New Build - 2 SATA HDDs not detected

[bkripley]

Hello, I've just completed building a new PC and after trying several different configurations with the 6 SATA devices (DVD, Bluray, 2 VelociRaptor 300BG HDDs, and 2 WD 1TB HDDs), I have run into the following.

My machine:

ASUS P6X58D Premium
Intel i7 920
12 GB RAM (Corsair Domintor)
BFG Nvidia GeForce GTX 295
Pioneer DVDRW SATA
Pioneer Blu-Ray Burner SATA
Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit (not used yet)
2 WD1002FBYS 1TB SATA HDDs
2 WD VelociRaptor 300GB SATA HDDs

Anyway, using the 6 SATA devices above, I can get my BIOD to recognize the 2 WD 1TB HDDs, the DVD-RW, and the Blu-Ray burner - but never either of the VelociRaptor drives!

No combination results in either of the VelociRaptors being found... Are they "special" in some way, or are they DOA you think? If I had only purchased one, I'd assume DOA and forget about it. But having them both not found by my BIOS, I wanted to check with someone who knows more about this than I.

Ideas?

Thanks in advance all....

[ChoboSeki]

rich bastard...


I mean.. why all that bottom of the line hardware? only 12gb ram?



Have you tried disconnecting all the drives except one Raptor? What happens?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by ChoboSeki rich bastard... I mean.. why all that bottom of the line hardware? only 12gb ram? Have you tried disconnecting all the drives except one Raptor? What happens?

ChoboSeki,

I realize you're joking but it's the kind of thing that a first time poster could misunderstand (There's a reason "Smile when you call me that.." became a classic line.).

The suggestion is a good one however.

Another one would be for him to pull out his manual and find out if there's something in the bios set up he needs to change, built in controller cards can do strange things.

My suggestion, the DVD-RW and one VelociRaptor, if the drive still doesn't show in the bios then either it or possibly the cable, is defective.
HDD connected to '1' DVD-RW connected to '2' .

[bkripley]

Thanks to both of you for the replies. My father did say I have more dollars than sense a few times the past few years...

No offense taken at all. I haven't built my own system since the days of DOS, so perhaps I started too high but wanted to give it a try. Actuall quite simple besides this one issue. I now have everything working except the VelociRaptors... I knew I should have bought SSDs instead, but was holding out for SATA 6.0Gb/s versions to be released...

I have tried all the cables and all the possible iterations of combining these things with the same result. Talked to WD support and opened a ticket with them before I return the two drives (which was the first suggestion from WD tech support)! I told them I thought the odds of two new drive being DOA seemed a bit out there and she escalated me to Level 2 support...

I have read the manual (several times) and can't see anything I missed... If by some chance ASUS or WD get back to me I will update this post for the next poor guy.

Also, look for many more questions on "tweaking" my system once I have Win 7 up and running!

Thanks again.

[Iamjosh]

Have you tried placing one velociraptor on S-ATA 1 and the other on S-ATA 5or S-ATA 6. I had ran into similar problem and found on some Asus mobos this was the only way to make it work.

The other is to try to run them in RAID array.

In any new build this method of building a large and a complete system will undoubtadly always have a "hang-up" somewhere and this process makes it much easier to play with individual devices.

PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

I wouldn't be too quick in returning those drives just yet, as there is a solution to every problem and this is the best way to learn new things. Keep posting of the results and I think we can solve this puzzle.

Original post corrected to reflect the initial advice.

[bkripley]

Thanks Iamjosh, actually I started out with just 2GB RAM, one Video Card, One DVD device and one VelociRaptor. When I couldn't get the VelociRaptor to work, I tried the other, when it didn't work, I trid the WD 1TBs. I've tried virtually every combination you can imagine. Eventually I added more RAM and the Blu-Ray just to see if they were ok. Now I have the whole system working except the VelociRaptors.

By the way, I did try IDE, RAID, and AHCI settings in the BIOS. Same result with all.

[glc]

Have you tried placing one velociraptor on usb 1 and the other on usb 5or usb 6.

You mean SATA, not USB, right?

What happens if you disconnect ALL SATA drives - both hard and optical, then try ONE drive at a time on EACH port? This should validate EACH drive and EACH port.

[bkripley]

Oh, Iamjosh - did you mean to say USB 1 - or SATA 1? I assumed SATA, but wanted to make sure I understood you.

If you did mean SATA, then I tried every SATA connector on the mobo...

[bkripley]

Thanks glc. I have tried a WD 1tb on each port with each cable (including the SATA 6.0 GB/s cables and ports). All work. I did the same with both VelociRaptors separately - neither worked with any cable any port.

Keep the ideas coming please, something will work (as Iamjosh said).

[Iamjosh]

yes i did. Must have placed my brain on park Sorry.

what BIOS version do you have?

[bkripley]

I tried with the BIOD that came on the mobo 30something, and then updated it to the current version 0506 from 1/11/2010...

I did this because WD told me they were "SURE" that this was the problem...

[bkripley]

Why do I keep typing BIOD instead of BIOS???

[Iamjosh]

Originally Posted by bkripley Why do I keep typing BIOD instead of BIOS???

for the same reason I am typing usb instead sata..

[RevCLB]

Dain brammage.

[Iamjosh]

back to the real problem:

do you have a sata to usb adapter and if you do, could you try it on another pc/laptop?

if you don't;

Is it possible to try one of velociraptors on another pc?

[glc]

I'd say you have 2 dud drives on your hands.

[Iamjosh]

Originally Posted by glc I'd say you have 2 dud drives on your hands.

I find that very hard to believe (one..maybe but both..hmm)??

[bkripley]

Thanks again all.

glc - I thought perhaps two DOAs as well, but then thought the odds of my doing something stupid were probably higher than the other, so wanted to get more input before trying to get my $ back...

I don't have another machine handy with SATA available, but will ask some friends. I hate to give up! Anyone know how good B&H Photo is with returning opened merchandise???

If I get another couple VelociRaptors and they don't work either....

I'll let you know regardless.

[Iamjosh]

For whatever matters, I have installed probably 150 velociraptors and I think 2 or 3 were duds. This is really out of an ordinary..