A computer has an SSD for the operating system and applications and uses another mechanical hard drive for data storage. The user reports that data can no longer be saved to the mechanical hard drive. What should the technician do to see if the drive is recognized by the operating system?

If a user is unable to save data to a mechanical hard drive in a system that also has an SSD for the operating system and applications, the first step a technician should take is to use File Explorer. Here’s how and why this approach is appropriate:

1. Open File Explorer: File Explorer in Windows is the primary interface through which users interact with files and drives. By opening File Explorer, the technician can quickly check if the mechanical hard drive (likely designated as the D: drive) is visible.
2. Check for the Drive’s Presence: If the mechanical hard drive is listed in File Explorer, it means the operating system recognizes the drive, but there may be other issues preventing data from being saved, such as permission problems or file system errors.
3. Identify Possible Issues:
   • If the drive is visible but access is denied, it could be a permissions issue.
   • If the drive appears but shows errors, it might be a file system problem or the drive could be failing.
   • If the drive does not appear at all, it could indicate that the drive is not properly connected, has failed, or there is an issue with its configuration in the system (like a missing drive letter).
4. Further Actions Based on Findings:
   • Drive Visible but Access Denied: The technician might need to adjust permissions or ownership settings.
   • Drive Visible with Errors: Running disk checking tools like chkdsk might be necessary.
   • Drive Not Visible: This would necessitate a deeper investigation, possibly involving Disk Management or checking BIOS/UEFI settings, and potentially looking into physical connections or hardware issues.

Using File Explorer is a simple, non-invasive first step that provides immediate insights into whether the operating system recognizes the mechanical hard drive and can guide further troubleshooting steps based on the observation.