Laptop not detecting HD
 

Got one to repair, changed the drive and changed the connection (weird HP board to Sata thing)

Still not detecting the drive in BIOS..

Any ideas?

Some older SATA Pc's/laptops needed drivers for the hard drive before it would detect it. Usually done during the windows installation where you can press F6 at some point and load the drivers by floppy.

It would still pick it up in the BIOS, just wouldnt when installing windows.

More than likely the sata controller on the motherboard, can you feel the drive spin up/power on when you turn the laptop on with it connected?

No now you mention it.. sometimes it

This would be my first port of call, it wouldn't be there without a reason surely?

What would be your first port of call ?

I think he means "weird HP board to Sata thing" to eliminate that you can try the hard drive in another laptop.

The bit I bolded maybe?

:brickwall

bios update? Assume you can plug the drive into another PC and it works fine?

Worth a go I guess.. something broken I reckon.
Wtf are you talking about?

The laptop has a cable that connect the sata drive to the mb, I replaced it with a new one.

HP Laptops use either and PATA/Power to SATA/Power connector or a SATA/Power to SATA/Power connector.

What cable did you use to replace the HP connector, have you tested it because clearly the drive isn't powering up and that is why the BIOS can't detect it.

Have you tried the original cable/connector?

Have you checked the power connections on the Mobo?

We know nothing of the original HDD's fault, but assuming it is a fix and not an upgrade it is entirely possible the HDD damaged the Mobo when it failed.

The other final thought once you get power to the HDD is upgrading the BIOS on the laptop if the drive is still not recognised. Old BIOS's often don't like new HDD's.

That should be enough to keep you going for now.

It was a DD0AX6HD, which on all the laptops I've worked on I've never seen before.

A brand new DD0AX6HD.

It came with the original cable and isn't working, so I took the most logical steps, replaced the HD with one I know is working, from an older machine, then replaced the cable, (£4) worth a try.

The machine is powering into BIOS, just not detecting the drive, unless you're talking about something more specific ?

Nor do I, the Laptop came to me unable to boot, HD is not detecting. That's the limited knowledge I have. Connecting the old drive gives me access to the files on an intermittent basis, suggestion it is about to die, but not explaining why the machine still refuses to accept the new (tried a few) drive.

There is power to the drive, the new drive is powering up, I just held the laptop and put my ear to it.

It's a good try and appreciated but hasn't given me anything new yet :)

So have you updated the Bios?

Flashed it .. looks the same ..

Have you pulled the cmos battery to reset the settings?

First thing I tried

Is the HDD the same as the old one or an "upgrade"?

Define upgrade..

The old one is a Toshiba the replacement is a WD .. so I'd say it's a upgrade :)

Speed wise they match, size wise the old one is 500 the new is 250.

Then I doubt it is compatibility issues. I am loathe to think it is a fooked mobo as the old drive is working intermittently, but it is possible that is the case.

User error. PICNIC or PIBKAC imo :)