How to fix SATA Device error code 10?

[Ramirez]

I am facing a weird problem with my computer. Previously I had Windows Vista operating system installed on the computer which I degraded to Windows XP service pack 3 but after installing Windows Xp, the system is not detecting all the SATA hard drives. It gives an error message saying "Sata drive :- Error code (10). Cannot start device". Does this mean the hard drive is faulty? I cant figure out How to fix SATA Device error code 10 and hence need your help. Any suggestions/solutions are more than welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Aandaleeb151]

The operating system on the computer must not be installed properly due to which you are facing such problems. The operating system of the computer is responsible for controlling all the functions which are performed by computer. Operating system of the computer consist of lot of files. If any of the files which is associated to the operating system is corrupt or missing on the computer, then the operating system will not work properly. If you have the install disk, insert it in the drive and install the operating system again on the computer. Once the operating system is reinstalled, you will not face such problems.

[KABIRA16]

Check the all the connection from the motherboard to the hard drive of the computer. The problem which you are facing can be due to lose connection of wires. If the hard drive is not getting enough power or if the sata cord from the hard drive to the motherboard is lose then the communication between the hard drive and the motherboard will not be proper and hence will give rise to such errors. Therefore open the computer and check all the connections to the hard drive. To be sure, remove all the wires and make the connection again. See if the problem is solved or not.

[Heather5]

Sometimes the BIOS of the computer is not able to detect the SATA drive which is connected to the computer. If such a situation occurs then the computer will not be able to access the drive and hence will give error 10 message. Such problem is sometimes solved by changing the BIOS settings of the computer. While booting the computer, press del or F2 key. When the BIOS setup is visible, go to hardware peripheral section and in SATA option, select "Emulate as IDE". Now press F10 and Y to save and apply the settings. The computer will restart and will hopefully detect all the SATA drives connected to the computer.

[Fabian]

You must have not installed the SATA drivers for the motherboard due to which the hard drives are not detected by the computer. Service pack 3 of Windows XP, requires the SATA drivers to be installed separately. All the devices which are connected to the computer, require a set of drivers to be installed. If the appropriate drivers are not installed then the device will not work properly. To see if the appropriate drivers are installed and working on the computer, right click on my computer and select Device manager. Highlight the SATA controller and check if there are any caution signs. Follow troubleshooting procedure if there are any caution signs. If troubleshooting does not help, then try and update the drivers for the SATA controller.

[RoninBlade]

Windows displays the Device could not start error 10, when the hard drive is detected as the dynamic disks and not as basic disk. To solve such issue, you will have to convert the dynamic disks into basic disk. To convert the hard drive to basic disk, you will require an application known as Paragon drive manager. Download and install the application on the computer and then convert the dynamic disks into basic drive using the application. Once all the drives are converted into basic drives, all the hard drives will be in working state.