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146536
XPS 8700 SATA ports 2/3/4 not seeing added Blu-Ray writer
I purchased an XPS-8700 (16GB RAM / 2TB HD) from Costco on-line and received it on Friday.
While waiting for it to arrive, I had ordered three items for it:
Plextor PX-256M5M mSATA SSD
LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray writer
Windows 7 64 bit Professional (not a fan o0f Windows 8)
I installed the SSD and it is working fine.
I then installed the LG Blu-Ray writer in the ODD1 slot and connected the cable to SATA port 2. After booting the system I was a bit surprised to not see the added Blu-Ray writer.
I then tried reversing the SATA cables going to ODD0 and ODD1. Now the LG Blu-Ray writer is there, but not the supplied DVD writer. Thinking the new SATA cable might be bad, I reversed the cables with no changes in drives present.
I then tried connecting the added drive to SATA 3 and SATA 4 with no luck.
From what I can tell, both the new LG Blu-Ray writer and SATA cable are both fine as they work when connected to SATA 1.
Neither the supplied DVD/CD writer nor the added Blu-Ray writer work on SATA ports 2, 3, or 4.
I assume (and we all know where that leads) that the second optical disc drive is supported as the upper two bays are labeled ODD0 and ODD1.
Any ideas as to what is needed to get the XPS-8700 to recognize an ODD on SATA ports 2 - 4?
Thanks in advance,
Ed
denmarfl
115 Posts
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January 20th, 2014 15:00
While I realize this Post goes back to August 2012, todays date is January 20, 2014....I thought I would comment because I to purchased a XPS8700 and just received it 3 days ago.
After installing a 2nd Internal HDD that had been running in my Dell XPS420 (Win7 OS).....when I Booted my XPS8700 running Windows8.....Windows did not see the 2nd Internal HDD. I could see the 2nd HDD in BOIS (as did this Poster)....but not in Windows. It did not show up in "Computer" window, Device Manager or Disk Management.
Reading this Posters comment, I was really thinking I got a XPS8700 with a Bad Motherboard since the Poster wrote the 2nd XPS8700 he got....his added drive was seen by Windows....however, in my case...this was not the outcome.
I contacted Dell and arrangements were made to have a Tech Specialist call me. I explained all that I did to include moving the Dell Installed DVD which was seen by Win8......from Motherboard Port 1 to Port 2 (where I had connected the 2nd Internal)....and Windows did not see the DVD drive. This confirmed it had to be the Motherboard Port. In prior Dell BOIS settings under Win7....you had to go into BOIS and turn each Motherboard SATA connections ON and OFF....I could not find that in the XPS8700 BOIS.
The Outcome; the Dell Specialist had me go back into BOIS.....had me click on each Tab in BOIS.....it was obvious he was looking for a setting that he hoped would correct the issue. In the BOOT tab of BOIS he had me highlight "Secure Boot"....which was displayed as ENABLED, click ENTER and change it to DISABLED in the Popup window.....use F10 exit BOIS and SAVE settings.
XPS8700 seemed to take a long time to Boot to Win8....it just seemed slow, I thought now things are really messed up...I can't even boot to Win8. But, when it took what seemed like forever, nothing like just watching a Blank screen, when it finally Booted to Win8 Tiles screen and I opened "Computer" the 2nd HHD I installed was displayed and I was able to access it...write to it......
From what I researched the SECURE setting in BOIS is set to ENABLED...and this locks out the Motherboard Ports so that if another device is connected that has an OS installed the PC won't see it. If this is true, why wouldn't Dell communicate this? Better yet, how many users would connect another device with an OS....why not ship the XPS8700 with the SECURE setting set to DISBALED? How many people encountering this same issue have been told their Motherboard was bad....and Dell paid to replace them, worst yet, returned their XPS8700....?
I will add, that it took a few reboots after the setting was changed to DISABLED before my XPS8700 Booted up and Shutdown as fast as it did before the change.......
A simple 3 second fix....to a very perplexing issue....Hope this helps other facing this issue
edyoho
6 Posts
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August 11th, 2013 17:00
Osprey,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I had tried looking at the BIOS settings and didn't see anything related to what is connected to the SATA ports.
I just looked again and the only reference to SATA I could find is under the Advanced tab and for SATA it only lets you select AHCI or RAID.
I tried looking everywhere else and did not see any SATA items. If there is any other SATA references, I can't seem to find them.
This XPS-8700 shows BIOS version A01 dated 05/16/13.
Ed
osprey4
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34.2K Posts
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August 11th, 2013 17:00
Hi Ed,
Boot to the BIOS and go to SATA information. You should see the devices connected to each SATA port. See if the BD drive appears there. I don't think it matters which SATA port you use.
XPSTester
34 Posts
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August 14th, 2013 12:00
Check every line in the BOOT MENU in BIOS.
edyoho
6 Posts
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August 15th, 2013 11:00
When either optical drive was connected to SATA 1, it would show up on the boot sequence menu. When either drive was connected to SATA 2, 3, or 4 it did not appear in the list.
After discussing the problem with Dell support via their chat system for around an hour, they agreed that the motherboard was bad and needed to be replaced. I have returned the computer to Costco and ordered a replacement as it will get here faster than a field service tech would show up with a refurbished motherboard.
Hopefully this new unit will be fully functional.
Ed
Suedough-coo
8 Posts
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August 15th, 2013 12:00
Besides my own, I've now seen two other posts on this forum about the XPS 8700, each with a different problem, and each problem's solution (as determined by chat support) being a new motherboard needed. Interesting...
edyoho
6 Posts
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August 15th, 2013 15:00
I have no idea how many 8700s Dell has sold so far, but I would guess in the many thousands (likely tens of thousands). Even if only one out of ten people that have had (possible) problems with the motherboard post here, that is still a relatively low number.
