BIOS does not recognize my HDD

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

As you see the title BIOS does not recognize my HDD. It does recognize when i plug in Silicon Power 16GB flash drive but not my Seagate 250GB HDD via Sata. My motherboard is Biostar TA790GXBE and i have American Megatrends as my BIOS. Any help?

EDIT: Here's a picture how it looks for me

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

Does your bios recognise any other hard drives/ssds?

Is the HDD plugged in 100% correctly. If so and you still can't see it then there's a fair chance its faulty.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

I connected Power where it can only fit and data cable where it can only fit and put it into the motherboard. I don't have any other SSDs or HDDs. I connected my flash drive and it recognized it. I tried several sata ports on my motherboard but no success. (I have 6 sata ports)
HDD cannot be faulty i ordered it 3-4 days ago from a trustworthy guy.

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

Without other sata drives to test you can't rule out a faulty motherboard.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

Well that could be the case but why just that SATA connectors aren't working?

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

I don't know the detailed history of the board. But I do know that Biostar motherboards have a poor reputation.

Borrow another drive.

Test your one with Seatools.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

I don't know where to borrow it from. Can i turn on the power supply just to power the HDD (plug all other cables out) to see if it spins? Will it fry the HDD?

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

Okay I plugged it into Sata6 slot and it successfully recognized it and when i plugged my usb in there to install os it loaded files but then it freezed on that first blue screen showing only my mouse cursor.

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

"Can i turn on the power supply just to power the HDD (plug all other cables out) to see if it spins? Will it fry the HDD?"

You can power up the HDD but you can't see it spinning. You might hear it. And it needs to more than spin to work.

Sounds like the HDD works then but only some of the sata ports do. They all clean? If so and all the sata ports don't work, then you need to get a replacement motherboard.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

Yes i meant to hear it spinning. It worked for 6th port once not anymore. Tell me, can I for the first time install windows 7 from a USB drive or it has to an optical drive? Because it keeps mixing it being a storage device such as HDD. And also the front red HDD LED light is non stop on if that helps somehow (that's when i unplug USB and when it is plugged)

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

You can install windows via a usb drive if you've used an installer tool and have downloaded the iso image. Or you can use a Windows Installation CD. They have to be legit copies of windows with proper product keys.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

Yep I used rufus and an iso image.
Question: can i switch between sata ports to see if others will work while PC is on (while i'm in bios)?

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

No. Don't plug or unplug ANYTHING while the PC is running.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

Okay well thanks for all the help.
I'm giving up on this, I don't have anymore patience for it. Your answer will be the solution since you're the only one that was helping me. Thanks again! Keep up the good work mate.

i7Baby · Apr 6, 2015

I'd recommend replacing the motherboard.

Also getting a SSD for the OS and use your HDD for programs and data.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

I would have took a new motherboard and an SSD right away but i have no money for that.

razerg · Apr 6, 2015

i7Baby :

Hey could it might be that i need to install driver for my HDD? It was asking me if i had drivers when it found no drives on windows installation.

ArtPog · Apr 6, 2015

Well I guess you know you're dealing with a fairly old motherboard - one that uses DDR2 memory. Not to say it's defective or isn't usable but it's an iffy situation.

Anyway, the problem you're experiencing may very well involve SATA controller drivers. Access Biostar's support page for your motherboard at...
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=379#dl
Access the Driver download link and download/install the SATA AHCI driver

Review you motherboard's user manual if you have one for the SATA driver installation process. If you don't have the manual you can download it from the Biostar site.

It's worth a shot. Good luck.

razerg · Apr 9, 2015

ArtPog :

Yep i know it's old, this summer i'm about to build a new PC with LGA1150 socket. Though i did not find how to install SATA driver on the manual thanks for the answer.
This is actually my MB not the one you sent http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=419#dl

ArtPog · Apr 9, 2015

Sorry about the confusion re your system.

In your initial post you identified your motherboard as the Biostar TA790GXBE. Biostar's support site for that motherboard is at... http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=419#dl where you can download the SATA drivers.

Anyway the situation is moot since you're planning to build a new Intel-based system using the LGA 1150 socket, a wise choice I would think. Good luck.

razerg · Apr 10, 2015

ArtPog :

Well yes, I would really want to see this system working again and I could use it because currently i'm on a laptop that sometimes can overheat.
i5 4460 and r7 260x are going to be in that build., quite nice eh

Tayonas · Apr 10, 2015

I'd either reset the BIOS or update the BIOS and leave it on defaults and see where things go from there.

razerg · Apr 10, 2015

Tayonas :

I already did the reset. I cannot update BIOS i don't have another hard drive to do it.

Tayonas · Apr 10, 2015

razerg :

Go to your manufacturers website, usually you use a bootable USB or such and not the operating system you will be running.

razerg · Apr 11, 2015

Tayonas :

I will first buy a SATA to USB adapter and test it on my laptop to see if my HDD is faulty or SATA data cable. It could be the case.

BIOS does not recognize my HDD

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