Troubleshoot hard disk with data needs initializing

[shmu26]

Briefly explain your current issue(s)

Hard Disk is not identified by file managers in Windows or Linux

Steps taken to resolve, but have been unsuccessful

I tried Gparted, CloneZilla, and MiniTool Partition Wizard, but none of them can see the disk.
Terminal commands in Linux fail to list the disk.
I did not perform any actions yet on the disk because I don't want to make matters worse, especially as I couldn't figure out a way to clone the disk before experimenting with it.

I pulled a HDD out of an old Windows 7 computer that died. It has the OS and data on it.
I added it as an additional hard disk in a working Win10 computer, connecting it by SATA.
Windows Disk Manager says the disk needs to be initialized.
I don't care so much about the disk itself, but I would like to recover the data.

 

[brambedkar59]

Have you tried this?

Initialize Disk Without Losing Data in Windows 10/11

Will initializing the hard disk erase data on it? This page shows you how to recover data when the hard drive not initialized error occurs. Try to initialize disk without losing data.

www.easeus.com

 

[shmu26]

Have you tried this?

Initialize Disk Without Losing Data in Windows 10/11

Will initializing the hard disk erase data on it? This page shows you how to recover data when the hard drive not initialized error occurs. Try to initialize disk without losing data.

www.easeus.com

I downloaded it but didn't try it yet. It requires the disk to be initialized, which, according to most sources I read, will cause data loss. I hesitate to do something that might cause irreversible data loss.

 

[show-Zi]

At the expense of additional investment, we recommend purchasing an adapter to convert SATA to USB. In my experience, this was the most likely way to rescue data. Please choose the type that supplies power separately, not the bus power.

 

[shmu26]

Solved. I connected the hard disk with a different SATA connector, and the disk functions as expected. It does not ask to be initialized and is readable.

 

[show-Zi]

Good job.

I see other posts asking for help in trouble, but few people report the final result.
In this way, postings such as what caused the problem and what measures were taken to repair it would be helpful for people suffering from similar symptoms.