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Question

new hard drive recognised by bios but not by OS

Dec 11, 2014 5:25AM PST

My system recognises that the new hard drive is attached (it's not new it's been working for a while with no problems it's set to PATA), but now windows 7 is not recognising the disk exists.... Is that strange?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Not at all.
Dec 11, 2014 5:30AM PST

Check disk management next. What you write there may give us what to try next.

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Thanks
Dec 11, 2014 5:50PM PST

Iv'e looked at the disk management and it is still not showing that the drive exists. I've re-checked the BIOS and it shows that the drive is connected. Windows will not recognise it for some reason. Iv'e tried adding new hardware and it still isn't recognised. I'm going to try adding an IDE drive and see if that is recognised. Good idea do we think? Happy Thanks for your help thus far. Happy

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That's odd.
Dec 12, 2014 12:41AM PST

Usually DM will show it if the BIOS does. Is there any doubt as to the hardware's goodness or badness?
Bob

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Whoops posted too soon.
Dec 12, 2014 12:44AM PST

Windows 7 can't see drives that are on many disk controllers until we install the drivers. On really old gear we would have to change the BIOS to IDE mode since most folk can not install Windows to SATA drives on those controllers because it's too complicated an issue. I'm not going to write how here.

It could be some old machine, failed hardware but so far we have the symptom but can't see the patient. That is, without make and model numbers plus more story I have to guess and will likely guess badly.
Bob

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Answer
also
Dec 11, 2014 12:27PM PST

use a boot CD or DVD that has a file manager on it and see if the drive can be seen in that program. If not, then failed drive or cable on it came off.

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Thanks. :)
Dec 11, 2014 5:52PM PST

I have tried to boot using safe mode from my bootable usb stick. the bios is still showing the drive is there, and windows is still saying that it doesn't exist. I'm going to try adding an IDE drive to check whether the SATA ports are shot. God I hope not. Happy