Please Help needed ! Issue using 2 SATA2 HDs

Hello,

Finally my seagate 1.5tb SATA2 arrived, but I got a big surprise , I can't use it

Here is the issue, I have a 350gb seagate SATA2 with windows vista x64 installed in the first partition, and windows XP in the second partition , this always worked fine , no issues.

Now , when I connect my brand new HD (the 1.5TB) it is recognized in the bios , after the boot and before I can select what windows to run the pc crash , I get a black screen , no errors etc. and it stay there forever , then I need to switch off the pc and then the bios doesn't recognize my 350gb and it only find the 1.5tb one.

Alright , after power down the pc again , the bios recognize both HD but the same issue repeat.

I have my 350gb connected to the SATA 1 slot on my mobo , and it doesn't matter where I connect the 1.5tb one the issue still there (note I have a dvd burner SATA2 at SATA6 slot)

I tried the 1.5tb in every damn slot and still doesn't work.

So wait I did so far , I connected the 1.5tb alone , ran a windows vista boot cd , made a partition on it and format it. But still the same issue occurs.

I am not using this in RAID (as far as I know lol , I never used RAID before).

So , how can I boot with my 350gb HD and have the 1.5tb as storage ? In the bios everything seems tobe setup correctly, it is configured to boot on the 350gb first.

Please if someone can help , I am about to throw the 1.5tb through the window lol , it makes me mad hehehe.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers.

What motherboard do you have? Did you enable AHCI under SATA configuration? Did you revert to Default BIOS settings and see if it worked?

I have the XFX 790i ultra, and in the bios I cannot find the AHCI options ? and by reverting the bios settings , do you mean a bios hard bios reset ? no , I didn't reset the bios.

You probably have to repair the Master Boot Record (MBR) or the primary boot.ini system file. I've done it, all you need to do is pop in a windows cd, in this case for you, Vista. Then follow the instructions like your going to reinstall but look for the option to repair the MBR. The system is freaking out because another disk is there with nothing on it. At least I think its this way... I had to do this when I replaced some HD's in my old PC.

EDIT: I know a good deal about comps but maybe someone with better knowledge (one of the tech admin types on here) should confirm my post before trying it.

Ok , here is the deal , I can only boot the vista cd when only 1 HD is connected , if I have both connected then the boot cd cannot find any of my HDs.....

Try Restoring the BIOS to Default Settings, I think this is F9 in your BIOS, but it might be different. Consult your motherboard manual, sometimes you have to enable AHCI to use all of your SATA ports (leave it disabled if you find that setting btw) .... it should tell you in the manual which ones are ok to use. I would say that you probably should use SATA 1 (it may be called SATA 0) for your DVD/CD Drive, then use SATA 2 for your OS Drive.... use SATA 3 for the new Storage Drive.

In Boot Settings, have your DVD Drive to boot first, then the OS HDD Drive booting second, don't have your second HDD Drive on that list at all.

By doing those things you should be good to go. One thing that you might have to do is to reset the CMOS, if Resetting it to Default Settings in the BIOS doesn't work- consult your mobo manual for that.

WHat I did;

-flashed teh latest bios (P08 for the xfx 790i ultra)
-Reset the BIOS
-The new bios flashed ok no issues
-Turned back my memry timings config etc.

But the issue is still there , the bios recognize the HD but when about to load the windows screen it stay there , a black screen , nothing going on it stays there forever.

Only way to make it work is disconnecting the 1.5tb hd , then it works like normal. Having both connected cannot boot the windows , and the vista boot cd doesn't find any HD. The boot cd finds the HD but only when 1 is connected.

Ok , the bios setup (believe me , I have read the manual from the start to the end) cannot find anything related to AHCI , no options for it on the bios at all.

I cannot choose exactly the order of the bootable devices , well I can but here is how it works with this mobo.

I can choose to boot first from:

-Harddisk
-CD
-Network
-Other devices

then there are other options like Harddisk boot priority , where I can find both HD but I can't remove any , I can just change the order.

I tried the new HD in all the SATA ports on the mobo available , but that doesn't change anything. I still have the issue , no matters where the HDs are connected to , what boot order I select etc. It just doesn't work at all.

There are some SATA options on the bios setup but totally different than AHCI , there is an option to turn RAID on , but I have no clue how RAIDs works , or if choosing the RAID will fix this ?

The mobo is XFX 790i Ultra , I have the latest bios (P08) , SP2 for vista and all updates possible.

