The hard drive is connected but not visible. Incorrect disk ID assignment

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The BIOS does not detect or recognize the ATA/SATA hard drive.

There are six main reasons why the system BIOS may not detect the presence of an internal hard drive. Here is a list of such reasons. They are not ordered, but you can follow the steps here one by one to identify and resolve the issue.

Note. Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 apply to PC and Mac systems. Sections 1 and 2 only apply to PC systems.

For more detailed step-by-step troubleshooting steps covered in this topic, see Troubleshooting Serial ATA Hard Drives: "Drive Not Detected" .

If you verify that the ATA or SATA port is set to auto-detect, or the port is enabled, but the system BIOS still does not detect (does not auto-detect) the disk drive, try to identify/repair the problem by following these steps.

Serial ATA motherboard drivers are not loaded properly(especially on Windows XP/2000)

If Windows XP/2000 is installed on a drive that will be used as a boot drive (that is, on the C: drive), then the drive may not be detected during Windows installation. The following are instructions on how to properly perform this procedure:



A few additional notes on using the driver floppy:
In order for the hard drive to be detected during a new installation, the optional SATA controller/motherboard drivers must be loaded at the beginning of the installation.
The controller/motherboard drivers are either on the included CD or on the manufacturer's website. Seagate does not provide such drivers; these must be obtained from the motherboard manufacturer. Simply download the necessary drivers to a floppy disk and keep it handy.

Data cable is broken or disconnected



• Drive is not spinning

  The drive will not spin if it is not receiving power or not receiving enough power. To find out if this is the reason why the hard drive is not detected in the BIOS, do the following:

• Turn off your computer.

  Open the computer case and disconnect the data cable from the hard drive. After that, power saving commands will no longer be transmitted.

  Turn on the system. Check if the hard drive is spinning. When you touch the side of the hard drive, you should feel a slight vibration. If you can't hear or feel the hard drive vibrate, then it's not running.

  If it is not possible to determine if the drive is spinning:

• turn on the computer and listen;

  turn off the computer;

  unplug the computer power cable;

  unplug the power cable of the hard drive in question;

  reconnect the computer's power cable;

  turn on the computer to determine if the sounds of the drive have been heard before; And

  then repeat the same steps, now connecting power to the hard drive and listening for the sounds of the drive.
  

• Connect the power cords to a device such as a CD or DVD drive to ensure that the power cord you are using is in good condition.
• Check your computer's power source to determine if it is providing enough power to run the drives and devices connected to your computer.
• If the drive still does not start spinning, connect it to another computer, if possible.
• Connect the drive to a SATA-USB enclosure or equivalent, if available.
• If all of these steps still do not cause the drive to spin, visit the Warranty Service page to place a warranty replacement order.
• Incorrect jumper settings on the drive
  
  Serial ATA: If you have a SATA 3.0 Gb/s hard drive that is not detected by the SATA 1.5 Gb/s controller or causes a system lock when connected to a SATA 1.5 Gb/s controller, you may need to slow down the speed of the SATA 3 hard drive, 0 to 1.5 Gbps for the system to recognize it. For more information on changing the jumper settings to reduce the transfer rate of a SATA hard drive, see this Knowledge Base article.
  -(Click to Enlarge) Jumper Settings for Seagate SATA Hard Drives
  -(Click to Enlarge) Maxtor SATA Hard Drive Jumper Settings

  ATA: For all Seagate ATA hard drives that support the Cable Select jumper setting, it is recommended that you set the Cable Select setting. If your computer was built before October 1998 and does not support UDMA 66 or higher, you will need to use the Master/Slave jumper settings.

  -(Click to Enlarge) Seagate ATA Hard Drive Jumper Settings
  -(Click to Enlarge) Maxtor ATA Hard Drive Jumper Settings

  When using the Cable Select jumper setting on an ATA hard drive, all devices connected to the UDMA cable must also be set to Cable Select. When using the Cable Select jumper setting, the cable determines whether the device is a master or slave device. For more instructions see

A hard disk drive (HDD) is the storage device or primary storage device in most PCs. A large number of people are faced with the fact that the computer (laptop) does not see the hard drive. What to do in this case?
In computer slang, it is called a hard drive, and it can be external and internal. On a device that works on the principle of magnetic recording, not only user information is stored, but also the operating system that operates with service data.
How to solve the problem of "invisibility" of the hard drive? Let's take a look at what a hard drive is and how to make it so that the PC detects it.