In my case, if I wasn't connecting additional peripheral I would be more than satisfied with the computer.
It also may be their tier 1 support deciding to blame the motherboard if they cannot figure out what is wrong. It gets a field service tech out to see the issue(s) themselves and removed the possibility of a customer who doesn't understand how to make things work correctly.
I'll be sure to post what my results are on the replacement box.
Ed
osprey4
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34.2K Posts
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August 15th, 2013 17:00
System setup is described in the manual, which is where I saw the drives listed under SATA information. But somewhere in the BIOS should be a connected drive list other than the boot device list.
edyoho
6 Posts
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August 19th, 2013 16:00
Osprey,
I had already returned the XPS 8700 when I saw your post on SATA information in the BIOS. I apparently missed that when looking around before.
I received the replacement XPS 8700 and first tried moving the supplied ODD from SATA 1 to SATA 2 and it worked fine.
I then put the supplied ODD back on SATA 1 and connected the Blu Ray on SATA 2 and it works fine also.
So, it looks like in this case the motherboard did have issues.
I looked in the BIOS and at first did not see the SATA info, but tried scrolling down below the memory listing and found the SATA info (off screen until I scrolled down).
Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.
Now I'm just waiting for the second 2GB hard drive to show and configure both as RAID drives.
Ed
osprey4
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34.2K Posts
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August 23rd, 2013 17:00
Hi Ed,
Thanks for the follow up. Glad that worked out for you.
NewOrleansUser
2 Posts
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January 22nd, 2014 19:00
I just received my 8700 on 1/19/14 and had the same problem when I went to install a BluRay drive. It couldn't be seen by the computer. In the course of eliminating what could be wrong, I unplugged the DVD drive that came with the computer and plug my BluRay in and it was recognized. I plugged the Dell provided DVD drive in one of the additional ports and it could not be seen, so my drive was fine.
I contacted Dell after reading the above. If I was a little more savvy and knew the F2 key if pressed while booting will take you to the BIOS menu, I could have repaired this myself. Again as DENMARFL wrote, once in BIOS you just need to go to Boot, then to Secure Setting and change it from Enabled to Disable, then hit F10 to save the settings, then reboot the computer. I did not have any issues with Windows 8 booting slower as DENMARFL had. My two drives were recognized and work fine
denmarfl
115 Posts
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January 23rd, 2014 08:00
Pleased that my POST helped you.....that is the beauty of Forums.
When I wrote SLOW Boot after changing the SECURE BOOT to "Disabled"....slow can be different in terms of using the word. After I Re-Booted after the change my anticipation that the change did not fix the drive issue but only created another issue, that is Booting up, made it seemed longer. When the 8700 was running Win8...with Secure Boot ENABLED....I was blown away as to how fast it Booted up....about 20 to 25 seconds and how fast it Shutdown...about 10 to 15 secs. After changing the SECURE BOOT setting to DISABLED...and installing Win8.1....the Bootup is now about 40 secs and shutdown is about 20 secs. On Bootup I did use the netplwiz Command to by-pass the requirement to use the password to boot....to me that was an extra step not necessary....so that could be a reason I Bootup slower. Plus, I'm told that 8.1 goes thru a few extra BOIS security steps then did Win8....so that add some seconds.
I am just pleased that such a simple BOIS change made the difference of "you have a defective Motherboard" that needs to be replaced as others have reported....to resolving the issue. What I don't understand...yet; is the purpose of SECURE BOOT...and why any manufacturer would ship a Computer with all open SATA Ports locked... As one Poster wrote, had he not decided to add a drive he would have never known those PORTS were bad (in his case, he returned the XPS8700).
Are you running Win8.1? and are your Bootup and shutdown times about the same.....?
NewOrleansUser
2 Posts
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January 23rd, 2014 18:00
Yes, I'm on Win8.1, but haven't noticed any discernible slow down in bootup or shutdown. I really haven't timed it. In general it is so much faster then my last machine, that I'm very happy regardless.
faster500
1 Message
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January 27th, 2014 09:00
Denmarfl!! your fix! fixed it for me. i was worried for a second there I'd be sending this new 8700 back in a box! Just followed your instructions and hey presto! thanks :)
Scott_xps
3 Posts
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March 2nd, 2014 17:00
To all,
I wanted to thank all who posted on the tip to disable SECURE BOOT. It saved my countless hours/ days plus proabable hardware exchanges.
I bought an XPS8700 Feb 20, 2014 with a base configuration of 8 GB memory, a 1 TB HDD and a DVD.
I installed an msata Samsung 840 EVO 500GB SSD by backing up C: to an external HDD with Acronis
TI 2014 then "restoring" it to the msata as the new C: drive while the old C: drive was
disconnected from the SATA 0 port. The DVD was on SATA 1 port.
I also installed an internal 3TB HDD also. Everything displayed in the BIOS SATA section but the 1TB and 3TB didn't show in the disk management tool in Win 8.1. So I disconnected everything except the msata and DVD and then moved the DVD around to SATA ports 0-4 (1-5 in BIOS.) All connections showed in the BIOS but ports 0,2 and 4 (1,3,5 in BIOS) did not show in the disk management tool.
I then disabled SECURE BOOT as discussed here and rebooted and now all drives show in the disk management tool. Thank you!
FYI I measured my boot times to the win 8.1 START screen at 22 sec and a hard power off at 9 sec both before and after I disable secure boot. The SSD measures 496 MB/s read and 480 MB/s write using CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64. (see below )
Again, thanks to you all.
Scott