Mothedrboard SATA Port

[greshoff]

I have a Gigabyte Technology Z77-D3H motherboard. The SATA port which my D drive was connected to seems to have stopped working. I had 2 optical drive so I connercted the D drive to one of these SATA ports and it is seem by windows and has the drive letter D assigned. I am able to browse the files on the drive although none of my backup and syncing programs will work despite me setting up new tasks.
Is there a way to check the SATA port on the motherboard to make sure its a hardware issue? Any ideas on how to get my backup programs to use the D drive connected to alternative SATA port? I am using Acronis True Image & EaseUS To Do Back & Goodsync. Thanks

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Have you tried different cables??

[peterb]

Have you tried different cables??

This - especially the connectors - the plastic can develop a hairline crack at the stress points on the corners leading to poor connections.

[greshoff]

Thanks, I have tried another cable which seems to have worked. Many thanks for the advice