If a hard disk malfunction occurs, the computer does not display all of the recorded information. The PC may not see the hard drive for many reasons. We will try to describe all the causes of malfunctions and available methods for their elimination.

All these reasons apply to both internal and external hard drives, and the “treatment” in both cases will be the same.

Diagnostic measures If such a problem occurs, diagnostics should be carried out initially. Its purpose is to identify the source of the problem. After all, the problem may not be in the hard drive, but in the operating system. To find out, the hard drive is connected to another PC.

If the computer boots up, it means that it is not the hard drive that is “sick”, but the operating system itself. And if not, the problem, respectively, lies in the malfunction of the hard drive. In this case, it is best to take the device to a workshop for repair or exchange it for a new one if the warranty is valid.

In the first case, when the problem lies in the operating system, you can fix it yourself. There are several methods on how to do it yourself, without financial expenses.

• 1. While the operating system is loading, click Del/F2 several times. If everything is successful, you will see the BIOS settings.
• 2. If you have disconnected the internal hard drive from the computer, wrap it in antistatic to prevent damage due to electrostatic discharge.
• 3. Before all the manipulations with the hard drive, study well how to connect it.
• 4. Antistatic is also useful for the bottom of the hard drive (where the boards are).

Basic Problems and Solutions There are hard drive problems that you can fix yourself. For example, if the contacts have gone, it is not necessary to contact the repair shop. Outgoing contacts If a contact is out, the computer will not see the hard drive. To fix the problem, reconnect all cables in the system unit. Check all connections carefully, and then, perhaps, the problem will be solved. Incorrect BIOS settings Even if the BIOS (basic input / output system) does not see the hard drive, the problem may lie in the system date. If the operating system crashed, the date could have been changed and your computer "moved" into the past. Reset the system date settings by removing the battery on the motherboard for 20-35 minutes, and then installing it back.

If the problem lay precisely in the erroneous date settings, the computer will detect the hard drive as a physical storage medium.

There is another problem, which lies in the fact that the devices are not loaded in the correct order. In the BIOS, find "Boot" and make the HDD a priority device that will boot first.

Not enough power If the hard drive makes suspicious sounds and from time to time it disappears, then it “reads” again, the problem is hidden in the lack of power, so from time to time the PC does not see the hard drive (HDD). There are two ways to fix the problem: the first is to buy a good power supply, the second is to remove some device from the boot. Device Conflict If two hard drives of the same model are installed on your computer at once, they may conflict with each other. In this case, the following will help you:

• 1. Run diagnostics on both devices for troubleshooting.
• 2. Connect both hard drives to the operating system separately.

Bus Version Older versions of Windows OS may not support SATA.

The most reasonable thing is to upgrade to a new version of the OS. If for some reason you cannot do this, you need to reinstall the operating system and integrate drivers that are supported by SATA.

The problem is in the settings of the operating system. If everything is fine in the BIOS, and the operating system does not recognize the device, it must be configured manually using the capabilities of the OS. Do the following:

Step One Enter the "Control Panel" from the "Start" menu and click on the "Administrative Tools" section.

Step Two Click on "Computer Management".

Step Three Click on Disk Management. Here you will see all the drives that are connected to the computer. One of the devices will not have a letter. Right-click on the unnamed device and open "Change drive letter" and assign your volume letter label.

After that, you need to reboot the system.

If all these methods did not help and the computer (laptop) still does not see the hard disk (HDD), then most likely you need to bring it in for repair. You are unlikely to be able to detect a malfunction on your own, but a computer scientist can do it quickly. And there are cases when only professional help is recommended.

The computer does not see the hard drive if it is not recognized by the motherboard. Proper installation of motherboard drivers and checking the settings of the boss.

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Many users prefer not to buy a ready-made computer, but to assemble it with their own hands. Or to equip an existing car with certain parts. Particularly the hard drive. And then there is such an unpleasant incident - they bought a new hard drive, connected it, but it does not initialize.

