PC doesn't boot when I connect second HDD

[Zisisv]

Hi, I have a Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD with two partitions, the first with win 7 and the second with win 8.1 but it is full. I have an old computer with a Western Digital 250GB HDD and I decided to unplug it and plug it to my newest. When I started my PC, the bios post took a bit more time than usuall and after that a message "Disk boot failure" came up.
After that, I checked all connections but there were no issue. The WD HDD was with Win XP so I thought that may was the problem. I disconnected the first HDD and connected only the WD with the win 7 dvd to use the disk utility to format the drive. It ended very well with the drive formated. Then i connected again the two HDDs but the same issue came up again.
Could you please tell me if I do something wrong?
My specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5-2300
Motherboard: Gigabyte H67M-D2
RAM: 2 channel 4GB 1333mhz
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 2000

Thanks for your help!

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there Zisisv,

Sorry that you are facing some issues with your WD drive.
I guess you can just go to BIOS, leave your newer drive as the only boot option and see whether the issue persists. I assume that you will need your WD drive for just storing stuff on.

In case the issue persists, I guess you can test the drive with WD's Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tool for DOS: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=FXe7V5

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

 

[Zisisv]

Thanks for your respond. When I have only one of the drives connected, it doesn't matter which, my BIOS can recognise it but when I connect the two drives BIOS cannot recognise neither. Is there any case my motherboard cannot handle two HDDs? And also my PSU is 600W so I don't there is a power problem.

 

[helpstar]

Be sure to use the sata3 ports (white) on your motherboard

The sata 2 ports could be defective
It's an error from Intel, they upgraded the chipsets afterwards and called the new boards "B3".

Try all other sata ports and replace your sata cables

Update the bios

Be sure the boot priority inside the bios is set to the system drive

 

[D_Know_WD]

It may be a good idea to update your MOBO's drivers.(you could consider updating BIOS as well as your system does not operate properly)
After that, you can reset the CMOS: http://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/

I don't think this is PSU related. I guess you can test this as well. Unfortunately, the easiest way to do so is to just borrow one from somebody and install it on your system.

D_Know_WD

 

[Zisisv]

I have tried all the ports. I think that all of them are sata 2, they are blue. The cable is ok because i used it when i tested the WD disk alone.
The boot priority is ok.
I have not tried to update or reset the bios, but i don't think this is the problem.

 

[helpstar]

If you just have blue sata ports, then you probably have the GA-H61m-D2 motherboard.

Try booting with both hdds installed, press key <F12> to open the boot menu, select the system hdd and press enter

If this is working the boot priority inside the bios is not set right. Set Hard disk priority and first boot device to the system hdd

If the bios doesn't recognize the hdds it's either a compatibility problem, faulty bios settings, defective motherboard, defective hdd, defective data cables.

If you don't think it's the bios, then you will have to replace or remove the additional hdd or buy another motherboard. No other option there.

So please update the bios, reset it and then set the correct boot priority again. It's very simple to accomplish, just download the newest bios from the homepage of the motherboard's manufacturer, extract it to an USB thumb drive, reboot, press key <END>, to open the integrated flash tool q-flah and follow instructions.
To reset the bios after the update, read the manual how to clear the CMOS jumper.

 

[Zisisv]

If you just have blue sata ports, then you probably have the GA-H61m-D2 motherboard.

Try booting with both hdds installed, press key <F12> to open the boot menu, select the system hdd and press enter

If this is working the boot priority inside the bios is not set right. Set Hard disk priority and first boot device to the system hdd

If the bios doesn't recognize the hdds it's either a compatibility problem, faulty bios settings, defective motherboard, defective hdd, defective data cables.

If you don't think it's the bios, then you will have to replace or remove the additional hdd or buy another motherboard. No other option there.

So please update the bios, reset it and then set the correct boot priority again. It's very simple to accomplish, just download the newest bios from the homepage of the motherboard's manufacturer, extract it to an USB thumb drive, reboot, press key <END>, to open the integrated flash tool q-flah and follow instructions.
To reset the bios after the update, read the manual how to clear the CMOS jumper.

I agree with you. I think that it is a hardware problem. But I am pretty sure that the hdds are not the problem because they work normally when they are not both connected. So I will try to update the bios, reset the cmos with the jumber (I know how) and if I cannot see any change I will do nothing and I will keep things as they were.
Is there any case to have problems after updating the bios? Because I have heard that it is a little dangerous.

 

[helpstar]

if it´s the GA-H61m-D2 motherboard, then there are two BIOS chips onboard, if one update fails, the board can easily start with the second. But in the last years the bios update procedure shouldn´t be a problem anymore. Especially if performed in BIOS itself and NOT in windows.

 

[Zisisv]

And why should it work if I update the bios? Is there any way to change the bios chip and install a UEFI bios? Or bios chip is fixed on the mobo and cannot be replaced?

 

[helpstar]

The BIOS is responsible for detecting and starting the Hardware. So if something is not detected correctly, the BIOS is the first place to look.

To support UEFI, the manufacturer normally provide an UEFI flash to update the BIOS chip. I think the F9 BIOS will bring you UEFI
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3658#bios

Be sure, it´s the right motherboard from the link.

 

[Zisisv]

The BIOS is responsible for detecting and starting the Hardware. So if something is not detected correctly, the BIOS is the first place to look.

To support UEFI, the manufacturer normally provide an UEFI flash to update the BIOS chip. I think the F9 BIOS will bring you UEFI
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3658#bios

Be sure, it´s the right motherboard from the link.

So are you sure that there is no risk?

 

[helpstar]

to be clear, there is always the risk that something can go wrong. But if you really have the Gigabyte H6"1"M-D2, there are two BIOS chips soldered to it. One that can be flashed and updated and one backup BIOS chip that will boot the motherboard if something unlikley happend while flashing.

 

[Zisisv]

to be clear, there is always the risk that something can go wrong. But if you really have the Gigabyte H6"1"M-D2, there are two BIOS chips soldered to it. One that can be flashed and updated and one backup BIOS chip that will boot the motherboard if something unlikley happend while flashing.

It is the H67M-D2, not H61M-D2 but as I can see in the webside of the model, mine has also dual bios.
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3814#ov

 

[helpstar]

If you really have the h6"7"m-D2-B3,
there would be two white sata3 ports. Right above the 4 blue sata2 ports.

Did you try:
Try booting with both hdds installed, press key &lt;F12&gt; to open the boot menu, select the system hdd and press enter