BIOS Can't detect Hard drive?????

Benedict_l · 08-19-2008, 03:33 AM

I have 2 drives, 15GB and 20Gb ATA. After changed format to NTFS, the other one after recovery the back up. The BIOS can't detect them. I think they are not damaged themselvies. My OS is XP SP3. Any help? Thanks.

**sobeit** · 08-19-2008, 03:49 AM

did you pull the drives for any reason?

Benedict_l · 08-19-2008, 07:59 AM

Before I did these 2 changes. The BIOS could detect them.
I changed format to NTFS on the 15GB and restored the back up system to 20GB HD.
Each time I changed purpose with 1 HD on operation only. After that, the BIOS can not detect it. Thanks a lot.

~~wiseleo~~ · 08-19-2008, 04:53 PM

It could be as simple as jumpers.

Try to set one of them as master, and keep the other one turned off and out of the system. I want you to tell me what the drive sounds like when you attempt to boot the system. :)

Benedict_l · 08-20-2008, 08:36 AM

Thanks for your response.

The 2 HDs had been set as master already. I operate it on a "Mobile Rack"/ removable tray as drive C: each time. Not 2 HDs in operation as master and slave.
There is no special sound from it. Only BIOS can not detect it. Thanks

~~wiseleo~~ · 08-20-2008, 02:03 PM

When a BIOS can't detect a drive, it usually requires professional help.

What happens if you connect the drive directly to the system after removing it from the mobile rack system?

What happens if you connect the drive directly to another system?

What happens if you put the drive into an external USB enclosure and connect it to another system?

Do you have an add-on controller card to which these drives are connected? Judging from the size, probably not, but I need to ask anyway.

Benedict_l · 08-21-2008, 03:47 AM

Yes, I think I need prefessional help. Of course. Any body can help?

I directly connect it to system with out the mobile rack. one is still not detected by BIOS. The other one can be detected. But can not be format or Fdisk in DOS. The structure of HDs seem changed. I saw the Directory of it "MS Ramdrive". It iseems not an ordinary HD structure. ????????
I connect them to other computer. They are the same.
I connect them to USB enclosure and as the same before.
I have no add-on controller card to these drives.
Thanks a lot.

**sobeit** · 08-21-2008, 03:52 AM

are the two drives on the same cable? If so one needs to be set as slave.

Benedict_l · 08-22-2008, 02:22 AM

I connected 1 HD in a cable only and test it. So, the system has 1 HD only. Not 2 HDs in a cable. So there is no need to set it on master and slave.

08-19-2008, 03:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Benedict_l Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3	BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? I have 2 drives, 15GB and 20Gb ATA. After changed format to NTFS, the other one after recovery the back up. The BIOS can't detect them. I think they are not damaged themselvies. My OS is XP SP3. Any help? Thanks. Last edited by Benedict_l; 08-19-2008 at 03:34 AM.

08-19-2008, 03:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? did you pull the drives for any reason? __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

08-19-2008, 07:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Benedict_l Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? Before I did these 2 changes. The BIOS could detect them. I changed format to NTFS on the 15GB and restored the back up system to 20GB HD. Each time I changed purpose with 1 HD on operation only. After that, the BIOS can not detect it. Thanks a lot.

08-19-2008, 04:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? It could be as simple as jumpers. Try to set one of them as master, and keep the other one turned off and out of the system. I want you to tell me what the drive sounds like when you attempt to boot the system. :)

08-20-2008, 08:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Benedict_l Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? Thanks for your response. The 2 HDs had been set as master already. I operate it on a "Mobile Rack"/ removable tray as drive C: each time. Not 2 HDs in operation as master and slave. There is no special sound from it. Only BIOS can not detect it. Thanks

08-20-2008, 02:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? When a BIOS can't detect a drive, it usually requires professional help. What happens if you connect the drive directly to the system after removing it from the mobile rack system? What happens if you connect the drive directly to another system? What happens if you put the drive into an external USB enclosure and connect it to another system? Do you have an add-on controller card to which these drives are connected? Judging from the size, probably not, but I need to ask anyway.

08-21-2008, 03:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Benedict_l Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? Yes, I think I need prefessional help. Of course. Any body can help? I directly connect it to system with out the mobile rack. one is still not detected by BIOS. The other one can be detected. But can not be format or Fdisk in DOS. The structure of HDs seem changed. I saw the Directory of it "MS Ramdrive". It iseems not an ordinary HD structure. ???????? I connect them to other computer. They are the same. I connect them to USB enclosure and as the same before. I have no add-on controller card to these drives. Thanks a lot. Last edited by Benedict_l; 08-21-2008 at 03:48 AM.

08-21-2008, 03:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? are the two drives on the same cable? If so one needs to be set as slave. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

08-22-2008, 02:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Benedict_l Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3	Re: BIOS Can't detect Hard drive????? I connected 1 HD in a cable only and test it. So, the system has 1 HD only. Not 2 HDs in a cable. So there is no need to set it on master and slave.