Hello, we came to you with a problem. We decided to upgrade the computer, but not the whole computer, but the main components: the motherboard, RAM, video card and power supply, all of which were safely installed in our old case. And now the problem is, our BIOS is not in hard drive is running and a disk drive, both IDE interface devices remained from the previous computer and we did not change them, the technician at the service center connected both drive data to our new motherboard with one IDE cable, since there is only one IDE controller connector on the motherboard. We brought the system unit home and when we turned on the computer, only a black screen, go to the BIOS, there is the inscription: Primary IDE Master No detected and Primary IDE Slave No detected. We would go back to the service center, but we don’t live in the city. What can you think of?
BIOS does not recognize the hard drive
I come across a similar situation quite often, probably before your hard drive and disk drive were connected to the old motherboard, using separate cables, to two different IDE connectors and both worked in the Main position, that is, Master. The service simply connected your two devices to one cable, but forgot about the jumpers, now both of your devices are working in Master mode, because of this there is a conflict and as a result BIOS does not recognize the hard drive and the disk drive too.
- In our article we will work with a hard drive and an IDE interface drive, if you have little experience, about how to connect and disconnect and what errors you may encounter, read in more detail. If this article does not help you, try another one, in it described .
Where they assembled your computer, we were in a bit of a hurry and now we will try to fix everything. IDE interface devices need to be configured with a jumper; this will tell your computer how to properly access the drives (and the drive). When working with IDE devices, it is very important for a computer to know who is the master device on one loop, Master, and who is the slave, Slave, this is decided by the little one. The contacts on which the jumper is mounted are located directly on the drive. Instructions for the location of the jumper are usually located on the drive body. We turn on the computer and go to, first of all you need to make sure that the IDE controller is enabled in the Integrated Peripherals tab.
Make sure the power cables are connected.
In our article, we will first set up a Seagate hard drive with jumpers, then, to gain experience, a Western Digital and Maxtor hard drive, with a Sony NEC Optiarc as the drive. Pay attention to the screenshot. I also have a similar problem, the BIOS is not in hard drive is running and disk drive, both devices are not detected Primary IDE Master No detected and Primary IDE Slave No detected.
From the very beginning, we look at how the jumper is mounted on the Sony NEC Optiarc drive. According to the instructions located on the drive body, the extreme right position is Master, which means the drive is already connected by a jumper as the main one. It is best to connect the Master device to the end of the loop.
Now let's move on to the hard drive, the Seagate hard drive is also connected as Master, two main devices on one cable is an inevitable conflict.
The result for both devices in the BIOS is No detected. Let's avoid device conflict and leave our drive as Master, and connect the Seagate hard drive as Slave. We look at the instructions and see that the Seagate hard drive operates in slave mode without a jumper at all, remove the jumper completely.
We check if everything is connected correctly and turn on the computer. The result is obvious, both devices were found and identified. Now we connect the Western Digital hard drive in the same way, everything is perfectly defined in the BIOS. Behind it is a Maxtor hard drive, everything is fine too.
Many may notice that if you connect the hard drive to the end of the cable and make it the Main-Master, and the disk drive in the middle and the slave-Slave, because the more important device is always connected to the connector at the end of the cable, you want to do it this way, after all, the work of the hard drive is a priority for us. Then the main thing is not to bend the train itself too much, don’t be too clever, it will look something like the screenshot.
We take our first Seagate hard drive and put the jumper in the extreme left Master position, and connect it to the connector at the end of the IDE cable.
and set the jumper on the Sony Optiarc drive to the Slave position, that is, according to the instructions, in the middle and connect it to the cable connector, also in the middle.
Good day everyone, dear readers! In this article I will try to explain why the BIOS does not see the hard drive - as well as ways to solve this problem, I will tell you in my article.
This problem, when the hard drive is not detected by the computer, is the most common. It occurs on both old and new computers. This also happens with new and old, external and built-in HDDs.
First, of course, you need to find out the cause of this problem. Sometimes users can solve everything on their own and get things working with Windows and the laptop’s hard drive.
