Cannot enable SATA port

Question

I just purchased my pc in Feb.  Haven't added anything except virus and firewall software.   Just this month I bought a 160 GB Maxtor SATA hard drive to add in the second bay.  Connected the power cable (can feel the drive spin) and the 90 degree SATA cable.   However Windows does not 'see' the hard drive.   I have tried and tried and tried again to F2  ... it responds with text in the upper right corner by saying 'Entering setup ...'     But the screen just goes blank ... and the pc never ever enters setup --- no matter how long I wait.   Since I cannot enter setup, I cannot enable the SATA port for my new second hard drive.  So I am not surprised really that Windows does not 'see' the new second drive.   I unplugged all of the cables from the new drive and tried again to enter setup, but the result is the same.  It says 'entering setup' and then the screen just stays dark ....  nothing happens.    So I power off the tower and start over.   I tried as well plugging the SATA cable in each of the SATA ports 2, 3, 4, 5 ...  but results are the same.  I cannot get to the setup screen to enable any of the ports for a second drive.   What gives?  Why does a perfectly new pc tower not go into the setup screen?  How do I fix this?

gdwrnch3 · Answer

try this, Open my computer, administrative tools, computer management, disk management, and right click on your new drive, then click, initialize disk, or something to that effect, I'm in vista right now, so I'm not sure what it will say in XP, after you set the drive to active, do a quick format, and you will be good to go. As far as not being able to into setup, you need to call Dell support on that. Good luck, jd

gdwrnch3 · Answer

Thats not true, I don't have the sata ports enabled for my two 500 gig backup drives, and they show up in disk management.

Sais · Answer

I know that in the BIOS the SATA port will be turned off so looking under those options will be pointless. You have to get into your BIOS and turn on SATA 2 and THEN do that and if you can't get into you BIOS then you are screw-ed until you talk to Dell. Side note, Dell's censorship is retard-ed.

Weaveair · Answer

My additional brand new Maxtor SATA II 160GB drive does not show up in disk management.   I have an IDE-to-SATA convertor board with Y-power cable and have tried to install both a Seagate and a Western Digital drive .... with no success.   I have also tried additional SATA cables borrowed from other folks just in case it was a cable issue.   I have tried cables in each of the available SATA ports: 2, 3, 4, and 5.   Still no drive shows up in disk management except the OEM C: drive.   I give.   Clearly none of the additional SATA ports will work until enabled in the BIOS (and the Dell manual indicates that as well).   I have never had a pc where that I could not get into setup - particularly a brand new one   .... and in fact when I hit the [F2] it SAYS 'entering setup ....'  But nothing happens after that.  No matter how long I wait.   My VISTA upgrade software has arrived ... I hope that once it is installed, the Setup [F2] screen will actually function like it is supposed to.   At this point I may just add an external USB hard drive  .... seems to be the least complicated route at the moment.

mtabernig · Answer

Try pressing (F12) and then selecting  set up from there. I did this very same thing.

gdwrnch3 · Answer

Thats a great idea mtabernig, that could work, but I would definitly address this issue with dell

gdwrnch3 · Answer

Dude, I have 2 WD 500gb internal drives that show up without the sata ports enabled in the bios, so the only thing CLEAR to me, is you should be sure of your answer, or remark before you give it.

Explain this???

Channel 2 and 3 are my DVD burners.

At any rate, I would definitly call Dell support and get the deal worked out, maybe they'll send you a new machine, thats sounds like a bios issue.

Message Edited by gdwrnch3 on 04-14-2007 02:36 PM

Sais · Answer

For starters, you are using RAID and you can clearly see that it says "This device is controll by the RAID BIOS". The person who posted this isn't using/dealing with RAID. And without seeing a screenshot (or a picture) of your raid bios....

Now if you wanted to know an answer to that question, you're welcome to make another topic but you won't find me posting in it because I don't play around with RAID on this computer yet.

Secondly, I find it amusing that you said I should be sure of my remark before I give it. Hrm... maybe you should realize that since you are running RAID and, since the person who posted this said nothing about RAID I have to assume -- the topic starter isn't. Therefore, why don't you make sure that the problem, or lack of a problem in your case, applies to your set up before you give a remark?

You're not even using the same OS as he is.

Message Edited by Sais on 04-14-2007 02:59 PM

gdwrnch3 · Answer

I know the problem applies, raid, no raid the two extra drives are not in raid, the raid bios controls the drives that make up the raid array, not all the drives on the pc, when you mess with raid, you will learn that.

I merely suggested how he can get his drive working, thats all, I also stated he should take up the bios issue with Dell.

Yes, the c drive is raid, the other two drives are not, if you paid attention you would see that.

It makes no difference what OS, xp, vista, 2000, 98, linux, it is what it is!!

There is no sense in going any farther with this conversation, it is going absolutley noplace, you are incorrect, no big deal.

Have a great day.

Message Edited by gdwrnch3 on 04-14-2007 06:48 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

Cannot enable SATA port

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