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Resolved SATA mis-identifies drives

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Toms94, 2010/05/12.

  1. 2010/05/12
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Here's one I've not run across before. Intel Atom processor/motherboard, desktop computer. Brought to me because it quit running and they need a doc off of it. I can't get it to work so I pull the SATA WD 160gb drive and install into another desktop, which ID's it fine and I pull the doc needed. I then run a virus scan on the drive and it finds all sorts of virus's. I clean the drive and run ScanDisk to check for corrupt or bad sectors (none). So I put it back into the Atom, fire it up and I get a "No system disk found" (or something very similar). So I go into the BIOS and see that the SATA drive it is IDing is a DVD recorder drive, actually it is IDing the HDD as the same type of drive as the optical drive on the IDE channel. If I switch the cable to the the second SATA channel (1) it still ID's the HDD as an optical drive.

    I haven't been able to find any settings in the BIOS to allow changes to the SATA. Also, I haven't been able to ID the motherboard, Splash screen says Intel, so I am assuming it is an Intel. If I could ID the MB I would try updating the BIOS.

    OK any help out there.
     
    Toms94,
    #1
  2. 2010/05/12
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Arie,
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  4. 2010/05/12
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ran Quick test and it failed....twice. Running the extended test now, it just finished and it passed. Running quick test again, so far so good.
     
    Toms94,
    #3
  5. 2010/05/12
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Quick test came out OK third time. Put it back into the Atom...still sees it as an Optiarc DVD drive
     
    Toms94,
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  6. 2010/05/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Try disconnecting the Optiarc drive and see if that changes anything.

    If the drive is still recognised as a DVD reset the BIOS - without knowing detail of the mobo all you can really do is remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

    Posting the make and model no. of the computer would help - maybe :)
     
    PeteC,
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  7. 2010/05/13
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Disconnected the Optiarc and now Bios sees NO DRIVES at all. The computer is one that a local computer place put together (no name brand at all), I can't find any real identifying marks on the mobo, just know that it's an Atom cpu, so assume that it is an intel mobo....absolutely Intel bios as the splash screen comes up with "Intel" logo.

    I'm going to try pulling the battery and reset the bios.
     
    Toms94,
    #6
  8. 2010/05/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hmm - maybe a corrupted BIOS, maybe a faulty drive controller on the mobo - strange.
     
    PeteC,
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  9. 2010/05/13
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Pulled the battery for 10 minutes, plugged the DVD drive back in....we are right back where we started. I think I'll pull a drive out of another computer, just to see if the Atom will see it.

    OK, not only did it see it, it tried to boot! So I have determined that there has been some corruption to the area of the drive that reports info to the bios. Any suggestions?
     
    Toms94,
    #8
  10. 2010/05/13
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Funny thing, I reinstalled the original HDD after the transplant tried to load windows. Fired it up and guess what? The HDD now is recognized and actually runs now. :eek:

    Now I have to remove the rest of the Malware/virus's

    Thanks for the help.
     
    Toms94,
    #9
  11. 2010/05/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That's computers for you - maybe a dodgy connection on the drive or cable - keep your fingers crossed - or replace the drive :)Please mark this thread as 'Resolved', see .....
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2010/05/13
    Toms94

    Toms94 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Done. Thanks to all.
     
    Toms94,
    #11

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