Laptop wont boot/recognize HDD or SDD

watrhous

Honorable
Nov 27, 2013
44
0
10,590
Acer Aspire R3-471T-54T1
2GB Ram

I cloned the old hdd to a 250gb 750EVO and the ssd was not recognized. I replaced the HDD into the laptop but the old HDD is not recognized either. So I replaced the HD cable and still nothing is recognized at post or in BIOS.

Have i disconnected something by mistake? I only remember disconnecting the HD cable (as this is all that is necessary).

Any ideas?
 
Solution
Hey there again, @watrhous!

Here's an article you might find interesting. It explains in details how you can update the BIOS. You don't need an OS to do this. However, you will need another computer to create the DOS live USB drive/CD with the newest BIOS version, if you are unable to boot into Windows from the laptop. I'd strongly recommend following the instructions in the manual whenever doing a BIOS update (Flashing BIOS).

Best of luck!
SuperSoph_WD

bitwright

Estimable
Jun 12, 2014
14
0
4,570
HDD/SSD should have 2 cables, 1 for data and 1 for power. Since you are using a laptop these may be combined into a singe connector with 2 cables coming out of it. Anyway, you need both the data and the power cable connected for your HDD to work.
 

SuperSoph_WD

Estimable
Jul 30, 2014
168
1
4,910
Hey there, @watrhous!

Have you tried resetting BIOS from the settings? Another thing you should check is if you have the SATA port enabled from there as well. Another thing that's worth looking at is your laptop manufacturer's official website for any BIOS version updates and make sure you got the latest one. If you do need to flash BIOS, you will have to create a bootable drive from another computer and also make sure you follow your laptop manual instructions precisely. Have you tried both the SSD & the HDD in another computer to see if they pop up properly there?

Give these a try and let us know how it goes. Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD
 

watrhous

Honorable
Nov 27, 2013
44
0
10,590


I have tried resetting the BIOS to default, tinkered with their settings, taken out the cmos battery, ram, battery, hdd, and anything else attached to the mainboard then replaced them all after a hour or 2.
I have put on a new HD cable, tried many different hard drives, in different boot formats MBR & GPT.

The BIOS simply will not recognize a HD now. Still seeking some explanation. This lady brought me her perfectly working laptop, i convinced her to upgrade and now its broke ... wow, i feel horrible. And I cant even explain to her why.

This is a mystery to me. Is the Hard Drive controller broken? Im open to possibilities and solution, (if any).
 

SuperSoph_WD

Estimable
Jul 30, 2014
168
1
4,910
This sounds pretty unfortunate, @watrhous! :( Well, indeed, it's totally possible that the SATA controller in the laptop itself has failed. You mentioned you have tried different HDDs, right? I'd not blame a hard drive's controller, though, if the laptop fails to recognize multiple HDDs, the problem most probably is with the laptop's SATA controller or the motherboard altogether. Have you tried flashing BIOS and updating it to the latest BIOS version from the laptop manufacturer's official website? Maybe you should give that one a try as well.

Keep me posted.
SuperSoph_WD
 

watrhous

Honorable
Nov 27, 2013
44
0
10,590


When I said said Hard drive controller I meant the one on the board, so i guess the Sata controller.
But, yes, I have tried multiple Hard drives with no success.

There is a BIOS update on the manufacturers website but it is very basic and offers no update options within the BIOS itself. I need a OS to launch it from. So I have tried USB OS launches but no success. I will try that option more intently today. Thanks.
 

SuperSoph_WD

Estimable
Jul 30, 2014
168
1
4,910
Hey there again, @watrhous!

Here's an article you might find interesting. It explains in details how you can update the BIOS. You don't need an OS to do this. However, you will need another computer to create the DOS live USB drive/CD with the newest BIOS version, if you are unable to boot into Windows from the laptop. I'd strongly recommend following the instructions in the manual whenever doing a BIOS update (Flashing BIOS).

Best of luck!
SuperSoph_WD
 
Solution