Bought HDD to back up data. Now the HDD not detected.

[Coldkilla]

A short and concise thread (Hopefully).

1. I bought Vista.
2. I took all important data and put it into a folder.
3. Bought new 300GB backup SATA drive.
4. Moved data from main drive to backup drive.
5. Formatted my main drive. From XP to Vista.
6. Once OS installed, looked for backup drive. Found nothing.
**Sidenote: Device manager shows a "!" for a "mass storage controller".
**The HDD is a EDIT: Seagate 400GB 7200RPM Drive.
**The driver CD fails when setup is clicked, cannot use explore to launch setup. Same error.

What to do? Thanks!

 

[MTDEW]

What mobo?
I assume the bios recognizes the drive, so id get the drivers needed to get rid of the ! in device manager, then Vista should detect the drive.

Look on your motherboards homepage for raid,ide or scsi drivers for vista.

 

[Coldkilla]

The problem (Possibly).

I have: ASRock 939Dual-SATA2.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/downl...sp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

There are no drivers that say anything about Vista. Am I screwed?

 

[Coldkilla]

I'm starting to think I need a new motherboard. What's a good 939 motherboard at a minimal cost?

 

[MTDEW]

is the new hdd plugged into the jmicron controller on the mobo?

 

[MTDEW]

Try this driver.
LINK

 

[Coldkilla]

Sorry, what is "jmicron" -- The drive worked fine with XP and it wasn't moved since then.

Downloading that driver now.

 

[MTDEW]

Its the SATA controller on your motherboard.
Its most likely the device you have "flagged" in device manager as a mass storage device.

 

[Coldkilla]

I downloaded and installed the driver. The HDD is still flagged and doesn't open.

 

[MTDEW]

hmmm...the mass storage controller that is flagged in device manager has to be your issue.

Is the hard drive plugged into a header on the mobo and can you describe where for me?
Its not a usb hard drive ...correct?

 

[Coldkilla]

The primary sata port is being used by my pc. The other hard drive is in sata port 1 on my mobo.

 

[RebateMonger]

Yeah, you need drivers for that SATA controller. Once you get drivers installed, the external drive should pop right up.

 

[Sideswipeitman]

Might want to try the ones here:

ULi drivers

I think the first one is probably what you should try. It can't hurt at least.

 

[Coldkilla]

I got 1/2 way through installation and it said "setup.exe" has stopped working. And I cannot continue installation...

 

[Puffnstuff]

Can you move the drive to another sata port? You might have a bad port, the stars might not be aligned or whatever. Just try another port and see what happens. If that doesn't do it then try another cable.

 

[Coldkilla]

I can try to move it. However, it makes no sence since it worked in the same port with XP.

I downloaded the ULi drivers suggested, however, it STOPPED the internet from connecting. After waiting 3hours the pc did not load the internet. So I had to uninstall all of the drivers I downloaded...

This is getting really annoying. I cannot revert back to XP since I no longer have it. ASROCK's website doesn't have Vista Drivers for this motherboard. I am guessing that I need motherboard/vista support in order to make the hard drive and network controller to work properly... I can only hope. More suggestions please. It's really humid/hot here and with nothing else to do, this gets really stressful quite fast.

 

[MTDEW]

Hang on, i'll look.
I remember seeing a thread somwhere how to get the ethernet driver working in vista with that mobo.
I'll post when i find it.

 

[Coldkilla]

I'd surely appreciate it! Thanks.

Anyone else?

 

[MTDEW]

Found it.
The link to the vista driver for the onboard lan is in the 2nd post from the bottom.
LINK

 

[Coldkilla]

Did it. Installed it. Found this in Google earlier. Did not work. Still have Mass Storage Device Flagged in device manager. "Found New Hardware" appears when PC starts up but cannot install anything from there.

 

[MTDEW]

Still looking for the sata drivers, that last link should have given you the driver to get your internet working again.
Is it?

You make me wish i would have kept that mobo so i knew EXACTLY what to tell you.
But i sold mine unopened and still new in box before i tried it.

Im amazed with all the asrock owners on this forum that no one who owns the board has posted.

I'll make a thread in the mobo forum and see what replies we can get.

 

[Coldkilla]

Sweet.

Well, the internet works now. It just takes 1~ minute to start working. Better than the 15 minutes it used to.
===================

I'd jump out my window if I loose the data on the hard drive. I bought this drive strictly for backup purposes and now I cannot open it...

 

[MTDEW]

yeah i also read in thread that if the internet doesnt work that putting the pc into sleep mode and bringing it out again will get the lan working. (hopefully you wont have to do that, but the info may come in handy)

Im searching nForcersHQ forum now to see what i can turn up. :thumbsup:

 

[MTDEW]

No real info there, im looking
HERE now.

 

[Coldkilla]

The brand of hard drive matter? It's a sea-gate 400GB. 7200RPM. Sorry I initially said it was a WD drive. I was mistaken (just did a newegg order check)