Member Avatar for SillyBilly

I got me a new used computer from a neighbor in trade, I formatted and put win xp home on it. After getting all my basic setup done, I went in to bios and set all my security like I always do with any of my CPU's. After doing the normal Start up and Bios security, then into Win XP and set user, I went back in to set hard drive lock. Nothing un-common for me. after I rebooted that time, Neither my hard drive nor my CD Rom drive is being detected in the bios and it doesn't even ask for hard drive password. I have reset cmos and everything to no avail. Pleas help...
SillyBilly

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Dani AI

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Summary and quick context: the BIOS “Hard Drive Lock” you enabled is an ATA security feature stored on the drive’s firmware. If the board no longer sees the HDD or the optical drive and it never prompted for a password, treat this as a two‑fold problem: either the motherboard/SATA/IDE subsystem has been disabled/corrupted, or the drive firmware is in a locked/corrupted state that hides the device. The garbled BIOS text you mention and the disabled Diskette A/B are additional clues the BIOS/CMOS may be confused. , this is a situation where careless attempts can make data unrecoverable, so proceed deliberately.

Quick triage (do these first)

  • Verify basic power/data: confirm the drive(s) spin on power‑up and swap SATA/PATA cables and ports; try a different power connector. (’s suggestion to reconnect is correct — expand it by testing alternate cables/ports.)
  • Test the drive on another computer or via a USB‑SATA adapter to see if it’s recognized; if it is, back up immediately.
  • Boot with only one drive connected (HDD alone) and reset BIOS to defaults using the proper power‑down CMOS clear (unplug PSU, remove battery, press power button, wait a few minutes).

If hardware checks out

  • Check BIOS “SATA/IDE mode” (Auto/IDE/AHCI). For older XP-era systems set to IDE/Auto. If the BIOS text looks corrupted, consider reflashing the official motherboard BIOS only as a last recovery step — follow the vendor’s instructions exactly; reflashing carries risk.
  • If the drive is firmware‑locked (ATA password), manufacturer diagnostic tools (SeaTools, WD Data Lifeguard, etc.) can report the security state. These tools sometimes require the password or will perform a secure erase to clear locks — which destroys data. If data is important, stop and consult a professional data‑recovery service rather than attempting blind unlocks.

Tying this back: ’s “try another drive” is a useful isolation test; ’s idea to clear CMOS and update BIOS is valid if done carefully. If both the HDD and CD-ROM remain invisible after isolation tests, suspect motherboard/controller failure.

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Member Avatar for SillyBilly

here is a picture of the bios,,,, check out the characters of the last line, "hdd firmware"!

I got me a new used computer from a neighbor in trade, I formatted and put win xp home on it. After getting all my basic setup done, I went in to bios and set all my security like I always do with any of my CPU's. After doing the normal Start up and Bios security, then into Win XP and set user, I went back in to set hard drive lock. Nothing un-common for me. after I rebooted that time, Neither my hard drive nor my CD Rom drive is being detected in the bios and it doesn't even ask for hard drive password. I have reset cmos and everything to no avail. Pleas help...
SillyBilly

bios_pic.jpg 12.84 KB
Member Avatar for SillyBilly

here is a picture of the bios,,,, check out the characters of the last line, "hdd firmware"!

this picture of the bios shows diskette a and b disabled??? what the heck?

new_pik.jpg 21.39 KB
Member Avatar for caperjack

this picture of the bios shows diskette a and b disabled??? what the heck?

if you have a floppy drive in the tower enable diskette A

Member Avatar for caperjack

I got me a new used computer from a neighbor in trade, I formatted and put win xp home on it. After getting all my basic setup done, I went in to bios and set all my security like I always do with any of my CPU's. After doing the normal Start up and Bios security, then into Win XP and set user, I went back in to set hard drive lock. Nothing un-common for me. after I rebooted that time, Neither my hard drive nor my CD Rom drive is being detected in the bios and it doesn't even ask for hard drive password. I have reset cmos and everything to no avail. Pleas help...
SillyBilly

try another hard drive .old ones are a dime a dozen ,nowadays

Member Avatar for adamvaldez

Do This
1. Unplug the power and Remove BIOS battery. Remove RAM and HDD and keep it for 24 hrs. Re-assemble and mostly it will be fixed. if not

2.Update BIOS. After Updating BIOS do step number 1 as above.

Member Avatar for deew

maybe your sata port or power plugs are having prob . please reconnect your HDD and DVD drive.

and even then if u r facing same prob then please go to the BIOS and pres the F9 button for changing Ur BIOS into Default mood.
thanx

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