However, such a problem sometimes happens with those disks that have been installed for a long time - as a rule, software failures are to blame.

Of course, as in the case of any other malfunction, if the computer does not see the hard drive, the best solution would be to contact a specialist. However, you can try to perform a few more or less simple manipulations yourself if the computer does not see the hard drive.

First, let's try to rename the hard drive. To do this, find "My Computer", click on it with the right mouse button and select the "Manage" menu item. In the left half of the pop-up window, select the "Disk Management" menu, select the disk that has disappeared, right-click on it and select "Change Drive Letter".

The most popular letters are C and D, but if they do not work, we go further in the English alphabet and try, for example, J. After that, restart the computer.

If it doesn’t work and the disk is still not detected, you should try installing the drivers on the motherboard - perhaps this is the problem. In case you built a computer from scratch, a driver disk should be included with the motherboard. We insert it into the drive, restart the computer and press F6 while it loads.

If you don’t have the disk you need, you need to find out the model of the motherboard and download drivers for it. Then burn them to disk and do the same.

BIOS does not see the hard drive

If this does not help, and the hard drive is still not displayed, you will have to use more drastic measures and check the BIOS settings. It is worth immediately paying attention to the fact that it is best to do this when you already have experience with computer technology at this level (although in this case there will be a chance to do something wrong).

In any case, BIOS is a complicated thing, you need to know the approach to it, because, depending on the version, it looks different. And violations in his work can have very unpleasant consequences.

One way or another, the first step is to enter it. To do this, when you boot your computer, you need to press F8 (more options: F2 and Delete). The BIOS will open. Next, in the main settings of the operating system, you need to disable the AHCI protocol.

In the case when even manipulations with the BIOS did not bring the proper result, and after the reboot, the hard drive (hard drive) is still not visible, we start working with the material part of the problem - the hardware.

It is worth doing this only when the problem cannot be fixed either through the operating system or through the BIOS.

The cable connecting the motherboard and the hard drive can be connected to one of the two connectors. They are nearby, and it is advisable to connect the hard drive not to the black connector, but to the blue one.

Black works less stably, and the reason that the hard drive is gone may be precisely this.

Manual integration of hard drive drivers

Even if mechanical intervention did not help, there is only one thing left - to manually integrate the SATA driver package into the operating system distribution. Already from the name it becomes clear that this is not an easy task. This can be done in different ways.

Users of the latest versions of Windows should try downloading the required driver packages as part of the operating system update process.

For Windows XP and Windows Vista users, nLite (for XP) and vLite (for Vista) are great. There are similar programs for Windows 7 - the principle of their operation is approximately the same. However, programs alone cannot do here - they will only slightly simplify the process.

The main thing to do is to find the driver package you need. You should not look for it anywhere other than the official website of the motherboard manufacturer. This is the safest option. After all, downloading drivers from any other sources, you run the risk of exposing your computer to a virus infection.

The easiest way to look at the motherboard model is through the "properties" menu in "My Computer". Also note that if you are running Windows XP and the motherboard is a recent model, you will need drivers for the AHCI controllers.

First of all, you need to decide what a hard drive is. A hard drive (called a "hard drive" in slang) is a device for storing data. In fact, all information on a computer is stored on it (with a few exceptions).

The hard drive contains the operating system and all the data to which it has access.

Accordingly, when the system does not detect any of these devices, all files written to it become inaccessible. The causes of the problems and how to overcome them will be described below.

An external hard drive can also be affected by the “diseases” listed below.

Diagnostic Measures

If the computer does not see the disk, you need to decide on the "culprits". That is, find out if the problem lies in the device itself or in the system. To do this, you will have to connect the hard drive to another computer.

If it recognizes the device, then the problem is in the system, if not, then the hard drive itself is faulty. It is better to entrust further work on it to the masters. Or use a warranty replacement or repair.

If the problem is in the "native" hard drive system, then there are several ways to fix it on your own. The few things you can do yourself will help you avoid spending on professional services.

Some Helpful Tips

• You can enter the BIOS settings by pressing the F2 or Del keys until the system boots up;
• It is better to remember the correct connection of cables with SATA outputs;
• It is better to wrap the hard drive removed from the system unit in an antistatic agent;
• The lower part of the device, which is with boards, is also better to always put on antistatic.

