My 10TB HGST Ultrastar DC HC510 internal SATA hard drive (HUH721010ALE601) is not detected and does not spin up when connected directly to my motherboard with SATA power and data cables. The same drive powers on and works normally when connected through a USB drive adapter. The SATA cables and power supply work with my SSDs, and I already replaced the PSU because it was fairly old. The problem started after replacing my motherboard; the drive initially worked, but stopped after Windows later became corrupted on a different SSD. Windows was never installed on this HDD. What could cause the drive to power up through USB but not through the motherboard, and what should I check or change?
3 Answers
First confirm whether the USB adapter is actually supplying power through a separate adapter or powered dock. A 3.5-inch 10TB drive needs dedicated 12V and 5V power, so a basic USB connection cannot power it by itself. If the USB adapter has its own power brick, compare that setup with the motherboard connection and try a different SATA power lead from the PSU. Also check whether the drive appears in BIOS or Disk Management before making any repairs.
Since this began around a motherboard change, check the drive's power connection rather than Windows first. Reseat both connectors, try another motherboard SATA port and another PSU cable, and look in the firmware storage list. If the disk does not spin or appear in BIOS, reinstalling Windows or changing partitions will not fix it. Keep the USB adapter available for backing up the data before experimenting.
That particular HGST Ultrastar model may be affected by the SATA 3.3V power-disable feature. Some enterprise drives interpret the 3.3V line on certain SATA power connectors as a command to remain disabled. USB-to-SATA adapters often omit that pin, which would explain why the drive works over USB but not from the motherboard. Try another SATA power connector or a Molex-to-SATA adapter that does not provide the 3.3V power-disable signal. Do not modify cables unless you know exactly what you are doing, and copy the data somewhere safe while the drive is accessible.
It is an internal 3.5-inch HGST drive. The USB adapter has its own power, and the same SATA power cables work with my SSDs, but the HDD only spins when connected through the adapter.