gasman40

My PATA HD needed renewing for more space. I have a hitachi Deskstar 160 gig SATA as my primary and works well so chose to use another inplace of PATA. Problem is neither are recognized in BIOS and system will not boot. Tried updating BIOS, clearing CMOS no joy. How can I test new drive to check its ok. for the record I have tried using just the new one and installing windows but it is not found. Frustated and waiting for heart by pass surgery do not go together well Please help

2pistolpacker

Hi gasman40, I assume everything was working correctly until you installed the new Hitachi? What is the model or make of the PC or motherboard? I would install only the original boot drive to figure this issue out. After you reset the cmos, you need to go into the bios and find "Optimal Default Settings" and click it OK. Then set the SATA to run as IDE, set your boot priority to the Hitachi and boot order to CD drive first, floppy second and HDD third. Try this and get back. Mike

gasman40

all works fine from the original only

gasman40

forgot to say mb is ASUS k8v-x se and it auto searches for drives but neither shows in BIOS

2pistolpacker

So you now have the original installed and the computer boots normally to the desktop? Did you set the bios settings as instructed above, make sure the date and time is correct? Under the Advanced heading make sure the SATA boot rom controller is enabled. Your motherboard only supports SATA 150mb so check the jumper on the hard drive. When you have two SATA devices you have to set the boot device priority, so plug the boot drive into SATA1 and the storage to SATA2, then set the boot priority to SATA1.

gasman40

Hi Mike Yes other than optimal Settings because I could not find them.

2pistolpacker

Yours is called "Setup defaults"

gasman40

found and done

2pistolpacker

Please state how the drives are now hooked up. Since you have reset to bios defaults, go back and follow the steps listed above, enable the SATA controller, ect. Report back all steps taken. Did you check the jumper on the drive?

dai

you have not said when asked earlier
if you put a jumper on the back of the drive limiting it to sata 150 as it will not work without it

gasman40

When setup as suggested no go. Disconecting the storage (new) hd on either power or SATA cables and it boots up normally.Noticed that when both are connected during boot up attempt it powers itself off and retries but to no avail. any more thoughts

gasman40

There are no jumper facilities on these hard drives. sorry this heart problem makes me slow

dai

does the computer post with only the new one connected

gasman40

Yes but then gives message Re boot and select proper boot device etc

dai

that's ok so long as the computer posts
post your specs including the psu details
brand
wattage

gasman40

PSU ATX400 400watts ASUS k8v-x se mboard Athlon 64 300 emprex dvd writer. With all other devices disconnected on power same results do you suspect new drive faulty or is my setup incorrect

dai

PSU ATX400 400watts
what brand
neither i think it may be there is not enough power there for the drive which would be unusual as they don't pull much power

gasman40

Win Power. If there is not enough power why does everyting work when on my existing drive and everything hooked up including my original PATA? The new drive does seem to spin up.

dai

win power are low quality and may have deteriorated in it's amp out put
see if you can borrow a 450w quality psu to try in it

gasman40

Your post reminded me that I had a new win power 450 in a cupboard Don't ask why. now installed but still same problems any further suggestions as I don't want to return new drive if its ok and incur lots of expense.