Harddrives Not Being Detected?

StarlightDash

Commendable
Aug 24, 2016
26
0
1,530
Hi so recently I decided to take this desktop I have had and fix it up into a working computer now I was having a problem with the harddrive not being detected by the computer or my main gaming computer. So I was like "Ok I will temporarily use a laptop harddrive while I save up for a new harddrive." So heres where the problem is. I have tried 5 different harddrives 3 on the desktop and my computer and just 2 on the gaming computer alone. NONE of them are being detected so I am hoping some tech wizard can lend me a hand here. Because I dont know whats wrong. I cant have 5 dead harddrives.
 
Solution
One question: will any computer that you have actually boot up? What OS?

If not, then create a Live Linux USB stick that will boot any PC from a USB port if the PC works. You can easily create that by using Unetbootin and select like a 32 bit version of Mint 17 -- the program will download the image and create the USB boot stick automatically. Then simply boot from it, click on an attached bad drive to mount it and use the Mint tools to reformat.

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
What model motherboard? What OS and are you doing clean installs or just moving a laptop HDD to a desktop PC with the OS intact and all the wrong drivers for the desktop?

Have you installed a chipset controller (Intel or AMD as the case may be)?

Have you tried other SATA ports and cables?

Do they show up anywhere, bios or disk management or just nada?
 

StarlightDash

Commendable
Aug 24, 2016
26
0
1,530


The whole reason I tried to connect them to the computer was the wipe them and none of them show up. I have tried different cables still nothing. They do not show up in disk management. Its like they dont exist.

 

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Then they could have incompatible formats, so I would try diskpart to clean them, which works for lots of other formats.

Just open an elevated command prompt (right click run as admin) and type:
diskpart
list disk
select disk n (where n is one of the disks that you want to use that does not otherwise show up)_
clean
exit

That disk should then show up in disk management to be initialized and formatted. Repeat for each problem disk.
 

StarlightDash

Commendable
Aug 24, 2016
26
0
1,530


They dont even show up in command prompt

 
Merry Christmas, guys!

@StarlightDash, this sounds pretty unfortunate. I truly hope you are not dealing with 5 failed HDDs. :( I'd suggest you find a docking station or an external enclosure (with an AC adapter) and check how the drives will get recognized externally. In the meantime, I think it would be a good idea to try and resolve the issue by Resetting BIOS. This will get the settings back to their factory default condition, so you will need to reconfigure all manual changes you have made in the BIOS interface.

I'd also recommend going to both PC's motherboard manufacturers' official websites and check if you have the latest SATA controller & Chipset drivers for both the desktop PC and the gaming rig that you have. While lurking there, I'd also advise you to check if you have the latest BIOS versions on both machines.

Hope this helps you. Keep us posted & Happy Holidays! :)
SuperSoph_WD
 

StarlightDash

Commendable
Aug 24, 2016
26
0
1,530


I cant access bios or anything. These harddrives need to be wiped without accessing bios. Thats the whole reason I am on here. I need them to be recognized by my computers so I can just format them, but its like they are all dead.

 

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
One question: will any computer that you have actually boot up? What OS?

If not, then create a Live Linux USB stick that will boot any PC from a USB port if the PC works. You can easily create that by using Unetbootin and select like a 32 bit version of Mint 17 -- the program will download the image and create the USB boot stick automatically. Then simply boot from it, click on an attached bad drive to mount it and use the Mint tools to reformat.
 
Solution

StarlightDash

Commendable
Aug 24, 2016
26
0
1,530


I shall try this! Thank you!
 

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