Computer and Software Support


Troubleshoot Hard Drive

If you are having an issue with your hard drive, follow these steps

Read the Safety Procedures. Very Important!!!

When you are troubleshooting, there is specific questions you should ask yourself, especially if you are asking someone else for help with the computer. Click here for a list of questions.

There is two types of hard drives. Depending on the type will determine how you troubleshoot the issue. Click here for help identifying the type of drive you have.

Use the steps below to troubleshoot. Some steps may not apply to your situation. (Click on the hyperlink for help with that step).

  1. Boot to the BIOS and see if the drive is seen in there
  2. If the drive is seen, use the Boot Troubleshooter
  3. If it is not seen, you either have a bad drive, bad motherboard, bad IDE cable, bad SATA cable, bad power connector, or a connection is loose.
  4. Connections can work loose so check to make sure they are seated.
    1. Reseat the IDE cable or SATA cable on the hard drive
    2. Reseat the power cable on the hard drive
    3. Reseat the IDE cable or SATA cable into the motherboard
    4. If you are using an ATA IDE cable, make sure the hard drive is connected to the right part of the cable.
      1. If the hard drive is the master, it needs to be plugged in at the end of the IDE cable.
      2. If the drive is the secondary drive, it needs to be plugged in at the middle of the IDE cable.
    5. If the drive is IDE, check the jumper to see if it is set correctly
    6. SATA drives do not have jumpers. Also SATA has only one connection per cable.
  5. Once you have reseated all the cables and the hard drive is still not seen, it is time to find out if the issue is the hard drive, cable, or motherboard
  6. Computer will not come on - After system been off for awhile, it will not work
  7. Choose the type of hard drive below that you have for steps to determine which is causing the issue.

There is two types of hard drive. Depending on the type will determine how you troubleshoot the issue. Click here for help identifying the type of drive you have.

IDE Hard drive

  1. If you have two hard drive, disconnect the secondary drive
  2. Does the BIOS see the primary hard drive?
    1. Yes
      1. If the drives are jumpered correctly, then the secondary drive, IDE cable or motherboard is causing the issue.
      2. Plug the secondary drive back in
      3. Try the hard drive IDE cable into the secondary port on the motherboard
      4. Does the BIOS see the hard drive
        1. Yes
          1. The motherboard is bad
        2. No
          1. The IDE cable is bad
    2. NO
      1. Plug the hard drive IDE cable into the secondary IDE port on the motherboard.
      2. Does the BIOS see the hard drive?
        1. Yes
          1. The motherboard is bad
          2. You will need to replace the motherboard
        2. No
          1. Try the IDE cable that is on the CD-ROM drive on the hard drive
          2. Does the BIOS see the hard drive?
            1. Yes
              1. The IDE cable is bad
            2. NO
              1. Try a power connector from a working CD-ROM drive on the hard drive
              2. Does the BIOS see the hard drive?
                1. Yes
                  1. The power connector is bad.
                  2. You will need to replace the power supply
                2. No
                  1. The hard drive is bad
                  2. You will need to replace the hard drive

If you have another hard drive, try that hard drive on the system as well. That would help to make sure the hard drive is good or not. If the system sees a different drive but won't see the original in the BIOS, the hard drive is bad. If it is not seen also, you have an issue with the motherboard or IDE cable.

SATA Hard drive

  1. Plug the hard drive into a different SATA port on the motherboard
  2. Does the BIOS see the hard drive?
    1. Yes
      1. The motherboard port is bad
    2. No
      1. Try a different SATA cable
      2. Does the system see the hard drive
        1. Yes
          1. The SATA cable is bad
        2. No
          1. Try a different SATA power cable (If it is being used by another device and that device is still working, then you know that cable is working. If you do not have another SATA device in your system, you will not know if it is working or not)
          2. Does the BIOS see the hard drive?
            1. Yes
              1. The SATA power cable is bad
              2. You will need to replace the power supply
            2. No
              1. If you know the SATA power cable is good, then it is a bad hard drive.
              2. If you do not know if the SATA power cable is good, it can either be the power supply or the hard drive. If you have a power supply tester, it can tell you if the SATA power cable is good or not.

If you have another hard drive, try that hard drive on the system as well. That would help to make sure the hard drive is good or not. If the system sees a different drive but won't see the original in the BIOS, the hard drive is bad. If it is not seen also, you have an issue with the motherboard or SATA cable.