HDD Not Detected After Partition Deleted

[milsim]

Hi,

I decided it was time to upgrade and install windows 7 and as the title suggests I was a little gun ho' and deleted the partition on the drive I use for files, photos, movies etc.


I didn't go ahead with the format because I realised what I did and instead reset my computer. I went through windows setup again and my hard drive didn't show up. (I didn't think a lot of it at that time) I carried on with the windows 7 install.

My specs;
Intel Celeron 440
1.5Gb ram
Seagate ST 380815 80Gb HD (windows 7 installed)
Hitachi HDT72101 1TB HD (deleted partition)

Since then I have been unable to properly detect my Hitachi HD.
It's not showing in Disk Management or Device Manager. I have tried software like EASUS partition manager, Active undelete, FDisk, Hitachi Drive Fitness Test, Hitachi Feature Tool. None of them can detect the drive.

When I look in BIOS it just shows [ ] where the name should be and 0 capacity where the information usually is. POST screen will give the message PRIMARY SLAVE DRIVE ERROR press F1 to Continue...


I have tried in other computers and get the same problem. Tried Running XP and Vista setup CD's with just the Hitachi Drive and it still isn't recognised.

I would normally suggest that the Hard Drive is faulty but for it to go after I deleted the partition makes me think...

Has anybody got any experience in these problems? Ideally I would like to retrieve the drives contents but getting the drive working again is the priority.

Thanks for Reading.
Simon

[Grizz]

can you feel the drive running ?

ive used this to recover deleted partitions, works a dream if your drive isnt fried.
TestDisk Download - CGSecurity

[milsim]

Thanks for the quick reply. The drive is running, I did read a good write up on that software. If I remember right after I installed it, it came up with a dos like box with the options. Unfortunately it didnt recognise my drive.

[offie1179]

had same problem with mine your problem is that you did not format the drive as it would have taken the partition away try starting in safe mode see if drive is there and format it in safe mode no matter what you have lost all that was on drive

[milsim]

No luck. Booted in safe mode. No sign of drive in my computer, device manager or disk management.

[Grizz]

Have you a linux cd? start the install to check if that will recognise drive? clutching at straws but worth a shot

[milsim]

Tried linux cd. Drive still not showing up. Starting to feel like its a lost cause...

[Grizz]

sorry couldnt be of more help, cant think of anything else. keep an eye though, someone will spot the post in next couple days and have a solution for you.



edit.
one last thing, open command prompt and try diskpart and see if it recognises drive, not sure about 7 think it opens from the start search

[cunny]

Try changing your sata lead/port and unlug your windows instal hdd

[milsim]

@Grizz, tried diskpart. Had to have a little read up on how you select disks and get details but drive still not showing.

@Cunny, I've tried every combination of sata cable and port. I have run xp, vista and 7 setups with just my hitachi drive on 3 different pcs and it shows no drives attached.

I thought perhaps I was missing a driver when on windows 7 setup it gives you the option of loading drivers. I google'd the hitachi drive and it says no additional drivers required.

When I put the hitachi drive in Master, the pc takes longer to boot. Don't know whether that helps in anyway. It will give the usual HARD DRIVE ERROR press F1 to continue... checking NVRAM.... but it will hang for a little while when the windows logo appears.

Thankyou both for the suggestions..

[cunny]

Sounds like the drive is a brick mate. I had a seagate with similar problems, sent it back to seagate and awaiting new drive coming out.

[plonker]

hi if you can get old of win 98 theres aoption to repair hard drives when you start booting from disc it scans all your hard drives and fixes problems hope this helps plonker

[josipbroz]

had same issue once

Try downloading Hiren's boot cd (its free..google it)
Burn the image on cd.

Make your cd drive boot first (inside bios or by pressing f5 some cases f10 of f12...depending your motherboard manufacturer)

When bootcd boots up go to partition tools search for acronis disk director... when it asks you chose manual control.

After app. starts try to find your hard drive ... one that doesn't show up.

select delited partition and chose from options make new partition (fat32 or NTFS)
Let the app do its thing by pressing start (wait till it finishes)

restart your pc....remove the boot cd and make your hard drive primary drive again. Boot in windows and see what happens...worked for me many times. One of the best tools ever.

good luck

[cunny]

I would not bother with any hirens or anything, goto hitachi homepage and download thier hard drive tools, this sounds like the firmware on the HDD has gotten corrupted. You will more than likely have to send the drive off for repair as there is nothing showing in the BIOS, unless thier drive tools can flash a new firmware to it.

http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

I had a seagate drive totally drop off on me, nothing in bios, i could feel the drive spinning up ect, if its not detected in the bios then windows/hirens/linux aint gonna detect it, had to send it off, they are now sending me a new hdd out.

Best of luck m8 and keep us posted

[milsim]

@plonker, I tried win 98 setup cd. I dont have a floppy drive for the boot files though.

@josipbroz, I downloaded and burnt iso of hirens boot cd 12. When it booted I chose acronis seagate tool. 1st time I only had my hitachi drive attached and I got an error message 'at least one seagate drive has to be attached'. I then attached both my working seagate and my hitachi drive and it booted into acronis tool. I chose the option to add drive but hitachi wasn't found

@Cunny, I think you're probably right. I've already tried the Drive Fitness and Feature tools from the hitachi site and neither could find the drive. I'll get in touch with hitachi support and see if they can offer any advice.

I'll keep you all posted on any results and thankyou.