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Fix: ATA/SATA Hard Drive not Detected in BIOS
Check all connections and the integrity of the drive first
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
If the ATA or SATA hard drive is not detected in BIOS, Windows won’t identify it either but in this article, we will tackle all the possible methods to fix the problem.
Why is my ATA/SATA hard drive not detected in BIOS?
What can I do if the ATA/SATA hard drive is not detected in BIOS?
Before starting to troubleshoot the issue, make sure to perform a few preliminary steps:
1. Check the hard drive jumper configuration (for ATA drives)
2. Check all the connections and cables
3. Change the BIOS settings
In case your drive is an external one, connected to the USB port, make sure that it’s properly plugged in andupdate the USB and storage controller drivers in Windows.
If none of these methods worked, the hard drive is either incompatible with your motherboard, or it’s damaged and it’s time to buy a replacement.
However, we also have another useful guide on what to do if asecond drive is not recognized in Windows.
You might also be interested in our solutions to fix aninternal drive that is not showing up on Windows.
Hoping that our guide helped you fix the ATA/SATA hard drive not detected in BIOS issue, for any questions, use the comments section below.
More about the topics:Fix Hard Drive issues
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.
His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.
With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!
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Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft
