Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[Blainerama]

So here's the deal.  My old computer died recently (CMOS Error that I never figured out - let's skip that diagnosis) and I bought a new machine.  I had two Barracuda SATA drives in the old computer that I want to get data off of.  The new comp has two lovely front load slots for extra drives, which is handy.  ONE drive works in either slot with no issue.  It is an older 160 GB Barracuda.  The second drive was my primary in the old machine and when I put it in EITHER slot I get an "AHCI Port # device error" which will be either 5 or 6 depending which slot the drive is in.  I have updated BIOS and attempted to update the AHCI driver, but it is the most current version Intel provides.  There are no jumpers on the back of the drive (though I tried the "restrict to 1.5 GB/s setting).  Any help?  Is the drive most likely dead?  Anything else I can try before I cough up dough to get someone to rip the info off of there for me?  Any help appreciated!

[Cantbecanit]

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesMsahci

4. In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
5. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.

If this doesn't work, boot the PC with the main C drive and the one that you are having problems with already in the PC.

[fzabkar]

Configure the SATA controller in your BIOS setup for legacy or IDE compatibility mode. This will make your SATA drives look like PATA, and will eliminate any AHCI issues.