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Question

New Hard Drive Failure?

Apr 21, 2015 11:44PM PDT

I just built a new computer, and the hard drives are not working. The spec are as follows:
CPU: i5 4690k
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H
SSD: Samsung 120 gb m.2 drive
HDD Western Digital Black 1 TB (x2)
Ram: 8 Gbs Corsair Vengence 1600 mhz

My issue is that that the bios isn't picking up either of my new WD drives. The SSD came up, so i was able to install windows, but neither of the drives are. Did they both fail? What do I need to do to get these drives working. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Do these drives work on other machines?
Apr 21, 2015 11:59PM PDT

Dead drives are usually dead and gone. I think I've seen a handful come back in decades.
Bob

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(NT) nice answer
May 6, 2015 6:59PM PDT
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Answer
Try other drive settings in BIOS
Apr 25, 2015 6:21AM PDT

Since these are newer drives, likely Advanced Format, what are you basing them "not working"? Not seen by BIOS? Not being detected during POST by BIOS?

Make sure anything IDE is turned off in BIOS, use just SATA settings. Try AHCI on, and then off.

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I wonder if this is their first build?
Apr 25, 2015 6:25AM PDT

One customer came in with this same complaint. Yes, they had the SATA data cables installed, but no power connections. We pointed that out as nice as we could and sent them on their way.
Bob

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that is distinct possibility
Apr 25, 2015 11:50PM PDT

that didn't even occur to me. You might have pegged it. Also is a UEFI BIOS, so maybe somethign set wrong in it too.

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Answer
How connected?
May 7, 2015 10:10AM PDT

You need to verify if the drives work elsewhere if at all possible. Then, check the bios that this PC isn't in some RAID mode. Also, with newer EUFI present, you have to use GPT format for best possible operation, though at 1tb, MBR is still valid. Also, the operation of HD speed setting is related to ports, that the right ones are used unless some "auto-setting" takes care of that but proper connections always helps. You do have to prepare or intialize the drives, if not already done. You can do that by having only 1Tb installed(connected) and use the OS from the SSD(that's the boot OS) HD and check to verify you can see it. The best test of even doing that is the drive actually seen during the boot-up from the bios display? One or all of this may correct your problem. I do exclude any actual bad HDs or if you left out some details.

You can check the WD support website and get any s/w for install and/or prepartion, etc.. they do have it available, just locate your model# for best results, but should be generic across newer drive models.

tada -----Willy Happy