New Hard Drive Not Recognized During Boot-Up or Windows 7 Installation

Anshad Edavana said:

"Windows 7" supports both IDE and AHCI mode by default. AHCI offers some performance improvement over IDE and that is why it is preferred- it doesn't means IDE mode won't work with 7 or AHCI is mandatory.


Your issue will be either ;

- SATA data or power cable connection issues.

- Failed HDD

- SATA 1 compatibility issue. This can be solved by adjusting the jumper ( if available ).


I am not sure why you don't want to check for jumper setting to enable SATA 1 mode to rule out that possibility. I can't say for sure that it will be the issue but definitely worth a try - only cost 0$ and two minutes.

The Hard Drive isn't failed because it has Windows 7 installed on it through another computer after I bought it, which I put it on there so when I transfer this Hard Drive to this computer, I didn't have to install it. I have Quad-checked the connections and they are both sound. Do I need to purchase a jumper at a computer store?

A jumper is nothing but a small connector to short two pins. It will look like this ;







You can unplug a jumper from an old IDE HDD/CD or from an old MoBo. Your local computer shop will have plenty of them.

Can you please post a clear screenshot of the HDD label side and it's connector side ?

Anshad Edavana said:

A jumper is nothing but a small connector to short two pins. It will look like this ;







You can unplug a jumper from an old IDE HDD/CD or from an old MoBo. Your local computer shop will have plenty of them.

Can you please post a clear screenshot of the HDD label side and it's connector side ?

I definitely can, but I am not home currently. I will post one when I can.

YOu cannot expect Win7 to start on completely different hardware or even with a mobo change without first Adjusting Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD.

I've not seen this cause the HD to not be detected however.

DocBrown said:

Wait,

You already installed win7 to this new HD in a differet computer (different MB) ?

Sometimes that will work, but it could be your BIG Problem.

Hmmmm, I will go to a completely different computer and try and plug in the Hard Drive and sees if it recognizes it.

Anshad Edavana said:

A jumper is nothing but a small connector to short two pins. It will look like this ;







You can unplug a jumper from an old IDE HDD/CD or from an old MoBo. Your local computer shop will have plenty of them.

Can you please post a clear screenshot of the HDD label side and it's connector side ?

I have a jumper now, and here are the screenshots of my Hard Drive.

DocBrown said:

Wait,

You already installed win7 to this new HD in a differet computer (different MB) ?

Sometimes that will work, but it could be your BIG Problem.

So, I tried it out on a different computer (the hard drive). It was recognized, but it wouldn't start the windows. Then I inserted windows install disk and formatted/deleted my "New Hard Drive". Then unplugged from that computer and I'm going to try it in the computer we are trying to get to work. I also have a jumper available if all else fails.

Hard Drive still isn't recognized. :/