Where is my SATA????

[f1oored]

OK, I just got a new Maxtor 80GB SATA HD. I want to make it my primary drive for my OS (XP Pro). When I try to install windows, the computer doesn't see the new drive. I believe it is plugged in right but it didn't come with any instructions (OEM) so I might be missing something.

Here are my specs
XP2500+
Abit NF7-S V2
512MB Corsair XMS
2 IDE HDs 1x30GB 1X80GB
Maxtor 80GB Sata
Windows XP Pro
ATI 9600XT
Memorex DVD+-R

All help is welcome.

[thronka]

You need a SATA driver diskette in order for it to see the drive.

[f1oored]

OK I got one of those, what do I do with it? At what point of the install do I use it?

[doddsy]

u probably need to install a sata raid controller from a floppy during set up, when you will be promted to hit f6, for the drive to be recognised.............check out your mobo website for a pdf. manual and details of the type of raid controller..........probably VIA or promise.......then search for those raid drivers. you may also need a little instruction saved onto the floppy so that setup can read the folder with the raid drivers installed............if these atre not available on the mobo site.........get googling.......or maybe someone with a little more specifc know-how will read this.

luck

doddsy

[The Real Bingo]

When it asks you to hit F6 you plop in your mobo driver diskette and then follow the instructions the rest of the way, and that should do the trick.

[f1oored]

OK OK bear with me. I'm retarded. During the boot I hit f4 to enter the raid utility (the little SATA disk was in the drive). I have 5 options...
Create RAID set
Delete RAID set
Rebuild Mirror set
Resolve Conflicts
Low Level Format

I only have one SATA HDD so I'm not doing anything with Raid am I? This setup does see the new drive though. What next?

[doddsy]

at set up wen prompted hit F6 .............forget the raid utility

if you want to set up a raid array you can do that later.

if you install at f6 and keep going until installation is complete AND with this drive set as your first bootable HDD in your bios then at startup you will be asked which os you want to boot into.........after that if you want togo making raid arrays.........provided your mobo and raid controllers allow sata with ide.....u can download a VIA or pronmise Raid tool........

doddsy

[f1oored]

It took me a while to figure out that you guys were talking about hitting f6 during the windows setup (I kept hitting it during the boot). Anyhow, it seems to be working now. Jolly good. You were all very helpful.

It's people like all of you that make Techimo what it is! Thanks alot!

[Ritalin Kid]

Ok...

First.. check you motherboard manual.. there may be a setting in the CMOS that allows you to set your SATA controller to RAID or ATA. RAID being used for multiple hard drives on RAID and ATA for single drive use. If so set you SATA controller to ATA and upon boot it will not longer display a RAID setup option and instead just detect any usable drives on the SATA controller.

Second... In order for Window 2K or XP to make use of the drive on your SATA controller you will need a floppy disk with your basic Win2k and WinXP SATA controller drivers. Make sure your floppy has the full set of drivers including the txtsetup.oem file that the Win2K and WinXP setup needs to identify the available drivers on the disk. (Refer to you motherboard manual or to the manufacturer's website for details and drivers.)

Last.. When you first start to setup Win2K or WinXP via booting from the CD or floppies, when the blue screen first pops up at the bottom it will display "Press F6 if you need to install any additional SCSI devices" (or something along those lines.) As soon as you see this message at the bottom of the setup screen tap F6 2-3 times. Windows setup will continue to load drivers and eventually present a a screen asking you if you want specify additional SCSI drivers. Pop your floppy disk with the SATA drivers in and press S and Enter. Windows setup will scan the disk for drivers.. At this point if the txtsetup.oem file is not on the floppy disk with the drivers it will not find the drivers at all. If it does it will ask you which drivers to install (i.e. Win2K SATA or WinXP SATA). Choose the appropriate drivers and Windows will then continue with the rest of the initial setup.

NOTE: During the 2nd part of the Win2K and WinXP installation where it says "Installing Devices" you will probably be prompted once or twice by one of those "Warning, this device driver is not MS certified for windows blah blah:" just click Continue Anyway to make sure the drivers get installed properly.

[dr_roberts49]

I have XP Pro, all current on my updates. I got a Maxtor 160 GB SATA from Newegg a couple of months ago. All I did was connect it. My BIOS found it (I have an ABIT IS7 mobo) and I did the format through XP. Didn't have to jump through any hoops. I did have a prep disk on hand, just in case, but I never had to use it.

Robert

PS

It was on this very forum, that I was advised to do what I did, and it worked.