Plug in a sata power cable


  1. dwarfer66
    Posts : 233
    Windows 8.1 Pro
       New #1

    Plug in a sata power cable


    Can I plug in the power cable to a sata drive (already connected to sata port on mobo), while the computer is on.

    With that drive connected Windows will not boot (I never have had a problem with the drive before, even when installing windows). If I remember right, a few years ago, I moved the pagefile to that drive, and it also had a boot.ini file on it (for some reason) I wonder if that is the problem (never until now), because when that drive is installed windows hangs at starting windows.
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  3. TVeblen
    Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       New #2

    If the SATA controller is set to AHCI mode, and the SATA port the drive is on is set to allow "hot-swap", then yes you could. If not, then no you can't.

    You should post a screenshot of your Disk Management window with the problem drive connected. Expand the window so everything can be read.
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  4. dwarfer66
    Posts : 233
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    I can't as the PC won't boot, It hangs at starting windows.
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  6. TVeblen
    Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       New #4

    This assumes you can hot swap.
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  7. dwarfer66
    Posts : 233
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    I had to also remove the drive to reinstall windows before. I'm sure when I have had a look on the drive through windows explorer (such as copying files etc) I though I had seen a boot.ini file on there as well, I pretty sure that drive has never been used as a boot drive, but I could be wrong and the drive is about 4 years old.

    Everything was running smooth until I replaced my PSU with a beefier model, went from a Corsair HX520 to a Cooler master V750.
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  8. TVeblen
    Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       New #6

    I suspect that one of the partitions on the problem drive is flagged as ACTIVE.

    Another note: it is much safer for the system to keep the power connection attached and "hot-swap" or disconnect the drive using only the SATA connector.
    This will minimize any unfortunate short circuit, static, or grounding accidents.
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  10. dwarfer66
    Posts : 233
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Yes I think it was flagged as Active.

    Would I be able to put it into a powered caddy, so it does not start with windows. I have Paragon Hard Disk Manager installed, would I be able to "unflag Active" without losing data.

    Like this one:

    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=16636
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  11. TVeblen
    Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       New #8

    Yes, I think you could. You just need to access the drive. Then you could use DISKPART to remove the ACTIVE flag, or any 3rd party disk management tool.

    Partition - Mark as Inactive
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  12. dwarfer66
    Posts : 233
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Cheers mate, will have to get one, but wont be few a few weeks dammit.
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