I'm finding that my Windows XP is failing to register my SATA internal hard-drive altogether. I see I need to download a specific driver for Windows XP and the only option is given via a floppy with no other default available on the BIOS.

This seems really strange to me, however I am using an OEM Seagate SATA 300GB and can't figure out how to interface it with a Gigabyte Dual Pro IDE/SATA board.

I'm way beyond my depth with this. Any ideas before my kit is out-dated by the time I learn how to assemble it?

It probably has to do with a BIOS setting.

You should consult your MOBO manual for BIOS settings.

What MOBO to you have?

OK a little off on your post, but I think I figured out what you are saying.

Let me Guess...

You built a new rig and it has a SATA card built in on the motherboard?

You are booting from the XP CD and it cant find the hard drive?

You need to first locate the floppy disk that came with your motherboard. (Shouls be labeled SATA driver.

If it didnt come with one then you need to take the CD that came with it and put it in a PC that is running. Locate the driver on the CD and copy it to a floppy disk.

Now boot from the XP CD. Tap the F6 when you see at the bottom (F6 to add 3rd party SCSI or RAID drivers.)

After it loads some more stuff it will prompt you to enter the floppy disk.

Insert the disk hit ??? I think its S to load the driver? pick the driver. hit enter.

It will load the driver.

(Note: when you copy the files from the CD to the floppy copy the contents of the directory not the full directory. OEMSETUP, all other files and all folders should be on the root or the floppy.)

This one is a Gigabyte Duo - forget the exact name, but it runs both IDE & SATA on socket 775...

If you can give the exact name of your MOBO, I could download your MOBO's manual from Gigabyte and maybe give you better advice.

Johns,

You're spot on. This is exactly what I'm struggling with. It's a new Gigabyte rig with a Seagate SATA 200-300GB hard drive.

1). The motherboard didn'tcome with a floppy drive - only a CD with multiple programs.

2). I don't have a working Windoze computer! My main one is down and I rely on a part-time lap-top. Otherwise, I'm an Apple user. This is just terrible isn't it? I have Linux, Apple and Windows, and I can't quite master any (except the Apple).

The drivers are actually available to download from the Seagate website, but none of the downloads actually work at the F6 option to add a 3rd party SCSI/Raid Driver.

I'll have to try and extract the exact file from the floppy, however I need the Gigabyte manual which I've loaned to someone to help me understand it (no luck).

It's incredible how troublesome it is just to get the driver. I'll try that step next.

I've never needed a driver for recognition of an IDE or SATA HDD.

I don't think that you do either. Your BIOS needs to be configured for SATA. If your MOBO model was known, I or ...... YOU could download the manual from Gigabyte and the instructions for doing this are probably in it.

Good luck!

I have installed Windows XP on many, many PC's, and I know that on 99% of them, you need a floppy disk with the drivers on to access SATA controllers.

Johns is 100% right. You MUST have got a disk with either RAID drivers or SATA drivers installed. If you didn't, the drivers will have to be downloaded from the internet. But one thing is certain: Windows XP (even SP2) doesn't see most mainboard's Serial ATA controllers. Only a few of the very early serial ATA controllers are picked up.

Impavidus

"The drivers are actually available to download from the Seagate website, but none of the downloads actually work at the F6 option to add a 3rd party SCSI/Raid Driver."

You dont need the driver from the seagate site.

You need the driver from the giga-byte site.

Is this your MOBO:

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-8I915P%20Duo%20Pro.htm

If so, go to his page:

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Motherboard/Support/Manual/Manual_GA-8I915P%20Duo%20Pro.htm

and download "ICH6R SATA(RAID) O.S. Installation Manual". In it will be the instructions I think you are looking for.