Windows does not see HDD

[glennicus]

I've just installed a new SSD and HDD and installed Windows 7 on the SSD. The HDD does not appear in Windows Explorer, Device Manager, or in Disk Management. I can see it in the CMOS Setup Utility.

I'd appreciate any advice in getting Windows to see the drive.

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Have you set the jumper pins?

 

[glennicus]

I have not. I didn't use them on my previous set-up (a RAID with two HDDs), and this new HDD did not come with any. Is that what I've done wrong? How should I configure the pins?

 

[sygnus21]

Did you format the hard drive? If not, do so.

 

[DocBrown]

Is the HDD Sata or IDE ?

 

[glennicus]

The HDD is SATA (Western Digital Caviar Black), and I have not formatted the hard drive. I thought formatting was something I would within Windows Disk Management.

 

[DocBrown]

Normally you should get an option to initialize the Sata HDD & then you can format it in Disk Management

 

[sygnus21]

The HDD is SATA (Western Digital Caviar Black), and I have not formatted the hard drive. I thought formatting was something I would within Windows Disk Management.

True. Double check the connections and give it another try. Also, I know you said you saw the drive in CMOS, but double check that the SATA/IDE controller is Enabled. Maybe you missed that?

And you don't need any jumper pins. I use Western Digital drives all the time. In fact I have 3 in my system now. All without jumper pins.

 

[glennicus]

So I need to find a way to manually initialize the HDD?

Thank you all for your help.

 

[glennicus]

Sygnus21, the HDD appears in the CMOS Setup Utility, so I do think the connection is okay.

 

[DocBrown]

Sometimes I put the HDD in another computer to pre-format it.

 

[glennicus]

I don't have access to another computer in my home, but I suppose I could take take the drive to a retailer.

 

[sygnus21]

Sygnus21, the HDD appears in the CMOS Setup Utility, so I do think the connection is okay.

It doesn't hurt to double check that the controller is enabled. Only takes a second and leaves no doubt

Point being that it should show up in the Windows Management console.

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Try this

Start -> Right Click Computer -> Properties
Device Manager (on left side)
Click the Disk Drives arrow to show the list
Find Your Drive You Installed Here
Right Click on the Drive -> Uninstall
After the SATA HDD disappears, click the Action menu -> Scan For Hardware Changes

Your drivers for you HDD may need updating

 

[glennicus]

Oh, I don't even see the HDD in Device Manager. I can only see it in the CMOS.

 

[sygnus21]

Hi Prof Kerfuffle,

His problem is that the drive isn't showing up in the console. So doing your procedure may not work. But as I said in one of my posts, it doesn't hurt to try

@ glennicus,

Give this a try to see if the drive is showing up. If not, obviously Windows isn't seeing the drive, which say either BIOS setting or bad drive. - WD Support > Downloads > SATA & SAS > WD Caviar Black

Good luck.

 

[glennicus]

It didn't show up there either. I have been looking at my ATA controllers in the Device Manager. I have two channels (0 and 1). Both indicate that they are working, but only channel 1 has an option to disable. No such option exists for channel 0, which suggests that it isn't enabled. But I don't see how to enable it.

 

[cloud8521]

Oh, I don't even see the HDD in Device Manager. I can only see it in the CMOS.

do this,

right click "my computer" and choose "manage"

on the sidebar choose "Disk management"

wait for it to read what you have.

find the disk, then right click on the part that says "disk #"

choose "initialize"

go though the wizard

(make it a MBR, if you want compatibility with more then just windows 7, windows vista and the last 2 windows servers)

then right click on the large white area and chose "new partition" go though the wizard and this will format it (remember to assign it a drive letter)

 

[glennicus]

Thank you Cloud8521, but I don't see the drive under Disk Management. Windows has not in any way detected my drive, although it does appear in the BIOS.

 

[cloud8521]

Thank you Cloud8521, but I don't see the drive under Disk Management. Windows has not in any way detected my drive, although it does appear in the BIOS.

is this your only sata drive?