Hi, I have trauled the forums but unfortunately didn't find the exact issue I was looking for, plus as Im writing this during lunch, I don't have too long to search.

My question is this:

I have purchased a new system that Im building myself (AMD 64 3500+, 1GB RAM, SATA 120GB WD Hard Disk, Asus A8V MoBo) and have heard that there are occaisionally problems getting the SATA hard disk to be recognised.

Here is a quote I found from someone online and wanted to know if this info is accurate.

"If you set the RAID mode to IDE (which will make these SATA IDE ports, rather than capable of supporting a RAID 0 / 1 / 0+1 mode), you still have to install the proper RAID driver when installing WinXP for the first time -- the reason your MB doesn't see the HD in the bios, even when you are connected is because the Promise controller (the _RED_ SATA connections) and the VIA designed controller (the _BLACK_ SATA connections) still require their own drivers in order for Windows to see them. They are not a part of the normal EIDE array on the MB.. "

So, a) do I NEED to set the single SATA disk to an IDE controller?

and b) I presume the SATA drivers for the cables to be recognised for XP (when setting the EIDE array) are located on the CD supplied with the mobo?

I wan't too sure and need to ask as when I start building, my other computer is being sold to buy my processor, so I'll have no Internet access for further help.

Any help would be much appreciated, I know that I could have maybe been more descriptive, but I'm on a tight schedule.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Alex

Hi,
With your mobo you should get a floppy disk with your sata/raid drivers.

When you first boot up, go into the bios and make sure you boot from your cd-rom .. then re-boot.. your pc should boot from your cd-rom and go the the procedure for loading in windows.... But.!!! Before this you have to look for " Press f6 to load third party drivers " or something to that effect.. Make sure you spot it because if your not quick enough you will miss it...

You will then go through the procedure of loading in your "sata/raid" drivers..

Once you have done this it will then go through the procedure to load in windows..

You need to do this because your mobo needs drivers to see your sata HDD in order to load in windows...
With out this windows will load to a certain point and want to re-boot and start-up from your HDD .. so what you will get is a blank screen becuase it cant see your HDD..

Hope this was some help..

..................

Abit NF7s V2.0 Mobo
Radeon 9800xt 256mb,
xp2500 mobile @ 208x12.5,
Antec True 550w psu,
2X512 xms corsair Pc3500 in dual channel,
Twin 10k Raptors (raided)
waterchill cooled..

Thanks very much Overclocking Freak, that has pretty much cleared it up for me.

Great work!

Alex

Actually, one more thing.

You mentioned that I would need a floppy disk to install the SATA, but one wasn't supplied with the SATA disk, and it was brand new.

Are there files that I can copy off of the CD-ROM onto Floppy disk for the SATA drivers?

Thanks again,

Alex

There should be a sata driver disk (floppy) with the motherboard..? If there is'nt you should be able to download them and copy them to a floppy..

Or you can check to see if there on the cdrom.. and then go from there...

But from experience you should have to load in the drivers before anything else to enable the motherboard to see the sata HDD

.................

Abit NF7s V2.0 Mobo
Radeon 9800xt 256mb,
xp2500 mobile @ 208 x 12.5,
Antec true 550w psu,
2X512 xms corsair Pc3500 in dual channel,
Twin 10k Raptors (raided)
waterchill cooled..

You dont need any drivers to make a SATA work as a standalone drive. The drivers are for a RAID array and so is the F6 option.

Grab the install tools from the drive Mfg's Website (they all have them) if you are having trouble. It will setup the drive for you so you can install Windows more easily.

Jimi_l

Thanks again guys.

I'll take a look on the CD-ROM I get for the drivers.

Jimi_1, I have an Asus A8V mobo, these are wicked, but renowned for not picking up the SATA hard-disk, even when set as a single disk. Thats why these mobos need the drivers.

I'll try setting as SATA in BIOS, but if it only gives me SATA RAID options, I may have to set it as a standard IDE hard disk interface.

Cheers guys, great help both of you!

Al

I was having the same problem so I downloaded the drivers from
http://www.viaarena.com/Default.aspx?PageID=2
Extract on a harddrive then load them on a floppy .On your new system push F6 (you have to be quick) then S and it finds the driver and you proceed to formatmat the disk as normal.
Hope this helps someone as I was pulling hair :)