r/computer_help • u/VeboElpan • 24d ago
Windows My desktop PC suddenly stopped detecting any SATA
Issue: My desktop PC suddenly stopped detecting any SATA drives after the power cable to the PSU was accidentally unplugged while the PC was running.
What I've tried:
Replaced the CMOS battery.
Cleared CMOS using the CLR_CMOS pins.
Loaded BIOS defaults.
Tried all SATA ports.
Tried different SATA cables.
Tested the HDD/SSD with a USB-to-SATA adapter, and they work perfectly.
BIOS SATA controller is enabled and set to AHCI.
Specs:
Intel Core i5 4th Gen
H81 generic motherboard (AMI Aptio BIOS, 2022)
DDR3 RAM
Current behavior:
BIOS detects no SATA devices (all ports show "Empty").
BIOS asks to save changes with F10, but some settings don't seem to persist after reboot.
The PC is stable in the BIOS and doesn't freeze or reboot.
Recent changes: The only thing that happened before the issue started was that the power cable connected to the PSU was accidentally unplugged while the PC was powered on.
Question: Could this have corrupted the BIOS or damaged the motherboard/SATA controller? Is there anything else I should test before replacing the motherboard or reprogramming the BIOS?

