[Solved]Missing Hardrive, Windows won't boot?
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
I have a asus p5n-e sli windows 7 with two hard drives each with 500gb. I have windows installed on HD 1 and it isn't showing up in bios setup or select boot device so windows won't boot. I had a power outage in my area and afterwards seems like the computer can't find hd that windows is installed on?? Any help with this would be very much appreciated..
Edit* Managed to fix it via windows 7 32 bit recovery usb via marking partition as active the simply reparing and fixing the MBR via bootrec.. From there in the repair disk utility it managed to recover the windows partition, then I just repaired the mbr again. So it seems it took some time for the repair disk utility to actually find windows 7... Hopefully this is a permanent fix but super happy right now Atleast through it all I managed to discover the awesomeness of ubuntu as an OS and data recovery option.. Peace ~Tim
Edit* Managed to fix it via windows 7 32 bit recovery usb via marking partition as active the simply reparing and fixing the MBR via bootrec.. From there in the repair disk utility it managed to recover the windows partition, then I just repaired the mbr again. So it seems it took some time for the repair disk utility to actually find windows 7... Hopefully this is a permanent fix but super happy right now Atleast through it all I managed to discover the awesomeness of ubuntu as an OS and data recovery option.. Peace ~Tim
Last edited by Touch The Universe on Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 7728 posts since 28 Apr, 2013
Missing MBR? (Master Boot Record).
I've dealt with this often with others computers and what I usually end up doing (if that drive has import files on it), is replacing the drive with a fresh one, reinstalling the OS and then putting the old drive on a USB port to copy the files back over.
It has always been due to a power outage (especially if it happened to be in an update when it happened).
There might be other ways to do it, but I've found it's quickest and easiest for me to do it the way I do.
I've dealt with this often with others computers and what I usually end up doing (if that drive has import files on it), is replacing the drive with a fresh one, reinstalling the OS and then putting the old drive on a USB port to copy the files back over.
It has always been due to a power outage (especially if it happened to be in an update when it happened).
There might be other ways to do it, but I've found it's quickest and easiest for me to do it the way I do.
- KVRAF
- 5564 posts since 13 Jan, 2005 from the bottom of my heart
connrections okay? do you open and checked inside your pc?
Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours.
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
I don't think its MBR because in the setup bios there should be two WD Hard drives showing up but only one is. I assume the missing one is where windows 7 is installed cause when I try to boot from the other drive just a bleeping cursor shows then reboots. Even if the MBR is missing shouldn't the HD still show up as a boot option and show is the bios HD menu? Sometimes when I boot up and go to boot selection menu the missing one shows up but without any other info, the other hd shows the type ie WD with alot of numbers etc..... while the other one is just blank? I'll try to take a picture cause I can't use print screen without getting into windows?
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- KVRAF
- 1905 posts since 24 Apr, 2010
My first thought would be just to swap the connections over and see what happens.
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- KVRAF
- 2250 posts since 29 Nov, 2004
The obvious: Is your missing drive still properly connected to the mobo and PSU? Disconnect and reconnect to make sure it's OK. If it still isn't there after that swap drives connections to mobo and PSU one at a time and try again, this should let you figure out quickly where the problem actually is.
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- KVRAF
- 7728 posts since 28 Apr, 2013
Yes, it should show up in the bios regradless of anything else. Try swapping drives to see if it is the drive or the connection to it that's at fault in the bios. If it is the drive, you can replace it and still have a chance to USB to possibly access files on it. (But it doesn't sound like it). if it is the connection not showing after swapping them, it's possible there is a problem with the bios/board.mysticvibes wrote:I don't think its MBR because in the setup bios there should be two WD Hard drives showing up but only one is. I assume the missing one is where windows 7 is installed cause when I try to boot from the other drive just a bleeping cursor shows then reboots. Even if the MBR is missing shouldn't the HD still show up as a boot option and show is the bios HD menu? Sometimes when I boot up and go to boot selection menu the missing one shows up but without any other info, the other hd shows the type ie WD with alot of numbers etc..... while the other one is just blank? I'll try to take a picture cause I can't use print screen without getting into windows?
