Hard drive not recognized?

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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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As you can see in the picture, my hard drive is not recognized all of a sudden. I am running an Alienware X51 R1 desktop computer, and the hard drive in question is a Seagate Barracuda 1000GB, model ST1000DM003. I thought the hard drive went bad so I replaced it with a new Seagate Barracuda, model ST1000DM010. It is showing the same response. So I'm thinking maybe a plug got knocked loose, but I can't find anything loose inside of my computer case. I do think it's odd though that when I have the hard drive plugged in there is a 4-pin plug that is not occupied (says "Molex" under if it that matters). Maybe that is the power supply to the hard drive and that is why it isn't recognizing it? Any help here would be great!

mq5JM8E

https://imgur.com/a/mq5JM8E

Thanks!!
 
Solution
F
The 4-pin connector connects to the MCU's UART port (Tx, Rx and Ground). This port is used for diagnostics. The drive will also tell you what is wrong with it as part of its boot procedure. The 4th pin was once used to limit the SATA link rate to 1.5Gbps. Some Apple branded Seagate models use this pin for outputting temperature data.
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popatim

popatim

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Starting at the left side of the drive in your picture,
The first connector (and larger of the two) is the Power connector. The next one is the Sata data connector. Those are the only two that need to be connected for the drive to work.

I am assuming you boot windows from the ssd(s) then try running diskmgmt.msc and see if the drive is listed there and just needs to be initialized.
 
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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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So according to the instructions my hard drive is physically installed properly, so why is it that it is suddenly not recognized after having used it for years without changing anything?

Also, popatim, in regards to your suggestion of running diskmgmt.msc, how can I do that when the computer only boots up to that black screen as shown in the picture? I'm not really sure how to proceed here. Is it possible something is wrong with the motherboard? I'd really like to get my computer up and running again soon. Thanks guys, I appreciate the input!
 
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popatim

popatim

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My apologies, I didn't notice that screenshot of that part.
Given that, just replacing the hardrive as you did will not make the PC boot up. It still needs windows to be installed to it.
Before you do that, Enter Setup, F2 from that screen you posted, and make sure that your drive is being seen by the bios.

Do you have a backup you can restore or perhaps you created installation media you can use to reinstall with?
 
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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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Forgive my naivety, but how do I check to make sure that the drive is being seen by bios? I hit F2 and went to the BIOS and on the Main section I scrolled down to Device Information and it has listed the hard drive under SATA PORT2 - ST1000DM010-2E, which is the hard drive. So it appears that it recognizes it there, right?

Also note when I push F5 and load the PSA there is no check mark next to Hard Drive, but everything else has a green check next to it. Furthermore, when I go to Results tab in the PSA, it shows "Hard Drive 0-0-0, OEM: ATA, product ST1000DM010-2EP102, revision CC43," so clearly it is being recognized in some way. Then I double clicked on the Hard Drive 0-0-0 again on the left menu and it did tests and said it passed. Now at this point all of them have the green check marks..

Also yes, I have the installation media to reinstall windows. I do not have any backups but all of my data was backed up on an external drive so nothing has been lost. I tried putting the Recovery CD in and when it tried to boot off of it I got a black screen "No boot device available. Strike the F1 key to retry boot, F2 to run the setup utility."

* Note all of this is with the replacement hard drive I just purchased, so I know the drive itself is fine. I'm beginning to think there is an issue with either the cabling that connects it or with the motherboard. If that seems logical, what's my next step to determine which one is the issue? I'm thinking maybe I just buy a new motherboard (https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Alienware-X51-Motherboard-8PG26/dp/B00PC3KWX0) Thoughts? Thank you!!
 
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smorizio

smorizio

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Jan 22, 2010
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start with the simple stuff. on the mb make sure your on the intel or amd port 0. some mb may have intel and asmedia chipset. the asmedia are non bootable ports. if the cables and power look fine hit f2 then scroll to bios reset to factory. reset and reboot with the old drive installed. if the mb bios was changes it should post now. if there no post power down and go back into the bios make sure the data and time are fine. if there not or the setting are not holding the cmos battery may have gone bad. in the mb check the sata port settings the default should be achi mode. if it set to ide leave it alone for now. look under boot devices make sure the hard drive is set as first boot device. on reboot if windows boots but crashes change the setting in sata to achi.
 
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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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I'm relatively tech-savvy, but not quite savvy enough to discern what you mean here. "on the mb make sure your on the intel or amd port 0" - do you mean for me to check physically or is this through some sort of BIOS system check or something? Sorry, I'm just not sure how to go step-by-step on your suggestions. Would you mind clarifying a bit? Thank you!! :)

 
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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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Thanks seagate_surfer, I've made a post there as well. I'm thinking at this point most logically it is a motherboard issue. If that's the case I may as well just buy a replacement and get on with it. I don't mind doing so if that's the next step, as getting it fixed quickly is more important to me than anything else. Anyone else have any thoughts on what may be the culprit at this point?
 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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You could "just buy a new motherboard" but because the source of the problem is unknown the end result of the expended money, time, and effort may be fruitless.

Worth contacting Alienware (as suggested by @seagate_surfer) - they may well know of the problem and a fix. May be some warranty or other options (RMA) available for you.

Nothing to lose as I understand it all.
 
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popatim

popatim

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I'm not familiar with Alienware but the usual process is that during boot from a power off there is a message to press a key for boot options. This is where you would go to tell the system to boot from the intended drive, if the media is detected as bootable.

I see in This Thread on Dell that the x51 does not like to boot from the DVD and they recommend that you make a bootable USB instead.
 
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sm_volleyball

Sep 30, 2018
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The hard drive was dead. I replaced it and installed Windows and it is fine. Also, popatim, you were right, the recovery disc DVD is useless and did absolutely nothing. Very disappointing, but with everyone's help my problem was solved.
 
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fzabkar

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Sep 22, 2010
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The 4-pin connector connects to the MCU's UART port (Tx, Rx and Ground). This port is used for diagnostics. The drive will also tell you what is wrong with it as part of its boot procedure. The 4th pin was once used to limit the SATA link rate to 1.5Gbps. Some Apple branded Seagate models use this pin for outputting temperature data.
 
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