Hey everyone, I recently picked up a refurbished 14TB EXOS X16 SATA disk. When I connect it to my MSI B650-S PRO WIFI motherboard via SATA, it seems completely unresponsive—no initialization sounds, and it doesn't show up in disk management or BIOS. However, when I use a SATA to USB adapter, the disk is recognized fine, and I was even able to activate it. But when I reconnect it through SATA, it still appears dead. I suspect it might be a "3.3V Pin Issue," as I've read about it online. Can anyone clarify this issue or advise on a potential fix? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Just double-checking, is your disk truly internal? Make sure both the power connector and SATA are plugged in properly. SATA alone doesn't provide power, but USB does, which is why it worked there. Let’s troubleshoot further if you’re sure it’s set up correctly.
Just a note: 3.5" external drives can often be shucked, but for those with encryption, you might need to format after removing the drive from the adapter. It's not applicable here, but good to keep in mind!
If you're suspecting a 3.3V pin issue, there's a helpful guide on Instructables that explains how to use kapton tape to cover the 3.3V pin on the SATA power connector. You'll just need to cut a small piece of tape and stick it over the third pin so it won't make contact, which could be causing your issue.
Yep, it’s an internal disk, and I used both SATA connectors the same way as with my other drives, which are working just fine. I even shared a picture to show the setup.