HP 110-225ea DESKTOP

[fastrack-1966]

I have this HP PC which is little more than a laptop-sized motherboard inside a compact PC case. It powers on and opens Win10 fine. The seller could not give me the Windows  password but that is not a concern since I'll reinstall anyway. However it has a strange feature. If I boot from a Win10 USB stick I can see the files and folders from CMD.  However if I remove the HDD (it is a 3.5 inch Seagate) and attach it inside another PC as a slave the PC does not even recognise the HDD. Nor will a laptop see it if attached via  a USB caddy. Does anyone know if this is some security feature to prevent the drive being moved to another computer? Obviously not very secure since I can see docs, pictures etc from the cmd prompt.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @fastrack-1966,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be happy to help you! 

The issue you’re describing with your HP 110-225ea Desktop PC’s HDD being recognized when booting from a Windows 10 USB but not when connected to another PC or via a USB caddy could be due to several factors. Let's explore potential causes and solutions:

1. Check the HDD Connection

• Ensure that the HDD is correctly connected in the other PC or USB caddy. Double-check the power and data cables, as a loose connection could cause the drive not to be recognized.

2. Inspect the HDD for Physical Issues

• The HDD may have physical issues, such as a failing controller board, that only manifest when connected to other systems.
• Listen for unusual noises like clicking, which can indicate mechanical failure.

3. Check for BIOS/UEFI Recognition

• When you attach the HDD to another PC, enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to see if the drive is recognized there. If the BIOS doesn’t detect the drive, it may indicate a hardware issue with the HDD or the connecting cables.

4. Try a Different USB Port/Caddy

• If using a USB caddy, try different USB ports on the laptop or another caddy. Some USB ports may not provide sufficient power to spin up the HDD, especially with older or power-hungry drives.

5. Test with Different Cables

• Faulty or incompatible SATA/USB cables could be the issue. Try using different cables to connect the HDD in the other PC or USB caddy.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @fastrack-1966,

Please find the next steps below. .

6. Initialize and Format the HDD (If Data Loss Is Acceptable)

• If you don’t need the data on the HDD, you can try initializing and formatting it on the PC where it’s not recognized:
  • Disk Management: On the other PC, go to Disk Management (right-click the Start button and select it).
  • If the drive appears as unallocated or not initialized, you can right-click on it and choose to initialize the disk. Be aware this will erase all data on the drive.

7. Check for Drive Encryption or Security Features

• The drive may have encryption or security features enabled, which could prevent it from being recognized by another system. If it’s an OEM drive, it might have proprietary software or settings that only work on the original PC.

8. Run Hardware Diagnostics

• HP Hardware Diagnostics: While the drive is still in the HP 110-225ea Desktop, you can run HP’s built-in hardware diagnostics to check the health of the HDD.
  • Turn on the PC and press F2 during startup to enter the diagnostics menu.
  • Run the tests on the hard drive to see if any errors are reported.

9. Consider a Data Recovery Tool

• If you suspect the HDD is failing but still want to recover data, consider using a data recovery tool such as Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery while the drive is in the original PC.

10. Try a Different PC

• If possible, test the HDD on another desktop or with another USB caddy to rule out compatibility issues with the specific hardware you're using.

11. Check for Firmware Updates

• Check if there are any firmware updates for your Seagate HDD that might resolve recognition issues on other systems. These can usually be found on the Seagate website.

12. Replace the HDD

• If the HDD is consistently unrecognized across different systems and cables, it may be a sign that the drive is failing. In this case, replacing the HDD might be necessary.

If the problem persists despite trying these steps, the HDD might be nearing the end of its life, and replacing it would be the most reliable solution. Or I recommend you contact phone support for further assistance. 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[fastrack-1966]

Thank you I will try this as soon as I can, could be Sun-Mon. The drive can't be encrypted since I can read the contents booting into  CMD from a USB stick. Some of the above measures I cannot do on that PC without being logged in first. 

[Nal_NR]

Hi @fastrack-1966,

Sure, take you time and keep me posted. 

I will connect with you in 48hrs. Take care