Hard drive not showing ANYWHERE!

[chthob]

My WD Green HDD isn't showing up anywhere! Not in BIOS, not in disk management, not anywhere!

The drive stopped working after temporarily unplugging it.

I've tried everything...
- Made sure power and data connectors are in properly from all the sides
- Tried using different cables
- Tried plugging in different combinations of all the drives I have
- Tried different BIOS settings (although I'm not too sure about that, I think the drive should be read regardless the BIOS settings)
- Tried resetting BIOS settings

I know that drives sometimes need to be enabled through disk management, but it's just not there!

The drive itself is spinning, so I'd assume that it gets enough power. It seems like there might be something wrong with the SATA connector on the HDD (or maybe something inside it)?

What are my options? What can I do? Is there a way to repair it somehow? I can't even use data recovery tools because it's not being read by anything at all!

Please help!

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, chthob!

I'm truly sorry to hear about your detection issues with the WD Green HDD! 🙁 I'd strongly recommend you to try resetting BIOS using one of the methods listed here: http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS
Keep in mind that this would require you to reconfigure the settings afterwards, because the procedure will get them back to factory defaults.
If that doesn't help, go to your motherboard/computer manufacturer's website and check for any BIOS firmware updates for your model. In order to find the source of the issues, I'd also recommend plugging the WD Green in another computer.

Keep me posted with the troubleshooting!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[chthob]

Hey there, chthob!

I'm truly sorry to hear about your detection issues with the WD Green HDD! 🙁 I'd strongly recommend you to try resetting BIOS using one of the methods listed here: http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS
Keep in mind that this would require you to reconfigure the settings afterwards, because the procedure will get them back to factory defaults.
If that doesn't help, go to your motherboard/computer manufacturer's website and check for any BIOS firmware updates for your model. In order to find the source of the issues, I'd also recommend plugging the WD Green in another computer.

Keep me posted with the troubleshooting!
SuperSoph_WD

Hi, thank you for replying to my issue.
I have already tried resetting BIOS multiple times, and I've just done it again, I even updated it like you've advised me to do, but it still doesn't detect it 🙁.
I am unable to check it with a different computer as I don't have any other ones, and anyone I know with a desktop PC wouldn't let me anywhere near it.

Shouldn't a HDD be still detected regardless of my BIOS settings? I mean, I never really changed much, it just stopped working after unplugging it and then plugging it back in, it used to work with those exact same settings. It even detects my old broken laptop HDD.

What else could I do?

 

[lodders]

Does the HDD make a noise when you start the computer (you know, the normal HDD spinning up to speed noise?)

 

[Barty1884]

An external enclosure or SATa/Power cable isn't too likely to help, but it's one of the few things left you can try at home.

If it's not being recognized in the BIOS, Disk Management etc isn't going to see it.

As far as disassembly & repair, I really have no idea.

 

[GRANATA]

I'm sorry for interrupting you, but my computer was working normaly, until I've decided to restart it and then it didn't want to boot anymore... When I turn on the computer, the red LED is constantly lit (no blinking)...
I bought a software called "Easy Recovery Essentials", but the software couldn't fix the problem... Help me please!

 

[Barty1884]

You said you unplugged the drive temporarily? How so? Was the computer turned on at the time?

Any recovery software will require the drive to be visible in the BIOS.

 

[chthob]

More detail on what lead to my issue:
I wanted to install windows on my new SSD but I couldn't because I was keep on getting the "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one" error, but I read somewhere that it's caused by other drives I have, and so I got around that by unplugging my WD Green HDD. It never worked again.

Does the HDD make a noise when you start the computer (you know, the normal HDD spinning up to speed noise?)

Yes, the WD Green HDD that I'm having problems with spins normally (i believe), nothing unusual about the noises, sounds and feels like every other healthy mechanical drive, so that leads me to believe that there might be something wrong with the data port, because that's exactly what happens when the power cable is connected but SATA isn't.

An external enclosure or SATa/Power cable isn't too likely to help, but it's one of the few things left you can try at home.

If it's not being recognized in the BIOS, Disk Management etc isn't going to see it.

As far as disassembly & repair, I really have no idea.

I've already tried different sata/power cables, even different slots on my motherboard.
My best guess right now is that there is some sort of connection issue between the plastic connector on the HDD and other electronic components on it, so I fear it's going to have to be disassembled, but I still want to know if there's anything else I could try before I do something completely stupid 🙁...

You said you unplugged the drive temporarily? How so? Was the computer turned on at the time?

Any recovery software will require the drive to be visible in the BIOS.

No, I always turn my PC off when doing this sort of stuff.

 

[Barty1884]

Assuming you set your BIOS to AHCI when installing the OS on the SSD?

Was it set to IDE mode when you only had the HDD?
Trying switching your BIOS to IDE (or enabling legacy support).

Either your drive has died - which seems unlikely under the circumstances.
Or the BIOS is restricting access, likely by not supporting legacy devices (hence no SATA cables work, but it feels like it's powered normally)

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there again, chthob!

I'd recommend you to try plugging the WD Green externally via SATA-to-USB cable or a docking station. Then try to run the WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostic tool to test its health and SMART status, if it gets recognized you should be able to run it. Here's a link to the WD software: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=CWfrop

If you have access to another computer, try plugging it there as well. If nothing works, I'm afraid your WD Green has gone bad. The next step would be to check the warranty of the drive here: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=czsul0
If it's still covered, you should be able to send a RMA request to our customer support and get a replacement.
WD Support Contacts: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=j9hLhQ

Good luck! Keep us posted!
SuperSoph_WD