Pavilion a720n doesn't recognize SATA hard drive

[ArtCee]

This desktop a720n is running Windows XP (fully up to date) with a 250gb IDE hard drive (an earlier upgrade from the factory original.

I am attempting to add a WD Caviar Green 1TB SATA drive, for the moment as a second drive. (It may eventually be the primary.)

The motherboard — A7V8X-LA (Kelut) — has two SATA connectors, which were unused in the factory configuration, whose IDE devices included a 200gb hard drive, CD, and DVD drives.

The BIOS identifies itself as Phoenix-Award v 6.00 PG, Rev. 3.15 6/6/2005.

I connected the new HD and booted into Windows. No sign of the new drive.

For a reality check, I had no better luck with Ubuntu.

The BIOS setup screen doesn't have any obvious SATA options.

Does this machine support SATA as is? Does it need a BIOS upgrade, and if so how can I obtain it? Are the SATA connectors on the motherboard a cruel hoax?

Thanks in advance for any help, and enjoy the seasonal holidays of your choice!

~ArtCee~

[Kalt]

It would be under the Advanced tab or the Boot tab in one of the sub-menus...you'll have to figure out which one it is and enable the SATA/RAID feature.  Also, make sure the Power and SATA connectors are connected properly at boths ends.

Message Edited by Kalt on 12-17-2008 07:32 PM

[ArtCee]

Thanks for the very quick reply.

The power connecter is definitely OK, as I can hear/feel the drive spinning. The data connector seems properly seated on the MB, and the connector to the drive itself is a one-piece assembly with the power cable, so presumably since the power is connected properly, so is the data cable.

I may be the dumbest guy who ever tried to upgrade a PC, but I'm not seeing anything that looks like a SATA option in the setup screens. Here's what I've got under the ADVANCED tab:

CPU type    AMD Athlon XP 3200+
CPU speed   2200MHz/400MHz
Cache RAM    512KB
Plug and Play OS                [Yes]
Reset Configuration Data        [No]
Primary Video Adapter           [AGP/Onboard]
PS/2 Mouse                      [Auto Detect]
Onboard 1394                    [Enabled]
USB Legacy Mode Support         [Auto]
Onboard LAN                     [Enabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM            [Disabled]
Local Bus IDE Adapter           [Both]
Onboard Audio                   [Audio]
Supervisor Password            Disabled
User Password                  Disabled

> I/O Device

None of the options in each case refer to SATA (or RAID).

Now, the BOOT tab                   

  Boot-time Diagnostic Screen     [Enabled]
> Boot Device Priority

(This last item allows selection of four devices in order from among the Floppy group, HDD group, CD-ROM group, or disabled. The only HDD choice is the installed IDE drive.)

Thanks for your continued help!

~ArtCee~

[Kalt]

What are the editable options for "Local Bus IDE Adapter"?

Also, you went into the I/O submenu?

Hmm...IDK then if it's not there.

[ArtCee]

"Local Bus IDE Adapter" options are Disabled/Primary/Secondary/Both

[Both] is currently selected

The  I/O Device is for serial and parallel port configurations, so I'm sure that is not relevant here.

~ArtCee~

[Kalt]

Does it say serial port 1, serial port 2, etc?

[CherylG]

A couple of things to try.

1.Be sure you are using SATA 1 as shown at bottom of page HERE

2.Some of these Pavilions have a hidden BIOS option with more settings.You access it by tapping F11 instead of F1.

[pmpp]

*bump*

I have the same problem, and I have tried looking through the advanced settings, but even with F11, there is no sata information.  Also, under i/o, I only have an option for the serial port, and the parallel port, but there is nothing like serial 1 or anything like that.  

Thanks

[Chandu]

Hi Artcee,

               The hard drive which you want to add (WD Caviar Green 1TB SATA drive) operates with an interface of 3Gb/sec while the SATA connector on the motherboard operates at 1.5Gb/sec. To make sure the hard drive works you will have to set the jumper (which is a pin) for it so that it operates at the reduced speed which the connector on the motherboard supports.

Regards,

Chandu

[CHUPAKABRAS]

try this, right clik on MY COMPUTER,. MANAGE, STORAGE, DISK MANAGEMENT, you should be able to see your new hard drive there, you can do partitions and format your hard drive and set active etc etc etc,.

good luck.