WD Caviar Blue - can't detect + can't boot, but can install. Help.

[zedz]

Hi,

I just bought a new Western Digital 1TB Caviar Blue SATA 7200 32MB (WD10EALS) from Scan.

Now, I can use this drive fine from inside Windows 32-bit. I partitioned it to prepare for installing Windows 7 64-bit.

I shutdown PC, removed all other drives and booted. I checked BIOS and drive is being detected correctly (although the size shows 1000 plus the manufacturer code in it, not sure if that's normal). I set the correct boot priority of drives.

Here's the problem. The drive cannot be detected at boot-up.

Funny thing it, I went ahead and installed Windows 7 64-bit on the new drive and it finished the installation fine.. but it just will not be detected during boot up. So I can't boot from it to go into the new operating system I installed.

I can plug my other drives in and go back into Windows 7 32-bit and the new drive is clearly shown there. it even shows the new files which were installed during Windows 7 64-bit installation. I can write to this drive, use it without a problem in Windows 32-bit.

The BIOS even detects the drive. However, I just cannot boot from it. It does not appear in the list of drives detected during boot up.

I have tried every jumper on this drive while removing all other drives. it just doesn't boot, although (1) BIOS detects it, (2) Windows installation detects it and can even install successfully, (3) it can be detected through another operating system from a different drive.

Drive faulty?

[zedz]

So I just do an RMA?

[Lee H]

I would advise logging this with the returns team and requesting further assistance and if they deem it needs a RMA doing they can get that actioned accordingly.

Best Regards,

[zedz]

OK, thanks.

[zedz]

I installed Windows again, and this time I deleted all the partitions DURING Windows installation and formatted the drive there. I then created a partition for Windows installation and it seems to have installed correctly this time.

I can now boot from this drive. However, there is still one problem I have:

During bootup, my motherboard displays a list of detected drives connected to it. I see all my other SATA drives and my IDE DVD-writer. But I do not see this new SATA drive I bought. I can't make it show up no matter what config I choose. I've disconnected all other drives and tried every jumper setting, I've tried different sata ports... but the drive is just not being listed in the list of drives.

My motherboard is P5K Premium.

I'll contact the returns team since I've given up.