The “Disk unknown not initialized” error most commonly occurs when you try to install or connect an internal/external hard drive to your PC. We tend to store a lot of data on our disk drives, and seeing this error pop on the screen is nothing but a nightmare. So, what does it mean when the disk is not initialized? Will you lose all your data if you’re stuck with this error? Let’s know all about how to resolve the “Disk no initialized” error on Windows 10.
What Does “Disk Not Initialized” Means?
Well, you may encounter this error that the most random circumstances. In simple parlance, “Disk not Initialized” means that a certain disk is not validly registered with your system. If a particular disk is corrupted, your device may not be able to read it correctly, hence causing the “disk unknown not initialized” error on your device.
What Causes “Disk unknown not Initialized” Error ?
Your disk may get corrupted due to a variety of reasons:
- Physical damage
- Corrupt Master Boot Record (MBR) entries.
- Invalid Disk Initialization.
- Presence of viruses or malware.
- Connectivity Issues.
- Bad disk sectors.
- Faulty USB cable.
Also Read: How to fix hard disk errors on Windows 10.
How to Fix “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” Error ?
Here are a few effective solutions to resolve the unknown disk initialization issue on your Windows 10 PC.
Solution #1: Initialize Disk
If the hard disk is not initialised correctly, you can do the same via the Windows Disk Management utility tool. With the help of this Windows in-built too, you can manually perform the disk initialization process to fix the error. Here’s what you need to do:
Right-click on the “This PC” placed on the desktop, and select “Manage”. You can alternatively launch the Disk Management window via Start menu search as well, whatever you find convenient.
Once the Computer Management window pops-up, tap on the “Disk Management” option on the left menu pane. Here you will see all your disk partitions listed. Select the disk with which you’re facing the issue, right-click on it and select “Initialize Disk”.
Unallocated disks will be marked with black, and primary partitions will be marked as blue.
Check on the disk name, pick a partition style (Prefer GPT if you’re using the current version of Windows 10), and tap on “OK” to initialize disk.
Solution #2: Wipe Disk with DiskPart Command
Another solution to fix the “disk unknown not initialized” issue is by completing wiping out the entire disk, erasing all its content by using the “DiskPart” utility command. Here’s what you need to do:
Launch the Run window by pressing the Windows + R key combination.
Type “Diskpart.exe” in the text box and hit Enter.
Now type “List Disk” in the command prompt shell to enlist all the disk partitions on your device.
Type “Select <Disk name>” to pick the corrupted disk. (Refer snapshot)
Once the disk is selected, type “Clean all” command hit Enter to wipe off its data and start afresh.
Solution #3: Scan your Device for Viruses or Malware
You may also face the “Disk not Initialized” error due to the presence of viruses or malware on your device. Hence, we would recommend you to run a complete system scan on your device to look for any potential threats to keep your PC protected.
Download the “Advanced System Protector” tool for Windows, an ultimate PC security suite for your PC that allows you to fight against all sorts of viruses, malware, trojans, spyware that may harm your device’s security.
Advanced System Protector will keep your device safe and secure and allows you to scan your entire device in just one click. Download now!
Conclusion
Here were the 3 most effective solutions that will allow you to fix the “disk unknown not initialized” issue on Windows 10 PC. Also, before you adapt these above-mentioned solutions, make sure you thoroughly check and physically inspect the hard disk cable to look for any damage. If you find any prominent damage with the hardware, try replacing it to check whether it fixed the “Disk not initialized” error on your device.
Also Read: How to fix and repair disk errors on Windows 7/8 and 10.
Good luck!