Trouble Installing new HDD

[giantpotato]

I just bought a Seagate 640GB SATA HDD, however I can't get it to install properly. I've tried everything. It refuses to be detected in the BIOS.

I have a USB-to-SATA adapter and have confirmed that the drive does spin up and is detected in windows when connected via USB.

When I try to connect it via the SATA port on my motherboard it is not detected. The only other SATA drive I have is a DVD burner which I've tested on both ports using 2 different cables which is detected and works fine. So...I know the cables are fine and I know the ports are fine, but the HDD is never detected. I've set the jumper on the HDD to both Sata-150 and sata-300, neither work. I've also set the Sata settings in the bios to IDE and RAID, neither work. I'm running out of options, does anyone have any suggestions? Is it possible the HDD is just incompatible with my motherboard? I don't have any other SATA HDD's or computers to test with. My motherboard is the ASUS A8V-E Deluxe.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Have you tried using the power connector to DVD burner for the new HDD?

[giantpotato]

No, but I'm connected through usb right now and I'm using the same sata power connector so I assume it's working. I'm formatting right now, but when it's done I'll try your suggestion. If all else fails I'll probably just keep it hooked up though usb internally, but I really would like to get SATA working if possible.

[jerzdawg]

Why are you using a USB-to-SATA adapter....? Does your mobo not have any more SATA ports left?

[giantpotato]

It doesn't get detected at all when it's connected via SATA. That's the problem that I'm trying to fix.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Arr..I was thinking your board was fairly new and had an nForce chip...its not and its a VIA chip which should still be ok and its SATA ports are listed as 3 Gb/s(ASUS listed it wrong on their site its 1.5 Gb/s so it needs the jumper for Sata-150) so maybe try a BIOS update.

Edited August 8, 2008 by PeterUK

[giantpotato]

The lastest bios update is from 2 years ago, which I already have. I tried swapping the power connectors with no luck. I've been having problems with my motherboard since I got it, I've had to RMA it twice. I had so much trouble getting my SATA DVD burner to work. I'm never going to buy another VIA board again. Unless anyone has any other suggestions I think I'll just live with a USB connection until my next pc build since this drive is more for storage than speed.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Chosen One]

check to see if there's something in the bios that says SATA Enhanced, change it to compatibility

[Nose Nuggets]

it should still show up. i think most 3gb/s SATA drives will work on a 1.5 bus.

mobo firmware updates are a good place to start

reset all options to factory default

make sure you have the mobo setup to look for multiple drives, etc etc.

remove your primary drive and plug the new one into its cables and see if it shows up during the POST.

[giantpotato]

check to see if there's something in the bios that says SATA Enhanced, change it to compatibility

The only SATA options in the bios are IDE and RAID, neither option detects the HDD.

it should still show up. i think most 3gb/s SATA drives will work on a 1.5 bus.

mobo firmware updates are a good place to start

reset all options to factory default

make sure you have the mobo setup to look for multiple drives, etc etc.

remove your primary drive and plug the new one into its cables and see if it shows up during the POST.

I've tried all of those except the last. My primary drive is an IDE, so that's not really possible. Even if I remove the IDE drive completely the SATA drive will not show up.

[ozgeek]

I have the same problem as this guy, except that my system drive is a SATA as well and is detected/working. I am trying to install a new 500 GB drive in to a second SATA port but BIOS and windows won't find the second drive :( The mainboard is a MSI 915P Combo.

[ozgeek]

Aww! Nevermind guys. After resetings the CMOs/Bios, it is now able to find it. XP does find it too :)