I can not get my new bios to see my hard drive

askem27 · May 1, 2014

My wifes computer decided to take a crap. So me being a man, told her I got this. Well guess what, I don't have it apparently. I bought a new motherboard, ram and cpu. Put all parts listed and started up.I get to the bios screen and checked around. I have followed everything I have found online, mainly here at Toms. And to no avail I still can not detect hard drive. I do not think there is anything wrong with board, due to the fact it reads my rom in any port I have it plugged in.I am to the point I really just want to put my foot through it. Keep in mind I was trying to use her old drive to keep from having to buy another OS and to save all her media. The spec are below, if I have left anything out, just let me know.

I am building in a Acer AM1100 case
AsRock FM2A78M-HD+ Motherboard
G.skill Ripjaws 2x4gb (only one stick installed atm)
AMD A6 5400K Dual-Core processor
Stock PSU from the Acer AM1100 case
Hitachi 250gb Hard drive
CD-rom is just an old standard rom (multi recorder)
Currently have Vista installed on Hard drive

Just a heads up guys. I am a complete newbie.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Technically speaking you can't use the old OS with new hardware. It's OEM and is tied to the motherboard on which it was installed with (ie the Acer board). Beyond that, it is always advisable to do a fresh install of the OS since the hardware on you new motherboard will be completely different than the old one. This will usually crop up as BSOD's during boot up. Sometimes you can do a repair to get it to work, but it's always better to start fresh.

As for the motherboard finding the drive, make the SATA cable is plugged in properly at both ends. Also make sure the power cable to the drive is plugged in fully. Can you hear the drive spin up when you turn the computer on?

If this doesn't work, try another SATA port on the motherboard.

Also the best option for keeping your wife's files intact would be to get a new drive. Install Windows on it (with the old drive disconnected for the time being) and once you have it configured fully, then connect the old drive and back up her files to the new drive.

I have some more advice for once we get the drive recognized.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

So I really have to get a Hard drive and OS. What would you reccommend. Keep in mind (which I am sure you see, I am trying to keep cost down as much as possible.) With my specs above. Any thing else you think I may need to do or buy. I really just want to get her rig going. But her Media, Well it's her everything.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Before we get into all that, lets see if we can get the BIOS to recognize the drive. Otherwise she isn't going to get her files back regardless of the path taken.

So start with this:

As for the motherboard finding the drive, make sure the SATA cable is plugged in properly at both ends. Also make sure the power cable to the drive is plugged in fully. Can you hear the drive spin up when you turn the computer on?

If this doesn't work, try another SATA port on the motherboard.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Ok when I power up, I hear the Hard Drive spinning and doing things, When it boots up it goes to a screen saying to:
Generate Serial ATA Driver diskette? [Y/N]
When I select either option it reboots and goes right back to that screen.

This motherboard has 6 sata ports. I have tried all of them and it is only seeing the cd-rom.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Ok so the drive has power. That message seems to me like it's coming from the Vista install on the drive, not 100% sure though. Chances are the BIOS has set the SATA port to AHCI. I am downloading the manual for your motherboard, give me a minute. Slow satellite connection here in Yemen.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

No problem, I just really excited someone is taking time to help the idiot I am. I didn' t realize how much goes into building a computer.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Still waiting on the download, it's about 66% done.

As for being an idiot or not, you got one of the hardest parts right the first time. You got the board to POST which means that the CPU, RAM, and power connectors are all correct. The stumbling block being the old hardware. It may only be something small. If you had a new HDD, you probably wouldn't need me. So I wouldn't beat yourself up too much, you're doing just fine.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Ok I have the manual. I can't see anywhere in the BIOS portion where it tells you if the board detects the drive. However lets for the moment assume that it does.

Go into the BIOS and under the Advanced Screen go down to Storage Configuration. Make sure that SATA Controller is set to Enabled. Now look at the option below it called SATA Mode. It will likely be set to AHCI, set it to IDE. Save the changes to the BIOS and restart. If I'm correct, it will likely start to boot and then BSOD. Let me know if I'm correct.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Sorry just noticed from the screenshot of the manual, it looks like the Storage Configuration page of your BIOS shows what devices it's detected. Hopefully you see the model number of your hard drive next the the SATA port number that the hard drive is plugged into (most logically SATA 1).

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Ok I did as you said. I set it to enable and made sure it was set to IDE. Saved and exited and it went to the Generate Serial ATA Driver diskette Y/N. And im not really sure what BSOD is.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

A BSOD is the affectionate name given to the error screens windows throws at you when it encounters a problem. BSOD stands for Blue Screen of Death. When you select N at that prompt, does it continue to boot, or go back to the same screen?

