Hard drive problems

[robert201729]

I have this 250gb maxtor SATA HDD, bit it isn't detected by the computer. And i don't mean Windows, instead, it's installer. Can anyone help me? By the way, the drive does power up and spin up. It's just not detected by the computer.

 

[Eragon615]

I'm not sure I follow what you mean when you say it isn't detected by it's installler. Do you mean you're trying to install windows to the HDD and the installation isn't detecting it? And can you boot an OS on the computer to see if it can be seen in Disk Management or another similar utility?

 

[robert201729]

I mean, yeah, im trying to install win 7 on it. And the installer isn't detecting it. I've also tried open suse but the installer doesn't detects it either. Idk, i will try putting it on my working computer and see what happens. I highly doubt is going to detect it but, whatever. I think the problem has to do with the drive's chips. Because it does spin up. It's just not detected.

 

[DR_Luke]

What is the full model of drive?

 

[Eragon615]

Yeah, if you haven't already, I'd try different sata connectors on your mobo to see if maybe one is acting up. If you put it in another computer and it works there, then it might be BIOS problems. If it doesn't work on anything, I'd say it's the drive. Windows and open Suse both should detect it, even if it's unformatted if you're trying to install the OS.

 

[RolandJS]

I hope you have current restorable full image backups of your OS and Data partitions on external media.
I'm coming across as a newbie DR person who assumes the worst is coming of an internal HD until proven otherwise:
-- if you have no recent backups, usb or dvd boot any backup / restore / clone program and either make a one-pass clone of your HD or make one-pass sector by sector full images of your partitions onto external media.
Then, since others here gave great advice, follow their advice and keep us posted.

 

[DR_Luke]

@Roland, how you do you expect the OP to make an image of the drive if it is not detected by the computer?

 

[RolandJS]

@Roland, how you do you expect the OP to make an image of the drive if it is not detected by the computer?

I missed that part! I was thinking an external usb or dvd boot might possibly pick up that drive. Glad you caught it! Well, short of trying that HD in another computer, where else can OP go?