Main problems and solutions

There are a number of problems with the hard drive that you can overcome with your own hands. A software conflict or outgoing contacts can be corrected without contacting specialists.

Outgoing contacts

The problem may lie in the banal lack of contact. To fix it, you will need to remove the cover of the system unit and try reconnecting the cables. If the result is not followed, then you can use other, parallel cables.

Incorrect BIOS settings

In the case when even the BIOS does not detect the hard drive, you need to look at the system date. Its incorrectness indicates a configuration failure. Resetting the settings will help fix the situation. To do this, you will need to remove the battery on the motherboard, wait 10-30 minutes and install it back.

After these simple steps, the hard drive should be defined as a physical device.

The problem may be in the order of boot devices. In this case, you do not need to completely reset the BIOS settings. It is enough to find the menu item, in the name of which there is the word "Boot".

It will list the priority of devices to boot. In this list, you need to move the HDD to the first line.

Not enough food

If the device periodically disappears and appears, then you need to listen to it.

The characteristic buzzing sounds of changing cycles of work indicate a lack of power. Then you will have to purchase a more powerful power supply or turn off some less important device.

Device conflict

Two hard drives of the same brand in the system can cause conflicts. To avoid them, you need to check and configure each one in turn with a separate connection to the system.

Bus version

Versions of Windows prior to Vista may not support the SATA(SATA II) interface.

The easiest way in this case is to change the operating system to a newer one. If this is not possible, then you still have to reinstall the OS, but with integrated drivers for SATA interfaces.

OS problem

If the BIOS detects the device, but Windows does not see the hard drive, then manual configuration using Windows tools will be required. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Open the "Control Panel" in the drop-down panel "Start";

2. Double-click on the "Administration" item;

3. In the window that opens, the item "Computer Management";

4. In the list on the left, the item "Disk Management".

All connected disk devices will be displayed in the lower center part of the Computer Management window. One of them will be without a volume label (letters, C:, D:, etc.). Right-clicking on the tile for this drive will open a drop-down menu that contains the line "Change Drive Letter".

Clicking on this item will bring up a window where you can assign a volume label, in the A-Z range. After that, you should restart your computer.

Note! The cause of the malfunction may also lie in an inappropriate file system. For normal operation, it must certainly be NTFS. Information about the volume's file system can be found in the corresponding tile in the Disk Management window. If there is a system other than NTFS, then you will have to reformat the disk.

None of the methods helped to revive the "patient"? Then you can not do without the help of specialists. The problems are much more serious and only the masters can save the hard drive.

The computer does not see the hard drive. What to do?

Why the computer does not see the hard drive and how to solve this problem? This video is dedicated to answering these questions.

The problem in which the computer does not see the hard drive is quite common. This happens with new or used built-in and external HDDs. Before attempting to troubleshoot, you should understand the causes of the problem. Often, users can fix the difficulties that are associated with hard drives on their own. To do this, you must follow the instructions and act carefully.

There are certain reasons why the hard drive is not detected. A similar problem may concern not only the first time a disk is connected to a computer. The main hard drive may stop working, and booting the OS will be impossible. The following causes of failure are distinguished:

First connection of a new HDD.

Physical failure of the hard drive.

Weak cooling system or power supply.

BIOS failure or misconfiguration.

Problems with wires or cable.

If the user has little experience, then it can be difficult to diagnose and solve the problem, especially if the macbook does not see the hard drive.

First drive connection

When the user makes the first connection or external hard drive, the system does not see the hard drive. The desired hard drive will not be displayed in the list of local drives, but physically it will be fully functional. The problem is fixed in a fairly easy way:

Press "Win + R", and in the field that opens, enter "compmgmt.msc" and confirm "OK".

In the left column of the new window, you need to select the "Disk Management" item.

The middle column will display all hard drives connected to the computer. Among them will be problematic. In this case, the computer does not see the hard one due to an incorrectly assigned letter.

Now we find an undisplayed disk. Right click on it. In the console, select "Change drive letter ...".

A window will open where you should select "Edit".

A window will appear where you can specify the desired letter in the drop-down list. To confirm the action, click "OK".

