Can't see hard drive in BIOS

[Larz]

I'm using a GA-P55-USB3. 
I initially built a computer with two WD drives for storage and a SSD for the OS.  Upon start up I was able to find and format both the WD drives.  Next morning one disappeared.  I sent it back. 

Got the new drive today.  Hooked it up and the computer is not detecting it.  I can't find it in BIOS.  I have everything set on Auto.  This has got me stumped.  Do I have something set wrong? 

[Dark Mantis]

Hi Larz and welcome to the forum.
Are you running the WDs in a RAID array or seperately? Also have you initialised the drive first?

[Lsdmeasap]

Please note if you are using AHCI or RAID your hard drives will not be visible in the Standard CMOS page of the BIOS.   The only place you will see them in in the Advanced BIOS page, in Hard Disk Boot Priority - where you will need to move the disk you want to boot to up to the top of the list using +/-

[Larz]

I haven't set up RAID on any drives.  I haven't been able to initialize.  Can't see it anywhere. 

[Lsdmeasap]

What ports, color and number, do you have the drives connected to?

What do you want to run them as, AHCI or RAID?

What do you have set in the Integrated Peripherals BIOS page for the following settings.

Integrated Peripherals

Intel Controller (Blue Ports)
eXtreme Hard Drive (Intel ICH10R Chipset) ........................
ICH SATA Control Mode (Intel ICH10R Chipset) .....................
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH10R South Bridge) .............


Gigabyte/J.Micron Controller (White Ports)
Onboard SATA/IDE Device (GIGABYTE SATA2 Chip) .............
Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode (GIGABYTE SATA2 Chip) ...........

[Dark Mantis]

I would suggest trying a new data lead and make sure the power lead is attached firmly. Try it in another port and see if that makes a difference. Does it show up in the BIOS now?

Your turn to beat me now Lsdmeasap. Damn.

[Larz]

I'll check what port it is in when I get home.  I tried switching with the hard drive that is working to no avail.  I swapped the power and SATA cables from it, too. 

[Dark Mantis]

I'll check what port it is in when I get home.  I tried switching with the hard drive that is working to no avail.  I swapped the power and SATA cables from it, too.  

In that case it sounds like a dead drive.   I know it has already been replaced but that's what it seems to be.

[Larz]

You're right.  I found an old laptop drive laying around, hooked it up, and had no problems.  WD has been having a lot of trouble with these drives.  I ordered a seagate drive with the same storage capacity.  I was going to add another storage drive eventually, anyway.  This WD is going to end up costing me just as much with the shipping cost to return all these dead drives. 

[Dark Mantis]

Yes from being a top tier manufacturer they have gone downhill recently. At one time I would have only bought WD but they have slipped.

[absic]

I have to say that I am not surprised that the WD drive has been causing the problems, in fact I have lost all faith in WD.

In February I actually posted this in reply to a problem someone else was having:

.... a friend got hold of 7 Western Digital caviar black drives and 5 were faulty.

These 5 drives, where the ribbon connector attaches at the back of the drive, had been very poorly soldered. He returned these for replacement and had a further 3 faulty drives sent to him. This was from a reputable on-line retailer who advertise the fact that they only supply genuine parts. Since then I have steered clear of WD drives and I won't be buying any in the near future either.