I replaced the power supply in my test-bench PC with a used Thermaltake 850W Grand RGB unit. After the swap, the system goes straight into the BIOS, but the only storage drive—the 2.5-inch SATA boot drive—doesn't appear anywhere. I reinstalled the original power supply and the problem remained. Both the SATA power and data cables are connected securely. Could the drive have been damaged, or is there something else I should check before assuming it's dead?
3 Answers
The BIOS may have reset during the PSU swap, so check storage settings and boot mode. However, if the drive doesn’t appear in the BIOS’s SATA or storage-device list at all, this probably isn’t just a boot-order problem. Test the drive in another computer or with a SATA-to-USB adapter to see whether it’s detected.
Double-check both connections on the 2.5-inch drive: it needs a SATA data cable going to the motherboard and a separate SATA power connector from the PSU. Also try another SATA data cable and a different motherboard SATA port. Swapping hardware can sometimes loosen a connection even when it looks attached.
Be very careful with that used modular PSU. Modular power cables are not interchangeable between power-supply models, even if the plugs fit. The seller may have included the wrong cables, and a faulty PSU or incorrect cable can damage drives and other components. Stop using it until the cables and voltage outputs are verified with a PSU tester or multimeter. If the drive is missing from another computer too, it may have been electrically damaged; unfortunately, a video showing the PSU working isn’t proof that it’s safe now.
My original PSU was non-modular, while the replacement is fully modular. The seller said the included cables were the originals, but I’ll verify that and test the drive elsewhere before using the replacement again.
I checked both cables several times, and they seem secure. I’ll try another SATA port and cable as well.