SATA Cable Reseat [HDD/SSD]
Complexity: Intermediate | Time: 10 min
It's possible some of the issues you're experiencing might be due to the Hard Drive. Faulty hard drives have the potential to disrupt Windows operations, opening files, transfer speeds, make a louder than normal mechanical noise, and even as extreme as shorting out the PC.
For a process of elimination, let's go through the steps to unplug the cables for your HDD and SSD if applicable.
Steps to Reseat the SATA Cables
Shut down & Unplug the PC
• Firstly, we want to make sure there isn't any power going to the system by turning the PC off, preferably in windows, or simply in an off state. Once the system is turned off, we want to flick the switch on the back of the power supply to the off position (0) so that we can safely unplug/reseat any cables that might require it.
Remove the Side Panel
• Next, we'll be unscrewing the side panel hiding the cable management behind the motherboard. This can depend on which chassis you have but most have 1-2 screws securing the panel. If you're unsure, feel free to look for your model in our teardown guides here.
Identify the HDD/SSD
• Once the panel is off and in a safe location, we need to identify where the Hard Drive (or in short: HDD) will likely be housed. This can also depend from chassis to chassis, but for Aftershock systems, this is usually located on the bottom left when facing towards the cables.
Unplug the SATA Cables
• Once the Hard Drive has been located, we want to unplug both the SATA Data and power cables going into the device.
• To unplug these safely, we'll start with the SATA Data cable first. Press down and hold the tab on the cable to release the lock on the pins, then gently pull until it comes out. Once done, we'll go to the SATA power cable which is simply a pull-out scenario.
What's Next?
Now that these cables have been taken out, feel free to leave the side panel off still whilst we plug everything back in and turn the PC back on.
If you still have issues or would like further assistance, feel free to reach out to our technical support team. We're here to help!