Why can't my computer see my hard drive?
Let me note right away that there are several reasons why a hard drive refuses to perform its functions. These reasons include:
- For the first time, a new sata or ide drive was connected;
- There were problems with the cable or wires;
- Perhaps the BIOS is not configured correctly or is completely out of order;
- Weak power supply;
- Low cooling system;
- The hard drive itself has failed.
Yes, you need to diagnose it, and only then solve the problem. Let's say that an inexperienced user will probably have some difficulties with this. Let me help you, and together we will figure out what and how.
First connection of the hard drive
If this is your first time connecting a screw, then most likely the system simply did not see it. Yes, physically it is in working condition, but it is not displayed among local disks.
In order to fix this problem, you need to press Win and R on your keyboard, write compmgmt.msc and select “Ok”.
Find and select "Disk Management".
In the window that appears in the middle, all your connected drives will be identified, including your problematic hard drive. As a rule, it is such because the assigned letter is incorrect.
Find the required drive and right-click on it, and then select “Change drive letter or drive path...”.
A window will open in which you will have to click on the “Change” button.
Now select the desired letter and select "OK".
Wrong format
For normal functioning of the disk in Windows, the NTFS format is required.
Just as in the instructions above, go to “Disk Management”, that is, repeat the previous first two steps. After that, right-click on the disk and select “Format”.
Select the file system – NTFS, and click “OK”.
BIOS does not see the hard drive - setting
In some cases, the BIOS may set the wrong priority for boot devices. When booting the PC, press F2 (or Del). Which key needs to be pressed will be indicated when the PC starts. By pressing the desired key, you will enter the BIOS.
Please note that due to differences in BIOS versions, the names of menu items here and below may differ slightly.
Find the "Boot" tab. Use the arrows to control. In the list of boot devices, set your HDD to first place (1st Boot Priority/First Boot Device).
Press F10 to save and exit and then press Y to confirm. After this, the PC will boot from the device you set.
SATA operating mode
Often, users do not have an operating mode in their BIOS that is compatible with the IDE. To make the change, you need to go into the BIOS, select Main, Advanced or Integrated Peripherals and find the SATA Operation, Configure SATA As, or OnChip SATA Type setting.
Select IDE or Native IDE, press F10 and enter Y.
BIOS does not show hard drive
If the BIOS cannot detect your hard drive, then most likely it is due to incorrect settings or failures.
Incorrect settings appear due to user actions, and failure can occur for various reasons. So, starting from power outages and ending even with system infection. The system date may indicate this - if it is not accurate, then you have undoubtedly experienced a failure. To fix this problem, you need to reset all settings.
Find the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard.
Change the jumper from contacts 1-2 to 2-3, hold them for 20-30 seconds and then return them to their original position. Besides, there is another way. Find the motherboard in the system unit and remove the battery from it.
You will need to return it back in 25-30 minutes.
Conclusion
Now you know what to do if the BIOS does not see the hard drive. I hope you were able to solve your problem, thank you all for your attention, and don’t forget to ask any questions in the comments!
Hard drive is a device for storing data. An operating system can be installed on it, user files can be loaded, programs can be installed, that is, it stores all the information with which the user interacts. Below we will discuss the problem when the BIOS does not see the hard drive.
In order for you to be able to solve a problem with a hard drive that does not want to be detected by the BIOS, you need to understand the reason that influenced it. There are two options - either the problem is in the computer or in the hard drive itself.
A little recommendation. A hard drive is a complex mechanical device that, unfortunately, often and often fails quickly. Therefore, before you move on to the reasons and solutions for the problem that do not relate to the health of the hard drive, you should try connecting the hard drive to another computer to make sure it is working.
Reason 1: lack of contact
A trivial cause of the problem, and it’s good if it turns out to be in your case. You should try to look under the case of the system unit, be sure to first completely disconnect it from the network, where you will need to check that the hard drive is connected correctly. Just in case, try reconnecting all the cables, making sure everything is tight and in place. After that, put your computer back together and try turning it on to check for the problem.
