G2 280 MT hard disk replacing failed

[e_franc988]

Hi,

get an used G2 280 MicroTower V7Q80EA. Good condition, working well. Untill i tried to replace hard disk with a Seagate SkyHawk 8TB. At start, everytime, bios said error 3F1. Hard disk is working good on other circumstances. Tested short/long/smart... all good.
Attach screen.
What can i do?
Thanks

[Bill_To]

Hi @e_franc988 

Welcome to the HP Forum.

The subject of your post states replacing the drive has failed but the body of your post states the drive is working. So I am confused.

You ran some HP Diagnostics on the drive with good results. But you continue to get the 3F1 error at startup.

Have you run extensive HDD tests on this drive?

Try resetting the BIOS to defaults. See how it goes.

I have no idea why you get a 3F1 BIOS error at startup if limited HP Diagnostics tests state this 8 TB drive is good.

Download and run Crystal Disk Info to see what this software has to say about the condition of the drive if Windows can mount this drive. Also download and run Crystal Disk Mark to check drive performance.

Opinions or troubleshooting suggestions in this response are provided independently. I am not employed by: HP, Inc. or the HP Forum.

Regards

[TheOldMan]

There is a possibility that PC is old enough to not accept a 8TB drive straight out of the box.  Since there is no mention of doing anything to the drive before connecting to this computer, it might need to be formatted.  FYI: if the PC is old enough to not see the drive, it might need to be formatted and partitioned first.

Read this guide

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/setup-user-guides/hp-280-g2-microtower-pc/model/8741824?sku=V7Q...

Pick the GPT Hard Disk Drives for HP Business from that page.

[e_franc988]

Hi Bill,

Seagate 8T drive is working because work well installed in another desktop pc. Seagate 8TB Drive pass with success all tests i did on it, Seagate/Hp Diagnostics, long/short. 

I also reset BIOS and update it to last one. (A0.58 Rev.A - 06/06/2021)

[Bill_To]

Hi @e_franc988 

I don't know what is happening.

Check out @TheOldMan's suggestions.

A 3F1 error should not relate to a drive capacity problem. This error relates to a Smart hard drive error.

This drive works in a different PC. You got a pass on diagnostic tests. 

Check this Site to review HP suggested 3F1 troubleshooting errors.

Regards

[e_franc988]

Hi TheOldMan,

Thanks for tips. I tried to connect the Seagate 8TB drive formatted and partitioned in different ways:

1) totally unformatted

2) formatted with ext4

3) partially formatted in FAT32 (25GB) and partially unformatted (rest of memory)

All this time, error 3F1 come out.

I also tried to connect a 500GB hard drive on SATA_1 port and Seagate 8TB drive on SATA_2 port. Same result, error 3F1 (obv on hard disk 2)

I'm worried about elderness of PC, as you said.....

I also try do deactivate hard disk checks on startup but i didn't find anything about that in BIOS.

Maybe using an additional pci express sata controller can fix the issue?

Thanks for help!

[e_franc988]

I also did a S.M.A.R.T. check with Seagate Tools (booted from USB) and hard disk pass the test.

Btw it's impossible on HP Bios deactivate hard disk control checks.

I'm amazed that with the BIOS update in 2021 HP didn't add compatibility with high capacity hard drives.

[Bill_To]

Hi @e_franc988 

Again, I don't know.

You should have full access to the 8 TB disk if the BIOS is current and you are using GPT.

I don't believe the 3F1 error has anything to do with drive capacity.

Regards

[TheOldMan]

I agree with @Bill_To  on the error not being related to the hard drive size.

It certainly could be the possibility that the controller does not work properly and using a PCIx controller may work.

If you don't mind doing that experiment, I would be interested to hear how that turns out.

[e_franc988 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

i used a pcie controller (17€ online). Now HP G2 boot fine and Seagate 8TB hard drive work.
Just to know: controller is ASM1061

Thanks for suggestions!