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How to Fix Disk Offline Signature Collision

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Dec 06, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

Storage devices like hard disk are extremely important in a PC running Windows 10 or any other operating system. A storage device is needed to save, port, or export operating systems onto the computer. All of the data that is stored on a computer is mainly stored on a hard disk in the back end.

To identify between different storage devices in a computer, every device inside the computer is referred to by a unique id called Disk Signature, which is used for the identification. Now sometimes errors like "Disk offline signature collision" occur, and today in this article, we will find the reasons for the occurrence of this error in Windows 10. Later down in the article, we are also going to explain some solutions to fix this error and tips to avoid this error.


Part 1. What are the Causes of the Disk Offline Signature Collision Error?

Now that you know about the disk offline signature collision error, in this part, we are going to explain the reasons and causes for the occurrence of this error. Disk cloning is a very popular practice nowadays.

Disk cloning is a technique that allows the disks on a computer to be cloned in order to produce similar results to the original hard disk or any other storage device when upgrading to storage devices that are larger. There are high chances that these cloned hard disks will have the same disk signatures as the real ones.
Now when Windows detects two or more disks with identical disk signature, it gives off an error such as "Disk offline signature collision." The reason for the occurrence of this error is that the computer will not be able to distinguish between two different disks and won’t know how to utilize them. Some other reasons for the occurrence of this error are given below.

Here are some of the most common error messages that occur because of the disk offline signature collision.


Part 2. Solutions to Solve Disk Offline Signature Collision

After reading the above part, you probably now understand the reason for the occurrence of this error. Now, if you are someone who got stuck with this error, you don't need to worry, as, in this part, we are going to explain some solutions that you can use to solve the Disk offline signature collision.

Method 1. Using the Built-in Windows’ Automatic Repair

If you are looking for a simple and easy solution to disk offline signature collision error, this one is for you. A built-in feature of Windows called Windows Automatic Repair allows you to fix a lot of problems with your operating system, and disk offline signature collision error is one of them. Windows Automatic Repair can automatically detect the error and fix it.

One of the tools that utilize the Windows Automatic Repair feature is called Startup Repair, and it is available on the Windows setup CD/DVD. Now you follow the given below guide to learn how to use Startup Repair to fix the error.


select repair your computer option


choose startup repair option


repairing in progress

Method 2. Changing the Disk Signature using Diskpart

Another effective way to solve the disk offline signature collision is using the "Diskpart" command on the command prompt. This method allows you to change the disk signature on the cloned disk. You can follow the guide given below to do that.


type diskpart command


type list disk command


select your disk


check the id of the disk


change the id of the disk

Method 3. Changing the Disk Signature using the Disk Management Utility

You can also change the disk signature from the Disk Management Utility without the need to run commands on the command prompt. This method is more straightforward and simpler to execute. You can follow the given step-by-step guide to do that.


access disk management utility


make the drive online


Part 3. What are Some Tips to Avoid Disk Offline Signature Collision?

After reading the above-written part, you will be able to fix the disk offline signature collision error without any hassle. If you haven’t come across this error but still read this article, you can follow the given tips and tricks to avoid the disk offline signature collision error.


Conclusion

Hard disks play an important role in computers. All the data on the computer is stored on the hard disk, including the operating system. An error like disk offline signature collision can ruin the user experience. You can easily avoid this error by following our given tips.

But if you somehow come across this error, you don’t have to worry as we have got you covered. You can simply follow the given guide to solve this error with ease.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a disk signature mean?

The disk signature of a hard disk is its unique ID that allows the computer to distinguish between different disks. The signature disk of a hard disk is stored on the computer as the Master Boot Record (MBR).

Some other terms used for the disk signature are disk identity, fault tolerance signature, unique identifier, and HDD signature.

2. What can you do to find the disk signature?
The list of all the disk signatures of all the devices that were ever used on that specific Windows is stored in the Windows Registry in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. You can simply find the disk signatures in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMMountedDevices inside the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

It is usually a unique id consisting of 8 hexadecimal characters from 0 to F.

3. How does the disk signature error occurs in Windows?
In the older versions of Windows, like Windows XP, the Windows automatically change the disk signature if the disk signature collision is detected, hence solving the error. But in the latest versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 and onwards. Windows has blocked this feature, and it does not support multiple disks with the same signature. The only fix to solve this error is by changing the signature of the disk that you can do by using one of our solutions.

Recoverit author

Theo Lucia

chief Editor

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