Solved! Toshiba P870 HDD

[collett.richardinperth]

Hi, I have a Toshiba P870 that has capacity for a 2nd internal HDD, I have plugged in a 1TB SSD but it is not being recognized, do I need to format this 2nd drive first or is there something else I need to do to get the laptop to recognize it?

 

[Saga Lout]

If you're only depending on information from Windows File Explorer, you might get a better hint from Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>File Management

If it shows up in there you can format it and give it a drive letter.

 

[collett.richardinperth]

Thanks, unfortunately it is not showing up.

 

[atomicWAR]

Also try this if on windows 10. Right click the start button in the lower left and choose disk management. Scroll down to see if your disk is there. It may well need to be initialized under disk management for the OS to use it and allow you to format and partition it. If so do that now. If you do not see the disk at all LMK and will direct further.

 

[atomicWAR]

There are some freeware partition setups I also find helpful...

https/www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
https/www.easeus.com/partition-manager/epm-free.html

 

[collett.richardinperth]

I'm using Windows 8.1

 

[atomicWAR]

Still possible on 8.1 just follow this walkthrough...basically what Saga Lout was saying

https/www.lifewire.com/how-to-open-disk-management-2626080

 

[collett.richardinperth]

I'm now trying a WD 320Mb HDD that I have spare, still not recognizing that, It is almost as though a dip switch needs to be set somewhere to tell the computer that a second HDD is in place but I can't find the technical specs for the computer only the user manual.

 

[Saga Lout]

What does BIOS say about the second disk?

As an experiment, would you please remove the original system drive and use a DVD or flash drive to see if BIOS recongnises the new drive in its own right.

 

[collett.richardinperth]

Problem Solved, thank you for your input it certainly helped in my thinking. I thought it must be a simple solution and it was. I tried removing the main SSD from it's slot and plugged it into the second HDD space, turned the laptop back an and it worked as though everything was fine, There are a number of metal connections in the HDD spaces and obviously the HDD or SSD must be in an appropriate Caddy for the laptop to recognize that there is a HDD in place, just need to order myself a second HDD Caddy and I should be up an running with a new dual disk laptop, putting an extended life into my 6 year old and very efficient P870 Toshiba. Thank you again.

 

[Saga Lout]

I haven't seen one yet but I think what you have there is a M.2.

A "ordinary" SSD will have the same connections as a spinning disk drive has. I've been using an OCZ SSD for four years now and it's been plain sailing.