Remember that I have 2 partitions on my 350gb HD , one for Vista 64x and the other one for XP , should I remove my XP partition ? is that what its making the issue ?

How it is possible that I cannot use/add another HD to my system ? I have 6 bloody sata ports for what?

I am piss with this now lol.

**EDIT**

All the options I found regarding SATA or IDE options on the manual/bios;

mobo specs regarding SATA II;

-300MBps data transfer rate
-Six Serial ATA II connectors
-NVIDIA mediashield RAID with support for RAID 0, RAID 1 , RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD
-Supports hot plug and NCQ(native command queuing)

pic of my mobo and notes about the SATA connectors etc. please check ;



------
The options I can find on the bios regarding SATA

*-Hard Disk Boot priority: Select the priority for HHD startup. Use + or - keys to move the device priority up or down. Esc to exit.

This is what I have at the moment:

1. Ch0. M :ST****** (this is my actual drive with the OS)
2. Bootable Add-in Cards

Note: If I connect the 1.5tb HD , it is shown like this

1. Ch0. M : ST****** (OS drive)
2. Ch5. M : ST****** (1.5TB drive)
3. Bootable Add-in Cards

I can just move the priority , I have tried even leaving the 1.5TB in number 3 priority , but doesn't fix the issue.

*-First/Second/Third Boot Device

This is where I can choose to boot first with CD or Hard Disk etc. I cannot choose what Hard Disk to boot.

*-APIC mode : no idea what is this for. It says: Use this function to enable or disable the Advance programmable interrupt controller (APIC). If you disable this option, you also disable the MPS Version controler for OS option.

*-In Spread Spectrum there is an option called SATA spread spectrum , and is disable , no idea what is this for.

*-Integrated Peripherals Menu
*-IDE function setup
*-Onchip IDE Channel0 = Enable
-Primary Master PIO [Auto]
-Primary Slave PIO [Auto]
-Primary Master UDMA [Auto]
-Primary Slave UDMA [Auto]
-IDE DMA transfer access [Enable]
-Serial-ATA controller [All enable] . Options here are: [SATA-0] , [SATA-0+1] , [Enable all] and [Disable]
-IDE Prefetch Mode [Enable]

*-RAID config
-RAID enable [Enable]
-SATA 0 Primary RAID [disable]
-SATA 0 Secondary RAID [disable]
-SATA 1 Primary RAID [disable]
-SATA 1 Secondary RAID [disable]
-SATA 2 Primary RAID [disable]
-SATA 2 Secondary RAID [disable]

*-IDE HDD Block Mode [Enable]


That is all regarding the SATA/RAID / IDE options , the rest are all system voltages , monitor etc etc.

in the raid config you have
-RAID enable [Enable]

that probably shouldn't be. last time I had someone messing with those settings and not using RAID function, (780isli), I ended up doing a clean install for them. it bricked the HDD with the OS on it.

as above ^^, I would suggest setting the Raid to [disable] and see if that helps. Although it shouldn't matter, it may have issues with that particular chipset.

Hi , finally found the AHCI lol , it is mentioned like this JD AHCI or something like that , I tried with it enabled and disabled , same story , same issue. It is funny that I found it , and in the manual is not lol. Anyway Quaker and flubber , my RAID was disable all the time, sorry I put there as enable. Even if it is enbale or disable , doesn't work.

At the moment , I openned a ticket with XFX , but I don't know , never though that SATA II is a pain in the ***.

I doubt it , because if I connect the 1.5tb alone , it work.

if you hook up your 1.5tb drive and it is recognized, can you format it to ntfs?
after that hook up both drives. just poking and hoping here! sata shouldn't be giving you this much of a headache.

I normally set up as:
cd/dvd/floppy - first boot device
OS HDD - second boot device

I remember there was a problem with 790i corrupting data. not sure what bios fixed it though.
/edit
http://www.guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6833
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3279&p=4

Yes , I did format the 1.5tb already , even so , connecting both HDs , windows doesn't boot.

mmm. I have the latest bios (P08).

Tomorrow , I will connect the 1.5tb alone and install windows on it , lets see if that works. I will update tomorrow.

Thank you.

This is a long shot, but you might want to check the seagate site for an updated hard drive firmware for that model HDD.

Some Seagate drives have serious firmware issues, as I know from first hand experience.

You'd have to run windows with just the new drive installed if thats the only way you can get it to boot with that drive connected. From there run the Seagate firmware update utility. They also have a drive diagnostic tool you might want to try out.