Reason 2: Incorrect BIOS settings
The second most popular cause of the problem, affecting the visibility of the hard drive by the BIOS. In this case, you will need to look into the BIOS and check its settings.
Even if you haven't done any BIOS settings before, it's still a good idea to perform a factory reset. More details about the reset procedure were previously described on our website.
Reason 3: lack of nutrition
The power supply can easily cause the hard drive not to be detected by the BIOS. If it does not provide enough power, many components of the computer may not work correctly.
If possible, use a more powerful power supply for your work.
Reason 4: Device conflict
Sometimes two installed hard drives may conflict, which is why one may work normally, but the second will no longer be detected.
In this case, you should try to first disconnect one hard drive and check the functionality of the second. If everything is in order, try changing them and check its visibility in the BIOS in the same way. If a conflict has indeed been identified, it is necessary to understand the settings of each hard drive in order to solve the problem with their “struggle”.
Reason 5: SATA unsupported
In this case, the problem appears when installing Windows on a computer, when the installation program does not see the hard drive, but it is in the BIOS that the disk can be visible.
As a rule, a similar problem occurs if the user tries to install Windows versions XP and lower on a hard drive with a SATA interface. In this case, we can only advise replacing the Windows distribution with a more recent one (preferably version 10).
Reason 6: load on the loop
In this case, the problem concerns you if your computer uses two or more hard drives that are connected to one SATA cable.
In this case, you should allocate a separate SATA cable for each hard drive.
Reason 7: Hard drive search function is disabled in BIOS
As a rule, such a problem is solved by resetting the BIOS settings (how to do this was described above). However, in some cases, the BIOS may have this feature disabled by default, so you should check for this possible cause.
To do this, log into the BIOS (how to do this was described above), and then go to the section "Integrated Peripherals" where you need to check the status of the parameter "Onboard IDE Controller". If the status appears next to this item "Disabled", you will need to activate it, that is, set "Enabled". If the parameter was set from the very beginning "Enabled", nothing needs to be changed.
If not a single method helps solve the problem with the operation of the hard drive, you should once again think about the performance of the hard drive, that is, check it on another computer. Do not neglect this advice, because if the problem is really in the HDD, you will save a lot of time and will be able to make the right decision: have the hard drive repaired, return it under warranty, or purchase a new one.
Computer owners often have problems recognizing the disk. This is done by the BIOS environment. She is responsible for setting up the motherboard and finding the equipment connected to it. There are several main problems why the BIOS does not see the hard drive:
- Physical damage to the HDD;
- Problems connecting to the motherboard;
- Factory defects in hard drive assembly;
- BIOS settings.
Physical damage to the hard drive
Main problem: damaged jumpers
It is difficult to damage a hard drive unintentionally. If after assembly the computer or laptop no longer sees the HDD, you need to check it for external damage. First of all, you need to examine its jumpers, since their failure is the most common problem due to which the hard drive is not detected in the BIOS. The jumpers are located on the back of the media. Problems visible to the naked eye: the jumper can bend, break partially or completely and fall off, oxidize.
If the hard drive on a laptop or computer is new, then it must be returned to the store for replacement. If the media has been used for a long time, you will have to change it.
If the jumpers have undergone an oxidation process, then the problem on the computer can be solved in two ways:
- Carefully treat the jumpers with a special solution that removes rust. You can purchase the product in a specialized store;
- Clean the jumpers with sandpaper. In this case, you need to be extremely careful. One wrong move and the hard drive will have to be replaced.
Problem: external physical damage
When inspecting the surface, external physical damage can often be revealed. The following types of defects are common:
- Damage to chips on an unprotected HDD board;
- Defects in the outer casing;
- Malfunction of parts. For example, a motor.
If defects are detected, it is necessary to assess the extent of the damage. You can carry out the procedure with specialists or yourself. If the disk is suitable for repair, it should be sent to a service center. If not, you will have to purchase a new one.
