New SATA drive not seen…

My two working hdds are SATA.

I purchased a new WD 80 gig SATA drive, and neither BIOS nor Ghost 10 Rescue nor XP see the hdd (XP will not boot when the new drive is connected).

I have a rack and tray setup. The trays are good… I have swapped the new WD with the Maxtor, and the Samsung, trays, and vice versa. Trays and racks are tested. Good.

Brand new WD drive. SATA does not require jumper settings.

Bad drive?

I pulled the drive from the rack and connected it directly to the power and SATA cables. The drive spins, so it’s getting power. Some deal. XP wont boot… Norton not seeing it, nor BIOS.

Below is my setup.

********

Motherboard Model K8T800-8237
Bios Vendor Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Bios Version 6.00 PG
Bios Release Date 26-Apr-2004
CPU Manufacturer AuthenticAMD
CPU Family 2
CPU Version AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+
Approximate MHz 1,999
CPU Socket Socket 939
Video Bios Date 7-Mar-2021
Video Adapter RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation)
Video RAM 128 MB
Network Interface VIA PCI 10/100Mb Fast Ethernet Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Network Interface MS TCP Loopback interface

IDE 1 Manufacturer Model Number SAMSUNG SP0812C
IDE 1 Manufacturer Revision Number SU100-27
IDE 1 Manufacturer HDD Serial Number 0886J1FX307391
IDE 1 BufferSize 8 MB
IDE 1 Cylinders -3,163
IDE 1 Heads 16 IDE 1 Sectors Per Track 63
IDE 2 Manufacturer Model Number Maxtor 6Y200M0
IDE 2 Manufacturer Revision Number YAR51EW0
IDE 2 Manufacturer HDD Serial Number Y62SL8HE
IDE 2 BufferSize 8 MB
IDE 2 Cylinders 16,383
IDE 2 Heads 16
IDE 2 Sectors Per Track 63

Fixed Drive: C Total Capacity: 74.55 GB, Used: 16.8 GB, Free: 57.75 GB
Fixed Drive: E Total Capacity: 189.92 GB, Used: 106.47 GB, Free: 83.45 GB CD-ROM/DVD-ROM: D
Operating System Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.0
Build 2600

Any advice would be appreciated!

Paul

 

I think if i remember correctly you need a third party driver to see SATA drive
with xp go to Western digital sites and check for drivers SATA.

 

does it show up when the sys boots when it shows your drives

 

oops sorry I just seen it your bios doesnt see it I think Its a bios setting it must first reconize it

 

Clark, if you are referring to the extra drivers that need to be installed during the XP setup… I am running two SATA drives now.

No, not on this drive. Yes for the other two.

 

NU,

I have no idea why the BIOS wouldn't see this drive, yet, see the other two. Everything is set to Auto. I didn't have to install any particular drivers for the other two drives, other than during the XP setup (RAID drivers).

Also, when the drive in question is connected to the secondary channel, XP wont boot (just Restarts in a circle).

 

Well Ithink if was me I would unplug all my sata drives and plug the new one in and then see if it reconizes it Kinda pretend its the only drive and Im going to install the op system if not I would think the drive is bad but I have never ran into a brand new drive being bad

 

BIOS, in computing, stands for Basic Input/Output System. BIOS refers to the software code run by a computer when first powered on. The primary function of BIOS is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on various media (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs) can load, execute, and assume control of the computer. Wikipedia

therfore you cannot install drivers to the bios its in a chip but if bios cant see it there is the prob it must be in the bios settings or a bad drive
(this is my opinion hope it helps)

 

I think it's a bad drive... but would like to see what you and others thinks about it. I can't call tech support till Monday.

Thank you.

 

Hope you don’t mind I bring up an old topic, but I wanted to update everyone interested…

I had the drive tested where I purchased it, and according to one of the techs (a friend of mine who works there) the drive was recognized in their BIOS and their testing software says all is ok with this drive.

I picked it up today… and my friend included the cable he used to test it for no charge.

I have yet to retry the drive with the new cable (getting home very late). So will report later.

But, my friend also mentioned that in their shop, they hot-glue their SATA connections once all is sound. Fracking weird if you ask me… not that they glue their cables… that they HAVE to glue their cables.

Because this guy is a friend of mine, I can trust that the drive tested alright. So, I will be looking for cable issues.

Like I said earlier, I have a two-drive SATA system, Rack and Tray setup, with no problems. I am hoping to solve this.

ANYONE else with SATA cable issues?

Very strange indeed…

 

Update:

Please help.

The 80 gig Western Digital tested as ok, as stated above. Same situation… my system does not see it.

On a whim, I purchased another WD hdd from Best Buy today (good return policy)

SAME SITUATION!

Tried many cables, and both SATA and Legacy ATA power conectors.

I HAD a Maxtor working in my tray setup, swapping C: drives as needed. Then the Maxtor crashed, and I was refunded after return. Purchased TWO wd hdds since. Not seen.

My motherboard is a VIA K8T800-8237. The SATA controller in onboard.

BIOS has nothing to do with SATA… IDE only.

I have a perfectly well running system as we speak with an 80 gig Samsung C: and a Maxtor 200 gig backup hdd.

Both WD hdds were hard wired to the controller, with numerous cable switches, as a last resort test. DEAD.

Is it my mobo or is it WD???

 

EDIT: New post 3/21/06... please help if you can!

 

Re: New SATA drive not seen…

On my Gigabyte K8U-939 mb the bios has a setting for sata: raid or ide. does yours have that? Who manufactured your board?

I had heard that older sata connectors were prone to getting dislodged when installing the drive. My K8U board has sata connectors that hold very securely. I believe there was a redesign on the connector's holding power at one time.

 

Quick update…

After three hdds and too many palpitations, I went out and bought a PCI SATA controller in an insane attempt to bypass the onboard SATA controller itself (see previously posted system specs for hardware, etc.)

BAM! Instant recognition of the original, “dead”, WD hdd. After a few more pains, I am now typing from the successfully cloned drive racked in the tray setup. Both drives are now imaged (thank God!).

The Samsung (original hdd) is the main home system, and the WD is now being trimmed down for a graphics-dedicated, video-editing, AutoCad system… my vision two months ago finally come to fruition.

A fracking nightmare to be sure. SATA is the future. I am sure newer mobos are better.

Hope this helps someone someday!