Clear the CMOS my friend, do that before anything else.

Then put CD Drive in SATA A0, OS Drive in SATA A1, Extra Hard Drive in SATA B1 - boot and it should work.

The extra unmentioned SATA port on the far side of the mobo is probably to connect an E-SATA Cable to.... for either front of case or back panel....

Hi, things were really wrong yesterday

I was able to make vista boot with both HD connected to the motherboard. What I did ? I put a brand new sata cable and a separate power cable for the HD alone. Then when I logged on windows I received a message that a new drive have been detected, yay finally. so it asked me to format the 1.5TB drive , so I did. it was taking ages , and after an hour or so windows crashed while formatting the new drive.... after the restart I get a blue screen fo death, saying that my hard disk or new hardwarew added is corrupted or broken.

So I disconnected the new 1.5TB drive from the motherboard, and restarted the system. Then windows was booting but in a slow motion speed lol ? when finally finish loading it crash again.....

So I restarted the system again only to see that my 350gb drive had 0 partitions 0 Mb? lol ? I lost everything..... somehow trying to format the 1.5tb drive killed my 350gb drive ?

Well , I disconnected the 350gb , tested on my brother pc and he cannot recognize it lol. I tested the 1.5tb on his pc and it recognized and he was able to format the drive.....

After he formatted the 1.5tb drive (it was supposed to be formatted , as far as I remember I formatted the drive like 3 times lol) I connected it to my motherboard, ran the vista boot CD and installed a fresh windows vista installation. The installation was good.

So at the end , the new drive 1.5tb that was not working is working now, and my old 350gb is dead, this just look like a bad joke, I lost everythign.

Anyway, surprises surprises, I installed all the video drivers etc etc. Then I made a windows update (trying to up to date to SP2) and guess what , windows crashed again..

after a blue screen telling me that my hard disk is corrupted or broken. WTF !

And now I cannot boot windows anymore , it give me the screen saying that my drive is corrupted etc.

So , wtf is the issue here, is my motherboard killing all my drives ? or I just had the bad luck that the 1.5tb killed the old drive first and then commited suicide ? lol

I am still lucky as I have 3 years warranty for the 350gb drive and the 1.5tb as is brand new , I can give it back to the shop and get my money back. But I thing something else is going on here.

Return the seagate drive, warranty the 350 if you can't recover it, and buy a new NON-Seagate drive =) Maybe new Sata cables as well.

I had a bad Seagate 1 TB drive that messed up my computer intermittently for 6 months before it completely died and I was finally able to diagnose the problem. Turned out to be firmware problems and that series of drive appeared to have almost 100% failure rate. After reinstalling Vista on another drive and flashing the firmware on the bad drive, it seems to be working perfectly now.

Mind posting the model number of the drive? It would be something like ST31500341AS. It's ***'ed out above, for some reason. It's not like its a private credit card number or anything.

have you updated your motherboard drivers as well?
for vista x64 they are 15.25 (I believe they are the same for xp as well)

also when you flashed your BIOS, were the settings at default or did you flash while overclocked? I don't remember where, or when I saw/heard it...but I've heard of people bricking their motherboards while flashing with overclocked settings.

I really hope it's something -simple- (cable/DOA drive), as no one deserves this kind of a headache.
/edit
do you have an adequate power supply?

Oh cra** looks exactly like ST31500341AS

Da** , now days I need to read reviews on hard disks too to see what to buy ? lol.

I will RMA them for sure , its 3 years warranty , and the 1.5TB they will give me my money back for sure. **** seagate lol.

What is the brand to go for right now , WD ?

@flubber

When I flashed the bios , the CPU wasn't overclocked, it was at stock/default/auto. Only the memory was configured as Corsair (manufacture) recommended , is that considerable as overclock ? if not probably I bricked the xfx mobo ? oh jeez..... they should mention that on their website. I have even a ticket open with them and I told them what happened.

The power supply I have is a Thermaltake 1200w Cable management if I remember well.

no you should be alright, don't get worried. and that PSU should be fine and dandy.

-I'm just wondering about any and all options here, please, please don't get upset! your situation has me vexed, I probably feel just as anxious as you on getting this resolved.

I do believe that particular mobo has a double lifetime warranty. no worries mate, no worries. Kador is on the right track, listen to him.

Before I would attach any more HDs to that motherboard, I would check that the motherboard is not the problem. Easier said than done, I know, but it sounds as though the SATA controller on the mobo could be faulty.
Have you tried hooking any (other) two SATA hard drives to it? If you can borrow a couple of SATA hard drives (any size), hook them up and check that there are no problems accessing them.

