Strange issue with partitions and sata ports

Jet-Fighter7700

Jet-Fighter7700

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
47,310
Reaction score
23,315
Location
Somewhere Different
Hi all,

Interesting issue I'm having here, doesn't make a whole lot of sense,

So my PC has 4 sata ports, 2 decided to stop working on their own, choice of cables doesn't help and swapping devices dosnt help,
So now i back to the old school days of 2 devices only,
Sata 0 and 1 work properly, but 2,3 don't for some odd reason, all enabled in BIOS ect...

First question, can i find Pci express board to sata converters? To replace my dead sata ports?
Or alternitivly, to a BIOS update to see if that will revive them, board is a gigabyte ga-h61

Second much stranger issue, for some reason my partitions have swapped places,
I have 1 500 gb with 2 partitions, one with win 10 and one with some large series and movies,
For some strange reason my movies drive set itself to c drive and tried to boot and my windows 10 set itself to d drive,
Natrurally causing havoc as they dont configured properly

I'm using hiren 10 to diagnose this and partion find home edition to try set the win 10 partition to c and primary and active,

Any other ideas i should try? I don't mind to format 10 and reload 7 if i have to as most of my stuff backed up already.....
 
Yes there are Pci-e to sata cards, back when i was looking into it they weren't cheap.

boot with only the win hdd connected and see what it does?
 
Last edited:
Zuner said:
Yes there are Pci-e to sata cards, back when i was looking into it they weren't cheap.

boot with only the win hdd connected and see what it does?
Click to expand...

Ok so i reloaded 10, anyway most of my things were on my 2tb and as the sata port not working,
I'm ok, but only 1 disk and DVD drive working,

So I'm sorta working now, win disk connected, unhidden the partition that was causing the issue, and deleted some files thinking its win 7

So happy days, sorta at least....:(:o

Now about that converter? Say its pricey?
Better idea to buy a m/b? One with maybe 6 sata on it in case this happens i can manage still with spares?

What about BIOS update? Worth attempting?
Could that fix it?
 
Read the forum post, yes exactly that i had,

Shame didn't know about that tool, but no worries, all my things backed up and had win 10. 32 bit for a while anyway, use this oppeetunity to upgrade to 64 bit,

Exactly that issue i had, should i also now check my cmos battery voltage?

As for the converter, got a micro ATx and only have 1 slot kind of free but very close to my gpu,

Worth getting this, or doing BIOS update or buying a new m/b?
 
if i just read the correct review, your mainboard has dual Bios, the site says it automatically switches between bios, but just check if you maybe have a switch on your board for changing between the 2 bios.

also i would unplug all power and take out cmos battery, leave it for 2.5min press the reset/power buttons leave it another 2.5min then reconnect power without cmos battery and see if it can see a hdd on the dead sata ports.

a new mobo should be the last resort.
 
eg2505 said:
Worth getting this, or doing BIOS update or buying a new m/b?
Click to expand...
CMOS reset, if doesn't help, try reflashing BIOS even with the same version. Check command-line options to make sure it will rewrite all areas BIOS modules and configuration data as well.
And yes (I see post one above), make sure you update backup BIOS too.
 
Last edited:
eg2505 said:
First question, can i find Pci express board to sata converters? To replace my dead sata ports?
Or alternitivly, to a BIOS update to see if that will revive them, board is a gigabyte ga-h61.....
Click to expand...

We currently have this items in stock but in Durban only on our Aged Stock Clearance @R199.00 excl vat

http://www.esquire-shop.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=1539901

You can order it from the Durban branch and get them to deliver it to you via the couriers which normally will cost around R 40-R 50.00 ( check with Durban branch on this)

If you not in a hurry we do have some more arriving end of October with our container of stock but the pricing will be much higher
 
Good to know about that deal its already R100 cheaper than takealot, even with the shipping,

One question i have though is,
Is this what i need? I need sata internal, that's esata external, or am i just confused to what i really need, or does it have both?
Also do i need dealer card for this?

As for a BIOS flash, think it might help? If i update to latest version and try?
 
eg2505 said:
As for a BIOS flash, think it might help? If i update to latest version and try?
Click to expand...
Your problem is likely to be related to the BIOS corruption, so why not try it all? :)

CMOS reset, switching to the backup BIOS, yes but which version of BIOS you use for flashing doesn't really matter. Something else is.

There is potential problem with Gigabyte dual BIOS motherboards when the main and backup BIOS have different versions. Both use the same configuration area, but not always in identical way. People usually update only the main BIOS and backup remains unchanged. When motherboard switches to the backup BIOS for some reason (by example after detecting internal error), the old BIOS can corrupt data area of the main BIOS. So remember to update your backup BIOS with the same version after flashing the main BIOS and verifying that it boot properly.
 
Ok updated main BIOS to f9 version, @BIOS utility didn't look like it works with win 10 and inside BIOS itself qflash didn't work properly
(Supposed to use flash drive? Not external?)

