Does Win10 not support eSata, or am I crazy?

Zii

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Feb 22, 2013
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I purchased a 4 drive raid bay on newegg because my usb docks kept converting my drives RAW.

The only issue is no matter what I try, I cannot get that bay to work with esata. It doesn't even show any of the drives under disk management. Nothing.

I tried an esata cable directly to the drives, and they don't even spin up.

Tried this on 2 win10 pcs. Doesn't recognize my drives at all. Only with usb and that is not an option because I don't need more RAW drives.

Is there some kind of driver I need to install to get esata to work?? I could have SWORN it worked when I was running win7.

I really need my files... Please help me out here.

Sfc /scannow found nothing.
 
Solution


No it's 2016 now. Download them from your motherboard manufacture's website.

Ya, as far as I know external hard drives require AHCI to communicate. Might want to look into that.

Pretty simple this one if using a Esata connecton to a drive outside of the system case.
You are required to provide a 5v+ power feed via, or in most cases by connecting a Usb cable from your system case to the drive or drives in question.

As a Usb port can provide 5v + power needed for each drive Zill.
Doh ! It will only work if you are using a 2.5" laptop drive.

For a 3.5" drive you need a 12v adaptor to provide the correct voltage to power a 3.5 " drive so it is seen by windows when connected to your system Zii via the Esata data cable connection also.



If you look on the external enclosure you will see the Esata data cable connection and also a Usb connector or port.

It can be a B type usb end, or a D type one.- The ones you find on most android usb, cables a mini D style connector Zii.

Just get power to the drives and all will work fine ok.

B type usb connector, used with printers ect.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Esata+drive&espv=2&biw=2048&bih=1062&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJjr_Hz6fQAhUGD8AKHbgSCsIQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1.25#imgrc=Izjnf_u-VnhogM%3A

and the other type of USB end used for 5v+ power to drive enclosure bellow.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Esata+drive&espv=2&biw=2048&bih=1062&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJjr_Hz6fQAhUGD8AKHbgSCsIQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1.25#imgdii=5E6Gx6yNVKSboM%3A%3B5E6Gx6yNVKSboM%3A%3BiCGzk6rN_jZuSM%3A&imgrc=5E6Gx6yNVKSboM%3A
 


I've tried this, this, AND this.

NONE of them even showed up in disk management. ZERO.
It's like my computer refuses to acknowledge any drive if it's not inside the computer, or a USB.
I can't do USB though because it LOVES to make them RAW randomly.
I'm desperate as of right now. What else is there to try?

Also, I have 16 drives, 12 of which turned RAW.
About 5 of them are 2.5" and they don't work with esata either.
 


I'm running a RAID 0 array, if that makes any difference...
Chipset drivers? You mean from the CD that came with my mobo a few years ago?
 


No it's 2016 now. Download them from your motherboard manufacture's website.

Ya, as far as I know external hard drives require AHCI to communicate. Might want to look into that.

 
Solution


Okay, which one of these is it exactly? https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z97I-GAMING-AC.html#down-driver&Win10 64

And it is completely safe for me to change from RAID to AHCI in bios?
 
The first driver listed -On-Board SATA AHCI/RAID Drivers

Yeah, your computer won't blow up. The thing is if you used raid when installing Windows it might be stuck in raid mode now. You can try to switch to AHCI, but you may not be able to boot to Windows. In that event you might have to re-install Windows altogether, or figure out how to do it without re-installing Windows.
 


So are you saying if I switch to AHCI my raid array will be wiped? Will I be able to switch back to RAID with my data intact?
 


No you can switch back. Sorry for that terribly written post. I meant if AHCI is the culprit and you have to keep it enabled, you may have to re-install Windows. Switching back and forth between modes has no effect on the drive itself. It is merely a BIOS setting.

I would start with installing the drivers first and see if the Esata drive shows up
 


No you can switch back. Sorry for that terribly written post. I meant if AHCI is the culprit and you have to keep it enabled, you may have to re-install Windows. Switching back and forth between modes has no effect on the drive itself. It is merely a BIOS setting.

I would start with installing the drivers first and see if the Esata drive shows up
 


OK that's what I figured.
Never done it before so I wanted to be sure. I'll try it out.
 
Marry me please.

It works flawlessly after reboot. (The 4 drive bay)
Haven't tried the esata cable yet, but wish me luck.
Now is there any way to guarantee a USB dock from converting my drives to RAW?
Did this chipset update address the issue as well?
 
Hahaha. Well we have to see if the rest works out. Good luck.

I'm not experienced enough in USB docks with external drives to confidently answer that question, sorry man. The only reason I knew about the chipset driver issue is a friend went through the same thing with his Esata drive. I hope you get it going though.