BTW, if you have (or had) anything on the 350gig HD that you think is worth recovering, there are data recovery programs you can get that should be able to recover files and perhaps even "repair" the drive. But, they cost around $50 (US).

Seagate has had some bad batches and subsequently bad reviews in the last yr or two. I personally don't buy them if I have a choice.... too many horror stories. I would get WD or Hitachi first. I have read good things about Samsung's new SpinPoint series, but haven't tried them yet. Fujitsu and Toshiba are ok based on personal experience, but I look for WD first every time, then Hitachi if the deals are better at the time.

Like Quaker said though, try to borrow a different brand HDD and verify that your mobo isn't borked....

hehe flubber , no worries , I just needed that lol

And yes , I will change the drive , right now is working , but is does a terrible noise , anyway I opened the RMA ticket already , so getting me money back , and I will buy the WD Caviar Black 1 TB, 7200 Rpm, 32 MB, S-ATA II/300.

now the motherboard is not in warranty anymore, but it seems that its working , for some reason it was giving me an error (c1 error on the display, it suppose to be memory related) , so I downloaded memtest86 and running the test with my memory to check if there are errors.

Thank you all for your support , and finally i will get the WD and put an end to the seagate nightmare hehehe

http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board?board.id=ata_drives

Check various threads on that forum. Practically every single thread in the SATA forum is about bricked and freezing 7200.11 Barracuda drives. Hundreds of pages of it. Looks like your drive is the same series as mine and also has tons of firmware problems.

The entire 7200.11 Barracuda line is plagued by faulty firmware and Seagate is even offering free data recovery for customer with those drives that are affected by what they call the "BSY Firmware bug". Apparently there is another set of firmware issues with these drives as well. I don't understand how this series of drives can still be sold in stores. Looks like it's their biggest selling line.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&r...e+1.5TB+freeze

The Google search above is very enlightening also.

If it's working then you should get the firmware update check utility from the Seagate site and update the firmware if you plan on keeping it. That MIGHT completely fix the problem. No idea about your other drive though.

I will NEVER buy Seagate again, no matter how good the reviews or attractive the price. They knew of these problems for MONTHS before I bought my drive (almost a year ago) and they STILL have them in the retail pipeline screwing over customers.

And yes, you pretty much have to research any hard drive model number before purchasing it these days if these kinds of defects are allowed.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...200-11-failing

Click the link above for the full article. That's from January, and your store just sold you this drive recently?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01...ailure_plague/

More coverage of the falt from back in January.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...myName=storage

Yes , they are still selling it , Seagate really made a bad move, if they continue like this they
will lose their market.

They seem to have survived it. No big public recall like there should have been and media limited to only minor IT specific outlets.

You never heard of this problem, most on this thread don't appear to have heard of it, and the only reason I did was because I was affected as well and it took me months to diagnose the problem with my computer. My failure mimicked cpu or motherboard problems so I never suspected the hard drive until it completely failed. My new system operated like crap for months and I was considering replacing every component in it until I could figure out where the fault was. If I had thought to google my drive model I could have saved months of frustration.

Oh and I think that 30% figure mentioned is VERY optimistic. I'd bet over time its turned out to be closer to 100% failure.

FWIW there is definitely a firmware upgrade for your drive, though I wonder if it already has it installed. Depends on how long its been on the store shelf I guess. Latest firmware for that model is SD1B

I wouldn't even bother with the firmware for it. rma/return it, and don't look back. it was a learning experience for me, I can tell you that. I hope that once you get a replacement drive everything is gravy for you.

as far as the mem error..damn if it isn't one thing, it's another. ;-D

This is why Seagate is on their 12th generation HD's

7200.12's....

They should have recalled the .11 series ages ago.

Believe it or not last I checked in some stores and online the 7200.11's were more expensive than the .12's since I doubt the .11's are being made anymore, there's just tons of left over stock.

Alright, so , the 1.5tb is working , fine I think... I went to seagate.com and downloaded the program to install the firmware , but after the reboot and the firmware installer program boot , it tells me that the hard disk match but there is no firmware available ...

ANyway, I will give this hard drive back this weekend, and get a WD instead. And teh 350gb that is broken will be RMA too.

So far , I guess we can close this topic , the only problem I am having now is with the motherboard, and I will open a different topic for it.

I am happy and satisfy with all the answer and the good people we have in this gw community ^^

Cheers.