Wrong format

If the disk does not have the “…” item, then this may be due to a mismatch in the file system. Here, windows 10 does not see the hard drive, and to solve the problem, you need to reformat it to NTFS.

After reformatting, the hard drive will become available. A similar method is suitable for a hard disk that does not contain information or the data on it is not important. All files from such a hard drive will be deleted.

Instruction:

Repeat steps 1 and 2 from the above instructions.

Right-click on the HDD and select Format.

In the new window, select the NTFS file system and confirm with "OK".

After the formatting process, the disk will be displayed.

Hard drive initialization

One of the reasons why the computer does not see the hard drive the first time it is turned on is the absence of a process. This applies to brand new and as yet unused HDDs. This process is carried out manually:

Repeat steps 1 and 2 from the instructions above.

Select the desired disk. Right-click on it and select the "Initialize Disk" section.

Highlight a new drive, then choose GBT or MBR style. For hard drives, MBR is the best choice. Then confirm by pressing "OK".

Right-clicking on an initialized drive. Then the section "Create a simple volume" is selected.

The New Simple Volume Wizard will open. You need to click "Next".

The next step is to specify the required volume size. By default, the maximum size in a simple volume is selected, it is not recommended to change this figure. We press "Next".

In the next window, specify the letter of the hard drive and click on "Next".

Then "Format this volume:" is selected, and NTFS must be specified in the file system field. The rest of the fields should not be changed. We press "Next".

In the final window, the wizard will show all the options that the user has selected. If everything is correct, then click on "Finish".

If the computer or laptop does not see the hard drive, then after the initialization process it will be ready for use.

Loop and contacts

When connecting an internal and external hard drive, special care should be taken. It is possible that the computer does not see the second hard drive due to a damaged wire. If there are no visible reasons why the computer or laptop does not see the hard drive, then you need to take the same wire with similar connectors, and then connect the hard drive to the computer.

Internal hard drives can also have a similar problem. Cables fail, and for the hard drive to work, they need to be replaced.

The user may incorrectly connect the hard drive inside the system unit due to lack of experience or inattention. It is necessary to check the connection and make sure that the contacts will not move away.

BIOS settings The system drive is invisible to the computer

If hdd is not defined, it is important to prioritize the download. Boot device priority may be incorrect in the BIOS. Often this happens after changing the settings to start booting from a USB flash drive. Then, while trying to boot the PC in the usual way, messages related to "hard disk" or "boot disk" appear.

The user needs to set the hard drive to the first place in the BIOS settings:

While the computer is booting, press F2 or Del to open the BIOS.

Depending on the type of BIOS, the menu in the interface may differ. You should find the Boot section, and you need to use the arrows to control it.

In the list of boot devices, the desired hard drive must be placed in the first place.

Press F10 to save the setting and exit. The computer will then boot from the specified device.

A common reason why a computer or laptop does not see a new hard drive is an IDE-incompatible mode of operation:

To replace it, you need to go to the BIOS using the above method.

Next, go to Advanced and find the SATA setting.

Select IDE or Native IDE from the list. Then press F10 and confirm the changes.

Now you need to check the visibility of the hard drive by the system.

BIOS does not see the hard drive

Even if the hard drive is not detected in the BIOS, then the problem lies in the settings or their failure. Incorrect settings can appear due to user actions, and failures happen for a variety of reasons. An inaccurate system date may indicate a failure. Let's look at how to make a hard drive visible by resetting it to factory settings:

PC power down.

Finding the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard.

Changing the jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3.

After 20 - 30 seconds, you should return to its original position, and reset the BIOS settings.

Lack of cooling or power

When looking for reasons why the computer does not see a new hard drive or one already in use, you should listen to the sounds of the system unit. With buzzing cycling sounds, the power supply is weak to the system. It is required to replace it with a more powerful one, or disable secondary devices.

With insufficient cooling, the hard drive overheats and ceases to be detected by the system. The problem is solved by purchasing a more powerful cooling system.

physical breakdown

The hard drive may fail due to impact, fall, shake, etc. If the methods described above did not help, then you need to connect the HDD to another PC. If it is determined, then software-level errors, and they are corrected in service centers.

We have studied the main reasons why the hard drive does not start. Such problems are quickly resolved depending on the configuration and specific situations.