M6400, Windows will not load aftere adding second HDD

Hey all, I have the following problem.

I bought yesterday the 640GB WD HDD and I tried to install it but Windows will not load. It will get stuk in the "loading screen" and will not advance to ask my password.

To complicate things, Windows actually loaded once, the driver setup programm was launched, the HDD was not visible and when I tried to restart it got stuck again.

Once I removed the drive everything loaded as usually.

Let me note that in the Bios the drive was correctly identified.

Any ideas???

 

Are you trying to set up the HDD so you can boot from either?

What happens if you remove the primary HDD?

What HDD access mode have you selected in the BIOS?

John

 

No, I just want the extra space.

Haven't tried that but I guess the system will not boot at all, since the second HDD is completely empty

I do not understand the question. Can you please tell me what to look for in the BIOS?

 

Thanks. I was thinking that you were trying to install another copy of Windows on the new HDD.

What happens if you start the computer with only the original HDD, then hibernate it, insert the second HDD, then resume? If it resumes OK, then go into Computer Management > Disk Management and you should see the second HDD (Disk 1 - the first HDD is disk 0). Then you need to create a new partition (or several partitions) on the second HDD before it will show up in Explorer.

Regarding the BIOS settings, there is a SATA operation section under the system configuration. As a minimum you should see ATA, AHCI and IRRT (that's the choice on my E6400). Which do you have selected? (Warning: unless up have a Dell factory Windows installation, changing the setting will probably result in BSOD).

John

 

Tnx for the tip, that was it, in the BIOS SATA mode was set to RAID! In my BIOS I have ATA, AHCI and RAID. I didnt check it before hand because the after the bios loading I was always seeing a message saying that the disks were not in RAID.

Cutting a long story short, I chose AHCI and voila! Windows started as usual and after seting it up through the format/partition utility the disk was live and ready to go.

I have another question though. Each time I take out the plug and take the battery out, BIOS looses all its settings (time, VT options, the SATA modes...) etc. Is this normal? I thought there was a small battery in the mother card in order to prevent such a thing from happening. What do you think?

 

Thanks for the update. I'm glad that you have got the HDD access sorted.

The BIOS should not forget its settings. There is a small battery (see service manual). Check if that has got disconnected somehow. If not, then the battery will need to be replaced.

John