Also when you were under the Storage Configuration page, does it show the model number of the hard drive next to the SATA port that you have the drive plugged into?

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Ok I get no BSOD and no matter what I select on the Yes or No it reboots to the same screen. And in the Storage Config screen in Bios, my hard drive isn't listed. Just my cd-rom

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Ok, since it's not detected in the BIOS, it's not seeing it. Can you check both ends of the SATA cable going to the Hard drive? If reseating the cable doesn't get it to appear in the BIOS, try another SATA port. If that doesn't get it detected, try another SATA cable.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Have to go for supper. I'll try to come back afterwards.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Ok I relocated the sata cables to and from all ports. Tried the old sata cables from the original board. And the only thing it keeps seeing is the cd-rom. no hard drive. I'm beginning to think I have royally messed up here.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

I only have a couple of things for you to try. First try disconnecting the CD-ROM from the motherboard. Then go into the BIOS and see if the Hard drive is detected under Storage configuration.

If that doesn't work, do you have another computer that you can try the hard drive in? If so, see if it's detected in the BIOS on that computer. If not it's likely the drive is dead. You didn't mention what happened to the system this drive was in, but it may have something to do with it or was a victim of it.

Also if you can get the model number off the drive, that might help.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Ok while you were gone to eat. I thought exactly what you just posted. i took the HD out of the pc im on atm, And installed in the pc build. Guess what, it detected it. So I shut it down to prevent anything from changing my drive as i need it for this pc. Tried the build drive in my pc and it took me to insert disc to boot screen. So I am thinking the drive is bad. If u need still i can get the model number if you would like.

techgeek · May 1, 2014

Just to be sure can you try the "bad" drive in your computer? See if it detects it.

Yeah if you could send me the model number that would be great. It's an old drive and some of the first SATA drives had weird things (jumpers) to work around early problems.

Most likely the drive is bad though. If so that's tough luck for your wife's files. At that point I would suggest a 1TB drive from either WD or Seagate and Windows 7 or 8, which ever you think she'll be more comfortable with. Windows 8 can be made to pretty much look like Windows 7 if you are up for installing Classic Shell.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

Is there anyway possible to retrieve her media files on the old drive. And im not sure what OS to get as I honestly dont know what Bit I have now. The Mother board box says Windows 8.1 ready. But Im not sure what bit i need to purchase from Newegg. Or any other place you may advise. Oh I did put her drive into my case and it took me to a insert disc to boot screen. and the m/n is HDT725025VL380

techgeek · May 1, 2014

If the drive is truly dead, there isn't an affordable way to get her files back. There are data recovery services that do this, but they are very expensive. Usually only companies with mission critical data are willing to pay for this service.

When you had it plugged into your computer, did you look in the BIOS to see if it detected it?

As for what to buy, I'll link the suggestions:

WD HDD

Seagate HDD

Either of these two drives will be fine. They are both 1TB. I think the WD drive was a bit cheaper.

As for Windows, the motherboard you have will work fine with Windows 7 if you feel like going that way, however Windows 8 is the newest and can be made to look like Windows 7 pretty easily. Here are links to both:

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

Windows 8.1 64 Bit

Either is fine and they cost the same.

askem27 · May 1, 2014

techgeek :

I did not go into my bios to see if it was detected. would it make a difference as to being able to retrieve her media.And thank you for the links. Think I might just go ahead and go with Seagate and Windows 8.

techgeek · May 2, 2014

It's not a 100% necessary to check the "bad" drive in your BIOS, just being thorough. I think it's done unfortunately. At only 250GB, I would guess that its a very old drive and it was it's time. At that size, my guess is that it was one of the first commercial SATA drives. So it had a long run. It's too bad about your wife's files though. I assume a lot of pictures and music. The music is usually replaceable, especially if it's ripped from CD's you have, or iTunes, but the pictures aren't.

One thing I would suggest (unfortunately it won't help for this situation) to prevent this from happening again, get an external USB drive to backup the data on your computers. From what I gather, you have at least 2. Since I know your wife's new computer will benefit from it, I would suggest a USB 3.0 drive. I don't know how old your computer is and therefore don't know if it supports USB 3.0, but USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0, it will just take longer to do the backup. If this is something you are interested in, I can provide some NewEgg links for possible candidates.

I can not get my new bios to see my hard drive

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Splendid

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Reputable

Splendid

Share this page