V3 772G - Install of 3rd disk failed

Hi guys,
Yesterday I have bought a new V3 772G. Today I decided to post my very first article and hope for your feedback...:hi2:

Well, the problem is that I've tried to install a HDD in the empty hard disk slot. Finally the notebook should be configured like this:

1. mSATA: Windows plus some daily used programs (office...)
2. 2,5" SSD: games & save games (Steam database)
3. 2,5" HDD: media content like music, photos etc.

Unfortunately neither the BIOS nor Windows are able to recognize the additional HDD. Both tell me, that slot 0 holds the mSata SSD and slot 1 the standard SSD. If i exchange the devices I can see the HDD (on slot 1) but won't see the SSD (on slot 2) anymore.

What do you think - is there something wrong with the SATA controller on slot 2 or did I miss something?

Thanks in advance for your feedback (and sorry for my English - I'm not a native speaker...)

Rocco

 

Call acer support and tell them, they will probably fix the problem in the next bios revision

 

I've already had a chat conversation with Acer in Germany. They told me that the empty HDD bay is not usable despite the SATA connector is build in. This is a petty, because the expandability in terms of capacity was the main reason to choose this notebook. So I have to go with the combination 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD that was original delivered or return the notebook...

What about the (older) V3 771 models - are 3x drives installable (1x mSATA + 2x HDD)? Do you really think, it's because the actual BIOS release doesn't support the combination of 3 drives?

Rocco

 

As far as i know, they are selling v3's with 2x 1 Tb HDD's (2 Tb)

 

3 drives (SSD+SSHD+HDD) work great in a V3-771G, bios rev. 2.21

 

Indeed, it seems that the BIOS revision doesn't support 3 drives. There are models with two HDDs but no mSATA or one mSATA and one. I think, I'll sleep over it and mybe sent back this model. There are plenty of other devices that can hold 2 drives - the V3 was one of only a few that seems to work with three. If this doesn't work, i can newly choose...

Thanks for your feedback & help!
Rocco

 

Don't send the model back yet. I have the V3-771G that came with Windows 8 installed originally. BIOS will not detect the additional storage correctly but Windows will after formatting the drives.

Are you running Windows 8 or 7? When you connect a new hard drive to any computer it should not show up initially. Hard drives need to be formatted in order to be used in a computer. Open Disk Management. If things are as I think you will find two drives there that is unallocated. They should have the same capacity as your msata drive and the other 2.5" drive. Format both of them and name them what you want. Once you do that you will be able to install other programs and store files there.

I was originally worried when I first installed my mSATA drive. But unless something is significantly changed with the hardware it should work. Acer support is no help and in some occasion are dumber than most of the users on this forum. I asked a similar question and most of the time they say it won't work.

 

It was really hard to find the Disk Manager in Windows 8...:eek2.
@xKrNMBoYx: Your hint is not bad, because several times i made the experience by myself as well that a (usb-)drive didn't received a drive letter and therefor wasn't shown at the explorer. In this case unfortunately - it didn't worked. There are only 2 drives listet, the third one is missing like in the BIOS. If i change the hdds at the SATA port, i can see the other drive - so they are not defective...

Probably i won't wait for Acer and a new BIOS/bug fix. Here in Germany we have a 2 weeks right of return by law - i think i will sent it back before the time period ends...

Thanks guys for your help! :thumbsup:

 

Please note that when I say it "works great" with V3-771s, still... there's something fishy - or let's say not very user-friendly - in how the BIOS manages these drives.

Specifically, the µSATA slot (which is assigned Port #1, btw, with #0 and #2 being for the 9.5mm and 12.5 mm-thick slots, in that order) does not show up in the list of storage devices at the main BIOS screen. Still, it is correctly managed after POST, i.e. Windows 8's setup routine offers that µSATA drive. Once the OS has been installed on it, the BIOS's list of bootable devices correctly lists that 'Windows 8 blah blah' drive as an option.
I'm not sure since when (= which bios revision) it works like this, but so far with the latest update from 3 weeks ago it's functional.

Did you try using the second HDD slot? I doubt Acer's reply (regarding the 2nd SATA port being non-functional) makes sense. Did you try plugging some HDD in that 2nd port only (in addition to the µSATA device) and see what happens in the bios?

 

During my test the mSATA drive was always installed, 'cause it holds the OS. The BIOS shows this drive on Port #0.

For the common SATA ports I used two different 1TB HDDs - the Toshiba drive that was delivered with the notebook and my ownone - a 1TB WD HDD. The BIOS shows both vendors on Port #1 and only changes the description between Toshiba and WD - depending which one is connected. Port #2 doesn't react.

If I remove the drive on Port #1 (= empty) and (only) install a drive on Port #2 it stays the same - no reaction on Port #2. This bevavior was the reason why I've called the Acer support. A limitation of the BIOS could be one reason, a defective SATA port #2 could be the other one. Well, the answer from Acer I've stated above - No support of port #2 (yet)...

****
Today I've decided to sent the Acer back - mainly because I haven't the time trying to fix this. It already tooks me some hours to install the drives in different ways, check the BIOS, looking parallel what is Windows saying, writing an eMail to Acer (that is still unanswered) and finally chatting with the support directly. In general it's absolutely ok, that the notebook can only manage 2 drives - it's not different to many other 17" devices. But it's different from what I've expeted (do you know this review?: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-V3-772G-747A321-Notebook.93916.0.html).

I'll have a fresh look on available Haswell notebooks with a moderate powerfull, dedicated grapics card, good display and a silent fan behavior that fits in my budget. Maybe I'll give Asus G750 a try...

 

I have added a 3rd HDD in the form of a regular 2.5 inch SSD. I have got no problems at all. Everything works fine.

Configuration is now.
1tb HDD
128gb mSATA SSD
120gb SSD --> New one. 2.5 inch.

All HDD"s are recognized and funtioning.

 

I'm interested in buying this notebook as a desktop replacement. However I had two questions for this notebook.
Firstly, is it possible to boot this notebook via msata drive?
And is it possible to remove the dvd/blu-ray writer, and replacing it with those hdd caddy? How to remove the dvd/blu-ray writer?? Thx~~

 

Do you want 4 HDDs then? There is the mSata SSD drive where the OS is installed on and a 1tb 2.5 normal HDD. You can add a third 2.5 inch HDD or SSD with a bracket without removing the DVD/BD writer.

 

sorry for the late reply. I know it is capable of installing 3 hdds. I ask it becoz I don't use optical drive much, I feel wasted for putting it in the machine. Thus I though of swapping it with a hdd caddy.

Btw, is the display card in this machine replaceable? thx~~

 

Hope its not too late.

Just wanted to say that the number of hard disk restrictions in windows (not exceeding 4) may be the reason for this.

In my SSD, I delete all the factory restore partitions and re-run my Paragon Backup utilities. The new added Hard disk show up automatically.

Regards,
Paul