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
Ok I just made sure they were both connected right and swapped connections and still won't boot. The only thing that changed was at first two drives were listed and the top one had no other info and after swap the bottom one was the one with no info from the boot menu after pressing f8. It didn't work so I decided to just switch them back the way they were connected before just in case.. This is really weird, how can a simple power outage cause a drive to be not read or boot from?
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- KVRAF
- 2250 posts since 29 Nov, 2004
Did you swap the connections to PSU too?mysticvibes wrote:Ok I just made sure they were both connected right and swapped connections and still won't boot. The only thing that changed was at first two drives were listed and the top one had no other info and after swap the bottom one was the one with no info from the boot menu after pressing f8. It didn't work so I decided to just switch them back the way they were connected before just in case.. This is really weird, how can a simple power outage cause a drive to be not read or boot from?
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- KVRAF
- 4584 posts since 21 Sep, 2005
You post on kvr where most don't know their mbr from their master boot file.mysticvibes wrote:I don't think its MBR because in the setup bios there should be two WD Hard drives showing up but only one is. I assume the missing one is where windows 7 is installed cause when I try to boot from the other drive just a bleeping cursor shows then reboots. Even if the MBR is missing shouldn't the HD still show up as a boot option and show is the bios HD menu? Sometimes when I boot up and go to boot selection menu the missing one shows up but without any other info, the other hd shows the type ie WD with alot of numbers etc..... while the other one is just blank? I'll try to take a picture cause I can't use print screen without getting into windows?
Yet you say, with confidence, that u don't think it is your MBR.
I think you are a lot more clued up than most kvr'rs (bless 'em). So why do you come here for help?
I really find you a bit circumspect. Why not post on the forum at the Register or something. I'm sorry, but KVR seems a very odd choice of place to ask for help with relation to hard drive problems.
Did you get it sorted out anyway? And care to share how you did, if so?
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
I disconnected the power cable but forgot the vga glad I wasn't shocked. I was mindful of static electricity too.BBFG# wrote:Before you do any of this, reset the bios (either by jumper or completely disconnecting everything on it and discharging the energy by PSU breaker/power button).
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
I'm not sure what you mean here, on the hard drives there were two cables connected to each drive, one that says sata and was wider and a smaller one right next to it, I just swapped both cables from both hd's.eidenk wrote:Did you swap the connections to PSU too?mysticvibes wrote:Ok I just made sure they were both connected right and swapped connections and still won't boot. The only thing that changed was at first two drives were listed and the top one had no other info and after swap the bottom one was the one with no info from the boot menu after pressing f8. It didn't work so I decided to just switch them back the way they were connected before just in case.. This is really weird, how can a simple power outage cause a drive to be not read or boot from?
Ok just checked and noticed that the smaller cables from each drive are connected to the mobo and right next to each other, should I disconnect this and swap as well? Is this the psu?
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Touch The Universe Touch The Universe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=190615
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4761 posts since 2 Oct, 2008
I have a seven forums account but can't remember the password and cleaned out my email so can't find it. I used up 5 tries so I have to wait a little to post there after I get a new password. Last time I had computer issues people here were very helpful so that I'd try here real quick.codec_spurt wrote:You post on kvr where most don't know their mbr from their master boot file.mysticvibes wrote:I don't think its MBR because in the setup bios there should be two WD Hard drives showing up but only one is. I assume the missing one is where windows 7 is installed cause when I try to boot from the other drive just a bleeping cursor shows then reboots. Even if the MBR is missing shouldn't the HD still show up as a boot option and show is the bios HD menu? Sometimes when I boot up and go to boot selection menu the missing one shows up but without any other info, the other hd shows the type ie WD with alot of numbers etc..... while the other one is just blank? I'll try to take a picture cause I can't use print screen without getting into windows?
Yet you say, with confidence, that u don't think it is your MBR.
I think you are a lot more clued up than most kvr'rs (bless 'em). So why do you come here for help?
I really find you a bit circumspect. Why not post on the forum at the Register or something. I'm sorry, but KVR seems a very odd choice of place to ask for help with relation to hard drive problems.
Did you get it sorted out anyway? And care to share how you did, if so?
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