[SOLVED] New PC using previous M.2 and HDD. HDD isn't anywhere to be found.

[SiggoMike]

I recently built a new PC, but reused my previous M.2 and HDD since they are relatively new still and work fine. Upon booting my new PC for the first time, I ran into boot errors because it was trying to boot from the HDD, which I fixed by swapping to boot from my M.2 and everything worked fine. However, now I cannot find my HDD in File Manager, Disk Management, or even in BIOS. If I check boot options now, it just shows my SSD and 'DISABLED'. I've checked everywhere in BIOS and I can't seem to find a way to re-enable my HDD. All SATA ports show as empty in BIOS as well. I am perplexed by this and would love help fixing this.

Specs:
CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 3900x
GPU - Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
MOBO - Gigabyte X570 Elite WiFi (AM4)
OS - Windows 10 Home 64bit
SSD - Samsung NVMe SSD 970 Evo Pro
HDD - Barracuda Compute 4TB

 

[USAFRet]

May we assume the OS is on one (or both) of these drives, and you're trying to boot this up in the new system?

That often fails.

Doing this, there are 3 possible outcomes:

1. It works.
2. It fails completely.
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

You are at #2.
Even if you DO get it to boot up, then you're at #3.

Bite the bullet and just do a full OS install.

 

[SiggoMike]

May we assume the OS is on one (or both) of these drives, and you're trying to boot this up in the new system?

That often fails.

Doing this, there are 3 possible outcomes:

1. It works.
2. It fails completely.
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

You are at #2.
Even if you DO get it to boot up, then you're at #3.

Bite the bullet and just do a full OS install.

The issue I'm having is that my HDD isn't appearing anywhere. I don't use my HDD for windows, purely for storing games and other large files. I'm having no issue using windows on my SSD. I've also attempted to use a different HDD on my new build, it powers up and there was another attempt to boot using the HDD instead, but I switched back to using my SSD as I normally would. So I know since my motherboard can attempt to boot from the HDD's that it can see them and my SATA ports seem to work, and the HDD's are working too. However, I can't see the HDD's anywhere in Windows or my BIOS.

 

[USAFRet]

The issue I'm having is that my HDD isn't appearing anywhere. I don't use my HDD for windows, purely for storing games and other large files. I'm having no issue using windows on my SSD. I've also attempted to use a different HDD on my new build, it powers up and there was another attempt to boot using the HDD instead, but I switched back to using my SSD as I normally would. So I know since my motherboard can attempt to boot from the HDD's that it can see them and my SATA ports seem to work, and the HDD's are working too. However, I can't see the HDD's anywhere in Windows or my BIOS.

I get that.

But this is possibly just one of the long list of issues that may arise when trying to do this.


Also, if a particular HDD has no OS or boot partition, the system will not try to boot from it.
The BIOS will simply pass it by, until it finds a drive it can boot from.

Now....if these HDDs has a boot partition from some other drive. (Not the windows install, just the boot partition), then all sorts of weirdness can occur.

 

[USAFRet]

I'm having no issue using windows on my SSD.

So far.
Well, except for the whole 'drives not appearing' thing.

 

[SiggoMike]

I get that.

But this is possibly just one of the long list of issues that may arise when trying to do this.


Also, if a particular HDD has no OS or boot partition, the system will not try to boot from it.
The BIOS will simply pass it by, until it finds a drive it can boot from.

Now....if these HDDs has a boot partition from some other drive. (Not the windows install, just the boot partition), then all sorts of weirdness can occur.

So what you're saying is I should try and remove any Windows Partition from the HDD? If so, how do you recommend going about that if I cannot access them?

 

[USAFRet]

So what you're saying is I should try and remove any Windows Partition from the HDD? If so, how do you recommend going about that if I cannot access them?

I'm saying you should start with a whole new fresh install on the SSD.

After, diagnose the HDDs.

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[USAFRet]

But to just delete ALL from the HDD, a LinuxLive USB, or even a Win 10 install USB.
Boot from that and see if the HDD appears.

 

[SiggoMike]

I found the issue. AMD RAIDXpert2 Tech was turned on in BIOS. This effectively disables your HDD's in favor of using some performance configuration that mirrors the data on all of your drives.