HDD Won't show on BIOS...

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Hello all.

I'm new around here. I have a fair familiarity with working and fixing computers but this time I'm stuck and I hope you can help me.

I'm using a desktop computer running on a gigabyte h77-ds3h uefi dual BIOS motherboard.(6month old)

Yesterday I had some problems with a game called archeage forcing me a bsod hard restart. It happened a few times till one time the computer didn't boot.
My initial thought was that I killed my loyal Hard drive since it wouldn't appear in the BIOS too.

So I went and bought a new HDD from Toshiba connected it to a sata 3 socket on the sata 0 port. And the drive won't show up. Only the DVD would.

I then switched cables with the DVD and again HDD won't show and DVD would even that it was using the HDD cables and sockets.

Then I disconnected the data cable from the HDD to test if it was working. And i t would spin just fine.

So I reconnected my old HDD now together with the new one and none would appear either.

I resented my BIOS. Re seated my ram and HDDs multiple times. Tried Ahci and IDE modes. Nothing works. Same results.

I don't have access to another computer. In fact I'm writing this from my phone. I hope you guys can help me out. I'm also trying to install windows 7 just in case you wanted to know.

Thanks in advance

andymanius · Jun 16, 2014

Try to change data cables and check power supply and make sure that HDD is SATA3 !

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

Make 110% sure you have the PSU power cables plugged in.

What PSU? If it's a low quality one, it's possible it's overvoltaged the HDDs, and shorted the TVS diodes. This can be fixed with a soldering iron, though.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

I have changed data cables without success and yes they are socketed to a sata 3.

The PSU is connected correctly the DVD and the 2 HDDs receive power from the same cable I'm using a crosshair 750w it wasn't cheap so I believe the cables are pretty good quality

BTW thanks both for the quick answers!

andymanius · Jun 16, 2014

Try to boot with Ubuntu Live DVD or USB and try to format HDD

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

I've never heard of Crosshair as a PSU brand. I think you'll find that's a low quality one. I'd suggest replacing it ASAP with something decent from the second link in my sig.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Sorry my bad the corsair h80 is my cooling system the PSU is chieftec. I know its a good quality one. So I know its not the problem.

As I said before sadly I don't have access to a second computer. Any other ideas where the problem ma lay.

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

Chieftec isn't that great.

It sounds like poor voltage regulation or ripple control in the PSU has resulted in the TVS diodes carrying out their role as sacrificial protection. Do you have a soldering iron and multimeter?

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Well I found a brand new PSU cable for the HDD tried connecting it to it but nothing.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

And not to your answer I dont

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Could you please explain what you ment in your answer how does whatever you said that may be the problem affect the BIOS not showing the HDDs just trying to understand

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

TVS diodes are over-voltage protection. If they are overvoltaged, they will prevent the HDD from receiving any power until being replaced. If it doesn't have power, it won't identify itself to the BIOS.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

I see what you mean. Now I said above I tried taking out the sata cable of the HDD to see if the HDD would spin. And it did which means it was getting power. Now what I would like to ask you is 2 things. 1 without a sata cable the PSU has no way to identify what's an HDD or not so that could explain why it works without the sata am I right?. 2 the other option is that maybe that system is built in and won't power the whole cable socket if the TVS is broken. But if that's the case why the DVD works while all 3 are using the same cable.

Thanks for your answer finally starting to narrow the problem

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

Hmm. There's two sets of TVS diodes, one 12V which powers the motor, and the electronics usually run off 5V. Not sure if it would spin up without 5V power.

The TVS diodes are on the drive's PCB. It's possible the DVD drive is designed to tolerate higher voltages.

Which cable has nothing to do with it.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Alright. Well its going to be a pain in the ass but I got another PSU I'll plug that and update here if it fixed or not. So I'll get back to you in around an hour or so

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

If it's the TVS diodes, they still won't work until they are removed and the fuses on the HDD PCB replaced or bridged.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

... Didn't work with a complete different psu. When you say TVs where are those located? And HDD fuses too where's that. Would changing the motherboard work?

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

See here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288700-32-none-hard-drives-work-them

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

Hmm I checked the post but messing with the TVs seems a bit of electronics I rather not get into that even if its easy. I would rather appreciate if you could tell me what parts I got to switch in the computer to get everything to work. If the problem is in the motherboard changing it will fix it?

Someone Somewhere · Jun 16, 2014

Those HDDs are dead until they get the bits replaced.

New HDDs should work fine if you replace the PSU with a decent one. Look at the second link in my sig.

lokerian · Jun 16, 2014

But I just placed a new PSU and one of the two HDDs is brand new bought it today shouldn't it work?

lokerian · Jun 17, 2014

Well anyway I fixed it thanks to the advice's above.

Pretty much my computer was a toaster. And the HDD which I bought brand new got completely ruined. So I had to change my PSU and get another brand new HDD and now the computer is working fine once again.

Thanks for all the help

HDD Won't show on BIOS...

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