[Viejoverde]

I have an ASUS P5N32 motherboard to which are atteached three SATA drives. My power supply went bad, so I had to unplug everything to install a new power supply. When I put everything back together, the MB did not recognize any of the drives, including the boot drive. I have tried just about every permutation of plugging and unplugging drive, and memory, and I have replaced the MB battery and updated the BIOS to the lattest version. Nothing works, to my very great frustration.

Has any genius had a similar issue or experience who can extract me from my briar patch of incompetence?

Gracias.

 

[deleted122510]

Hi - Welcome To TechSupportForums!

Please, refer to this. Just change your BIOS from "AHCI" to "IDE", that should do the trick. If you get a BSOD or any errors, simply revert to defaults.

 

[Viejoverde]

Unfortunately, my Award BIOS has only "Auto" or "None" settings, not AHCI. I've looked at everyb setting in the BIOS. But, thanks, Windy. If you have any other ideas I'd be grateful.

 

[deleted122510]

Since it's not recognizing your drive, you can't boot into your OS right - or is your drive external?

 

[Viejoverde]

It's internal. I had merely put everyting back in the box after I changed the power supply. Then I tried taking everything out of their sonnectors and putting things in one at a time. I haven't tried taking the memory out however. Thanks, Windy.

 

[deleted122510]

What's the exact model of your external HDD?

 

[deleted122510]

Also, are you running x86bit or x64bit Vista?

 

[Viejoverde]

No external HD is connected, although I own a few.

I have Vista Ultimate 32 with all updates installed on a 500GB Seagate drive.

 

[deleted122510]

"My power supply went bad, so I had to unplug everything to install a new power supply."

Is it suitable for all 3 sata drives plus everything else? What's the wattage?

 

[Viejoverde]

Yes, it is a new Thermalake 750 watt PSU, and I don't have anything close to that requirement for my hardware. And, of course, I've tried to boot with just the boot dirive installed and on several of the SATA connectors.

 

[deleted122510]

Hmm, have you tried just using one drive instead of all three? You said boot drive, does that mean the system partition - the drive with the OS on it?

Hang in there a few, I have to go to school for an hour.

 

[Viejoverde]

Yes, as I wrote, I have tried booting with just the boot, a 500 GB single partition, drive.

 

[deleted122510]

Oh, sorry I missed that.

So, is it possible this could be a driver issue? Try searching for the driver on Google or give me info and I will.

 

[Viejoverde]

Update: I have talked to support at ASUS. We ascertained that the SATA DVD is recognized; my boot drive substituted at that SATA connector is not recognized; the problem, the fellow concluded, is with the drive. I decided to try repairing my Vista installation. The attempt revealed no hard drive and demanded a disk with driver for the HD. I tried to use my Segate install disk, but Windows complained no approptiate driver was found. Then I looked at the repair function, and, the list of drives showed an x:\Windows drive!! Why in hell would the Vista install disk see an "X" drive that could not be recognized as as my "C" boot drive?? A new thought: Is that "X" drive not my SATA, rather the Windows install program loaded into RAM??

Que frustracion!!

 

[deleted122510]

Gooooood question.

Have you tried to rick-click then "explore" when you're clicking the "x:" drive?

 

[jenae]

Hi, unfortunately a failed or failing PSU, can damage a MB, since you appear to have done the PSU switch yourself have a careful look at the MB especially the capacitors they should have flat even heads if any bulges are evident then you may have a failed MB. While you are there carefully check all connections. Good luck, let us know how you got on.