Symptoms
- Internal hard drive or SSD doesn't spin up or show any activity light
- Drive isn't detected in BIOS or Windows at all
- Other drives on the same power supply work fine
- Problem started after building, cleaning, or moving the PC
Likely causes
- CommonSATA power cable not connected to the driveThis connector is separate from the data cable and easy to overlook.
- CommonPower cable connected but not fully seatedA cable that looks plugged in can still have a poor connection.
- PossibleUsing a SATA power splitter or extension that has failedAdapters and splitters add another potential point of failure.
- PossiblePower supply cable itself is faultyTesting a different cable from the same PSU rules this in or out.
- PossibleThe specific PSU cable or connector has failed, while others still workModular power supplies especially can have one bad cable while others are fine.
What to do
- Power down and unplug the PC before opening the case.
- Locate the drive and confirm both the SATA data cable and the separate SATA power cable are connected.
- Reseat the power cable fully at both the drive end and the power supply end.
- If using a power splitter or adapter, try connecting the drive directly to a different PSU cable instead.
- Try a different SATA power cable from the power supply if one is available.
- If the drive still shows no signs of power with a confirmed good cable, check the drive on a different system to rule out drive failure.
Tools and parts
- Screwdriver
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.