

• Backup Data: If you can access the drive and there’s valuable data, back it up before proceeding.
• Format Drive: If the drive is recognized but not functioning correctly, you may need to format it. Note that formatting will erase all data on the drive. Right-click the drive in Disk Management and select Format.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[Henry_3842]

I did not try NO> 9 because I do not want to lose my data

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Henry_3842 

I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571 

HP Support