Connection problems with the motherboard and power supply
Problem: SATA cable is faulty
If the HDD is connected incorrectly to the motherboard, it may be difficult to read information from it on the computer. After checking external defects, it is necessary to test the cable. It must be intact and fit snugly against the jumpers on both sides. The wires must be insulated.
If a faulty cable is detected, it must be replaced with a new one. If it is discovered that the cable does not fit tightly, then to solve the problem it is enough to correct it.
Interruptions in the operation of the device often occur due to the fact that several connectors are occupied in one SATA cable. It is important to check how many ports are connected to one loop.
Provide a separate SATA cable for each HDD.
Problem: Lack of electrical power
Due to insufficient power supply, the hard drive may not have enough energy to operate, so it is not recognized by the BIOS. It is necessary to check the quality of the connection of the wires leading to the unit. There is also a possibility that the power supply cannot cope with a large number of devices.
If the power supply wires are faulty, they must be replaced. If the power supply cannot cope with a large number of devices. It is recommended to replace it.
Incorrect BIOS setting in Windows
Problem: hard drive search functionality is disabled
Often the computer BIOS stops seeing the HDD due to failures of the standard settings. There are many reasons for this: power outages, installation of new equipment on the laptop, infection with Windows operating system viruses.
The first thing you need to do when starting your computer is go into the BIOS. Depending on your motherboard, there are different login keyboard shortcuts that appear on Windows at startup. Once in the BIOS, you need to check whether the functionality for detecting the HDD is enabled. To do this, select the Integrated Peripherals item in the menu and find the Onboard IDE Controller section, opposite which there is an inscription: Enabled (enabled) or Disabled (disabled).
If Onboard IDE Controller is marked Enabled, then there is a problem with the hard drive. Otherwise, change the status of the HDD.
If this procedure did not help and the hard drive is still not detected, then you need to reset the BIOS settings to factory settings. To do this, turn off and unplug your computer or laptop. After that, on the motherboard we look for a round, silver-colored battery.
It is quite difficult to confuse a battery with something else. We take it out of the computer and wait 20-25 minutes. We put the battery back.
Comment. Do not be afraid that when you reset the BIOS to factory settings, the driver settings will be lost. They are not related to the BIOS environment.
Factory defects
Problem: manufacturing defect, invisible from the outside.
If all the previous methods did not help, then you should think about the presence of manufacturing defects. In this case, external inspection, BIOS settings and cable testing will not yield results. Typically, such problems occur with newly purchased hard drives. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the receipt until the warranty period expires, so that there are no difficulties in returning a low-quality product to the manufacturer.
Solution:
It is important to buy hard drives only from trusted stores with a good reputation. It is not recommended to purchase HDDs from dubious companies or from unfamiliar individuals. If the warranty period has expired, you can take the disc to specialized service centers.
If you have problems identifying a hard drive in the BIOS, you need to be extremely careful and attentive when identifying the problem. The breakdown can often be solved on your own by resorting to the above instructions, but if all else fails, then the best solution is service centers.
The BIOS does not detect the presence of an internal hard drive - a situation that, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Let's look at the main causes of the malfunction, as well as ways to fix the problem.
Some manufacturers disable unused ports in the BIOS by default. To check their current status, you must enter the BIOS.
Outdated drivers prevent the hard drive from starting and reading data from it. You can update drivers in three ways:
- by contacting the manufacturer for help;
- download from the manufacturer's website;
- manually.
For this:
If Windows reports that it cannot find a new driver for your drive, download the latest version from the device manufacturer's website.
If the above steps don't work, try reinstalling the drivers:
Windows 2000 and XP require additional drivers to be downloaded, which are supplied by the motherboard manufacturer.
The listed items only work for PC systems.
Broken or disconnected data cable
Always check the connections between the motherboard and HDD for integrity of contacts. A bent, pinched or crushed cable can cause damage to wires hidden by insulation. Such cables must be replaced.
Connector usage:
- blue – for connecting the motherboard;
- gray – for connecting to connected devices;
- black – for connecting to master devices.
