Solved Plug in a sata power cable

[dwarfer66]

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.

 

[TVeblen]

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.

 

[dwarfer66]

I can't as the PC won't boot, It hangs at starting windows.

 

[TVeblen]

This assumes you can hot swap.

 

[dwarfer66]

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.

 

[TVeblen]

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.

 

[dwarfer66]

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?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_177_287&products_id=16636

 

[TVeblen]

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.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

 

[dwarfer66]

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