How to Fix a Hard Disk Not Detected in BIOS Without Losing Data
August 10, 2024
A drive not showing up in the BIOS can be a firmware issue, or something much more complicated. We can solve these problems and recover your data even if no hard disk is detected.
Understanding the issue - How to fix a hard disk not detected in BIOS
When your drive doesn't show up in the BIOS, indicating no hard drive found, you have a problem that is most likely not going to be solved with basic DIY software recoveries. Before we assume your drive has serious problems, let's go over the most basic issues.
If you're lucky, here are easy fixes:
- Is it plugged in? Yes, start with the obvious. When the BIOS shows no HDD detected, this is a very common reason. You can also try a different data cable.
- BIOS modes & settings: Sometimes a BIOS can have a setting changed, such as it changing to RAID from AHCI for instance.
If you're unlucky:
- Failing to Read Firmware: Some hard drives rely on internal firmware stored on the platters. If the read/write heads are damaged or not working properly, they might not be able to read this firmware. No firmware = no initialization, meaning it won't be recognized by the BIOS, which can lead to no hard disk detected errors.
- Electrical problem: Bad heads can cause shorts to ground and other issues, resulting in no hard drive being found or recognized. This can prevent the drive from powering up when it is plugged in. No power up, no detecting.
- Spindle Motor Control: The read/write heads are important to controlling the system of the spindle motor. If the heads are bad, the control system may not work correctly, preventing the platters from spinning up properly. Without spinning platters, the drive cannot be recognized.
- Drive Lockup: Sometimes, bad heads can cause the drive to enter a state of lockup or never-ending seeking, leading to no hard disk detected in BIOS. This makes the drive unresponsive and keeps it from being detected by the BIOS.
If your drive isn't showing up in the BIOS, don't panic. At Rossmann Repair Group, we specialize in diagnosing and fixing complex hard drive issues, even when no hard disk is detected. We hope you learned a little more about how to fix your hard disk not detected in BIOS without losing data. Contact us today to recover your data safely and efficiently