Everything works properly again now, was on f4 version, so firmware was old? That's why sata ports stop working? Or should i check my cmos battery regardless?

Ok now to update backup bios, how to do this?
As i mentioned @BIOS shows many errors on win 10, did download latest @BIOS utility,

Just for ref; my board is gah61m-ds2 rev 2.0

Also, asked this in another thread,
Didn't do it, but worth updating my hdd firmware?

Got my os on a 500 gb that pass smart and surface tests, wd caviar blue 500aaks drive,
Worth doing a firmware update? Know its dicy and a LOT can go wrong, but worth doing?

To maybe avoid this happening again?
 
eg2505 said:
Everything works properly again now, was on f4 version, so firmware was old? That's why sata ports stop working? Or should i check my cmos battery regardless?
Click to expand...
A1. I wonder, why you ask this question? It did work properly on F4 version for a while, right?

A2. Fact that it works now, confirms my diagnose that it was corrupted BIOS a cause. I described it in my previous post why it happens. Didn't I? Maybe you are looking for second opinion. ;)

A3. No, it is not required. Just go back to setup and load setup defaults (or optimised defaults) on the first boot after flashing.

Just to remind: to prevent from happening it again you must update backup BIOS with the same version ASAP.

I am glad is working now. For information how to flash backup BIOS, search Gigabyte forum. I remember one things when I was doing it last time: If you don't see a message similar to "flashing backup BIOS", you are updating the main BIOS. It will be helpful.
 
Esquire said:
We currently have this items in stock but in Durban only on our Aged Stock Clearance @R199.00 excl vat

http://www.esquire-shop.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=1539901

You can order it from the Durban branch and get them to deliver it to you via the couriers which normally will cost around R 40-R 50.00 ( check with Durban branch on this)

If you not in a hurry we do have some more arriving end of October with our container of stock but the pricing will be much higher
Click to expand...

I know your issue is fixed but incase you ordered this. It is the wrong part.

This is eSATA not regular internal SATA.
 
sajunky said:
A1. I wonder, why you ask this question? It did work properly on F4 version for a while, right?

A2. Fact that it works now, confirms my diagnose that it was corrupted BIOS a cause. I described it in my previous post why it happens. Didn't I? Maybe you are looking for second opinion. ;)

A3. No, it is not required. Just go back to setup and load setup defaults (or optimised defaults) on the first boot after flashing.

Just to remind: to prevent from happening it again you must update backup BIOS with the same version ASAP.

I am glad is working now. For information how to flash backup BIOS, search Gigabyte forum. I remember one things when I was doing it last time: If you don't see a message similar to "flashing backup BIOS", you are updating the main BIOS. It will be helpful.
Click to expand...

Firstly, thanks again for the advice,
I'm really worried when flashing BIOS, and at least that fixed my issue, did break m/b before so not sure that would fix issue.
Did work on f4 version for a while, is my backup BIOS still that version?

Secondly, as i mentioned, didn't see any options for backup BIOS on @BIOS screen,
Not to mention @BIOS gives many errors on win10
Should i try maybe load mint and see if i can get @BIOS with the correct options?

Or is there a diffrent program i must use for backup BIOS?
 
Last edited:
eg2505 said:
Firstly, thanks again for the advice,
I'm really worried when flashing BIOS, and at least that fixed my issue, did break m/b before so not sure that would fix issue.
Did work on f4 version for a while, is my backup BIOS still that version?

Secondly, as i mentioned, didn't see any options for backup BIOS on @BIOS screen,
Not to mention @BIOS gives many errors on win10
Should i try maybe load mint and see if i can get @BIOS with the correct options?

Or is there a diffrent program i must use for backup BIOS?
Click to expand...
Your backup BIOS could be even some earlier (preproduction) version. I don't know for sure BIOS mismatch was a cause itself, usually problem is triggered by hardware malfunction, power interruption which cause switching to the backup BIOS. Flash chip errors can corrupt BIOS as well. Normally you don't need to worry about, but in the situation when it happened already, it is wise to keep main and backup BIOS synchronised.

As for flashing, do it booting from DOS, details escape my memory. I never tried load mint, excuse my ignorance.

I will google flashing backup BIOS 4U when on the desktop, will come back later (doing a job for Gigabyte/Rectron, so I am a guy who is going to win Aorus). :)
 
For your motherboard Q-Flash should update your backup BIOS.
Follow this link (above 1000 pages) :)
http://forums.tweaktown.com/printthread.php?t=28441&pp=10&page=1

Backup BIOS reflash:
ALT+F12 - AWARD BIOS
ALT+F10 - UEFI BIOS
You might need PS2 keyboard. Press and hold ALT key early, then press F10/F12 during the usual time you enter setup.

Remember to enter BIOS after flashing, load BIOS defaults and save. Hope it helps. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X