Hard drives disappearing, now computer won't boot up at all

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Marita_1

Commendable
Jul 6, 2016
2
0
1,510
Hi!
I suddenly encountered a problem with my pc. The hard drives started disappearing at random, causing the computer to freeze up or just bluescreen.

I've got windows 10, 64-bit on an SSD, and I've got 3 other hard drives on top of that. I've tried unplugging and replugging, and also done a clean install of windows. I've ran a malwarebytes scan in safe mode, which found something and removed it, but the problem still persists.

I was just about to do a different trojan scan in safe mode, but now the computer won't boot up at all. Been told to restart a few times, and to boot from a windows disk/USB. I can access the BIOS, but it won't boot up from the USB that has Windows on it, or in any other way.

After some researching I suspected a trojan, but obviously I can't find out now, since I can't get it on at all.

Please help!

Update: the hard drives used to be detected in the BIOS at all times, but not in disk management or my computer. Now they all disappeared from the BIOS too, aaand after a restart they're back.
 
Solution
D_Know_WD
As you have some problems with your system booting up when other drives attached, then one of them could be failing.
My suggestion would be to test all your hard drives with some HDD testing tool that can provide a SMART report. If any of those is failing, you need to back up the data stored on the drive. You should back up the important data anyway. :)

Cheers,
D_Know_WD :)
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

Judicious
Jul 30, 2014
6,633
3
35,960
Hi there Marita_1,

Does your system boot just fine now? In case it does, I would advice you to back up the most important data stored on the drives.
Do all three drives disappear at the same time?

My suggestion would be to get different SATA and power cables and see if the issue persists. You can even try running your system with just a single HDD. See if the issue persists.

Apart from that, you can go to your MOBO's website and update all the drivers.

In case the issue persists after changing cables and updating drivers, then I believe that all of this, is more likely to be caused by some hardware problem rather than by a virus/malware one.(components not being recognized even by BIOS) It could be either PSU or MOBO.

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD :)
 
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M

Marita_1

Commendable
Jul 6, 2016
2
0
1,510
I've spent the day testing my SATA cables, formatted and reinstalled windows, and wiping storage drives. I now have windows in some form of stability, although my storage drive is very slow to respond and sometimes still disappears. Based on the results, I have to assume that I need some new SATA cables, since any time my main drive is plugged in with one of the others, I have problems booting up. Thank you for your advice, I'll see what I can do about updating any remaining drivers, but changing cables seems to have been the key. I'll get a few newer ones and replace the whole bunch of them!

..and I will come back crying if new cables doesn't fix it. Thanks again!
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

Judicious
Jul 30, 2014
6,633
3
35,960
As you have some problems with your system booting up when other drives attached, then one of them could be failing.
My suggestion would be to test all your hard drives with some HDD testing tool that can provide a SMART report. If any of those is failing, you need to back up the data stored on the drive. You should back up the important data anyway. :)

Cheers,
D_Know_WD :)
 
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