sata installation/detection for winXP setup
 

iv'e tried everything from using the Silicon Image drivers during F6, to using Seagate's own DiscWizard Starter Edition(consists of a bootable iso), just to install my new sata. Windows XP setup sees the drive fine.. its just that when i try to create the partition it says that its not a valid windows partition ( i know i need to format it, but i already did through DiscWizard). Bios doesn't even recognize the damn thing.. It's connected to the main primary sata plug in the mobo, and the other 8 gig is connected as primary slave. XP recognizes the 8 gig fine, as does linux.. any clues?

*screams* don't #@^098 around with seagates disccrap...


you know what.. RTFM..


WTF, THAT 8 GIG DRIVE ISN'T SATA.. WHY IS IT SLAVE? :confused:

Are you installing XP onto the SATA, or do you have a working XP setup that you are trying to add a SATA drive to? If the latter, don't bother w/ the F6 thing, it's unnecessary.

As far as driver being on the floppy, what files are you putting there? If it's an *.exe or msi or something like that, you're using the wrong stuff. There are usually 2-3 basic files (i forget the extensions though .. no XP stuff around me atm). You should also make sure you are using the latest drivers.

As far as the BIOS goes, SATA drives don't show up in the normal BIOS. however, there may be an option to disabe/enable the SATA controller from the bios. Obviously, make sure it is enabled. Also, there may be a jumper on your mobo that can disable SATA, make sure it's set to enable as well (some computers may even have both). Where the drive should show up is in the SATA controller's own BIOS. These things vary wildly, but you'll usually press something like F2 or TAB to get into their bios after you pass the option for the mobo's BIOS. Go through there to make sure you have the drive setup properly.

Make sure you have power connected to the drive, and make sure there is only one power cord in the drive (if there's 2, you've probably fried your drive).

Let us know what happens after you do the F6 thing, if you are trying to install to the SATA.

good points to cover, but what I said still stands and might be the real problem...

Did you install your motherboard drivers? I never do, but with my very limited experience with SATA, I'm not sure if it would automatically recognize all the different DMA controllers and all (or whatever else).

Checking the bios to see if SATA is disabled.. oh and fyi this is a new installation of windows from dos, and you can't RTFM when it is OEM.. and online documentation is pretty vague.

Well, my bios doesn't have any option for SATA enableing/disabling, the closest thing i can find is "bootup other device", which is enabled. The jumper is already set to enable SATA. I'm now gonna play around with the onboard silicon image raid controller and try to fiddle with it..

you're going to play around with AND try to fiddle with... the raid controller.. pssst.. you aren't doing raid...

i know im not doing raid.. its the only place other than seagates utility where i can configure the drive... limitedly

the only thing you can do in the raid thing is create or delete arrays...

better than your pointless idea of "RTFM".. now please.. back off. Don't start the usual trouble, I'm just looking for a solution.

That first pic is especially horrible.

what motherboard is it? Also, what files are you putting on the floppy? is the floppy formatted properly? I know i had a problem with this once b/c my mobo had two places to enable boot from other devices in the bios, and it wasn't exactly obvious how to arrange them.

If it's not a BIOS issue, you can try installing to the 8gig disk, get the SATA controller working w/i windows, then image the 8gig drive over to the SATA drive. There may be an issue here of getting the SATA driver to work on boot, so I can't promise this will work, but it's a fairly quick process to install XP and image a drive and might be worth checking out.

Mod Note: if you don't have any technical HELP to give, don't bother posting.

I won't bother posting here anymore.. after my 2 or 3 suggestions meet a reply of mudslinging... I figured that cat one would stir it up a bit.. you guys seem to be pretty sensitive towards that stuff.. but desparate times call for desparate measures...

and if all else fails.. rma...

James, I'm using an Asus A7N8X Deluxe. I'm starting to think its a format issue. XP doesnt read a valid windows partition, so i like your idea of taking it to a preinstalled windows environment. The files on the floppy are SATA controller driver... win xp install doesnt detect my drive unless i press f6 and use the drivers.

The problem I saw with an image is that Windows would be trying to load the wrong drivers to run the HD.

Since Windows can see the drive, partition and format it in Windows, then yank out the other drive and install Windows to the already formatted partition on the SATA drive, which setup should then recognize if Windows does.

ill try that.. just finished installation of xp on the 8gig...

Well that worked.. using Seagate's software, I installed the drive, formatted it, and copied all files from 8 gig to 120 gig, all from windows. Pulled the 8gig drive out for now.. only way for SATA to boot up is if no other ide drives are connected (pretty weird). Thinking about getting UATA version of my drive, but meh.. oh and bios still doesn't find the drive.. it just says "none". But at least everything is up and running..

that is weird, considering sata doesn't = ide.......

oh really? :o :eyecrazy: :banghead:

you should still be able to have 2 or more drives in.. even if they are mixed.

I know, I was just pointing out the error in your wording.

They are on different channels, heck, they're on diff interfaces..

i know.. but it wasn't what i expected. i thought it would have been easier than this... but its ok.. 1 drive isn't so bad i guess.

throw that 8gb drive out the window ... on the freeway...


on your 3dmark link..
cheater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :stab: :hanged: :grimreaper: :redtounge: :browsmiley: :banghead: :banghead: :boohoo: :angryfire: :nono: :llama: :mischief: :nerd: :eyecrazy: :goof:

I know i was kinda surprised myself.. guess it detected the oc utilty, but i didnt even have the card oc'ed. meh.

edit: ahh n/m.. found out that its cause the driver isnt digitally signed.. gg bs...

gg don't read the message I posted the first time.. I guess they don't allow omega..... assuming that's what you were using...

as you would say: futuremark is "in bed" with ms.... :rofl:

as they are... ;)

Sorry to go back to the topic (just kidding), but I wanted to mention that your BIOS should allow you to control the boot order.

all this SATA stuff just ain't what it all cracked up to be in my experience.. kinda hard to manage multiple disk drives involving at least 1 sata.. i tried that vee_ess, but for some damn reason it doesn't work. soooooooooooo... I bought one of these today and did a rma refund: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...152-013&depa=0

:firedevil: with IDE raid... no matter how much it sucks.. at least it works... 8)

amen to that..