The disk does not spin
The problem occurs when the drive does not receive enough power to operate. This can be checked by the following steps:
A hard drive may not spin for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is physical damage. If the hard drive has recently been formatted, or if it has suffered water damage, this could be the source of the problem.
Incorrect disk connection settings
It is recommended that all Seagate ATA hard drives compatible with the Cable Select jumper option be configured as Cable Select. On computers manufactured before October 1998 that do not support UDMA 66 or higher, you must use the Master/Slave jumper settings.
In an ATA drive, all devices powered by a UDMA cable must similarly use the cable selection setting.
Incorrect BIOS setting in Windows
If the user has recently made changes to the BIOS, the settings they entered may not be compatible with the HDD. UEFI/Legacy BOOT mode is the most difficult in this regard, so users should take extra care when making changes to the BIOS.
Also, the SATA controller may have an incorrect operating mode selected in the BIOS. For most PCs, there are three main modes of operation of the SATA controller:
If the hard drive does not support one of these modes, or if Windows was installed and booted using one mode but another mode was configured, the boot process will stop.
Failed hard drive
Hard drives are mechanical devices, and like all mechanical devices, they can fail unexpectedly. Main reasons:
Firmware or manufacturer errors (factory defects)
All reputable hard drive manufacturers thoroughly test their products before selling them to consumers. But even with modern testing methods, defective hard drives still sometimes make it onto the market. Most manufacturing defects appear within the first year of use, so it is recommended that you never trust a brand new hard drive with critical data and keep backups somewhere else up to date.
Overheat
Most hard drives are designed to operate at temperatures between 5 and 50 degrees Celsius, and some newer hard drives can operate up to 60 degrees Celsius. Although overheating does not usually cause a crash, it often leads to data corruption and read errors. It is important that your computer or laptop is well ventilated, especially during the summer months. Thermal paste should be used between the processor fan heatsinks.
Electronic fault
Inside every hard drive there are many sensitive electronic components. A sudden power failure preceded by a momentary power surge can cause these components to malfunction, rendering the entire hard drive useless. High quality surge protection is by far the best way to protect against electronic hard drive failure.
File corruption
Unethical shutdown of the PC, accidental closing of running applications, use of malicious or dubious software, and power surges are factors that contribute to the corruption of system files. The solution is to always use the standard method of shutting down your PC, ending running programs before closing the system.
Mechanical failure
Cause. A hard drive contains moving parts that can degrade over time and eventually lead to mechanical damage to the hard drive. A virus attack can erase hard drive data, alter the performance of the hard drive, or cause damage to system files, etc., which ultimately leads to mechanical failure. For example, rootkits become active when the system starts and disrupt the system at the BIOS level. Although operating systems starting from Windows 8/Windows 8.1 have the ability to detect this malicious program and remove it using UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) technology.
Advice! General measures that can increase the life of a hard drive are updating the system regularly or weekly, running the latest copy of an antivirus program, replacing the hard drive after 3-4 years of use, etc.
To access data from an external hard drive that Windows has detected but cannot open normally, follow this procedure:
Download and install EaseUS - hard drive recovery software.
Now it's time to open your external hard drive on Windows 10, 8 or 7.
How to use chkdsk cmd to repair external hard drive with opening problem?
Accessing BIOS in Windows 10
The latest versions of Windows are characterized by significant data processing speed, and therefore pressing a key at boot does not always allow . To access the BIOS if the hard drive is not detected, it is recommended to follow these steps:
- Start by going to settings. Click on the Start menu icon.
- Then you need to select update and security.
- Go to "Recovery" from the menu on the left.
- Then you have to click on the Reboot button on advanced startup. This will reboot your computer into a special menu.
- Select troubleshoot.
- Go to advanced options.
- Select UEFI Firmware Settings and finally click on Reboot.
After the system reboots, you will be taken to the UEFI one of the BIOS pages.
Conclusion
The case where the hard drive is not detected is a hardware problem and requires knowledge. When using Windows 10, accessing the BIOS may seem difficult, and for this reason, this article provides steps to help you get to the BIOS.
Video - Bios does not see the hard drive