Installing SATA hard drives in Win XP Pro

I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly

In article , "flycat" says...

I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly


I'm too tired to look it up in the manual for you but here it is from memory.
Keep in mind that I didn't do this with my A7N8X-DX so if you really want expert
advice I would suggest you google or go to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus

Anyway, your SATA is enabled by default with jumpers on the mobo. You will have
to go into the bios and set SCSI as your first boot device and cd second after
the install of XP to get it to see the SATA drive.

Proceed to install XP and when Windows asks if you have any drivers to load
choose F6. Make sure that you have the SATA drivers on a floppy from ASUS. If
you don't they are on your installation CD, copy them to a floppy.

After hitting F6 put the floppy in and let Windows copy the drivers. After it
copies the drivers remove the floppy and let Windows finish the installation.

Everything else should be normal XP install. Since your bios is set to boot
from SCSI ( that's how XP sees the SATA drive ) it should boot to the SATA
drive.

Remember, this is from the top of my head so RTFM. and the pdf instructions on
the ASUS disc before proceeding, in case I left something out.

Good luck and sorry if this isn't exact.

Ed

Hi flycat

Nothing is too weird when it comes to Asus implementation of SATA... ;o)

Ed's instructions just about cover it... although setting 'SCSI' as first
boot device will only be necessary after XP has been installed.. up to that
point second on the list will be fine.

Follow the instructions for pressing F6 to specify third-party drivers when
prompted.. that's the Silicon Image drivers.. they'll be available on the
Asus CD or download them from the Asus website. And you'll need them
available on a floppy disk for this part. It may take a while for the XP
install to respond but don't worry it'll work through.

Only additional suggestions would be to make sure you have the latest system
BIOS from Asus for your mainboard.

hope that helps
Pete
-----------------------

"flycat" wrote in message
...
I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly

Hi, whenever I have installed windows on a Asus Sata motherboard I have
always set the first drive as the SCSI one, works fine....
Chris
"Pete Baker" petebkrAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message
...
Hi flycat

Nothing is too weird when it comes to Asus implementation of SATA... ;o)

Ed's instructions just about cover it... although setting 'SCSI' as first
boot device will only be necessary after XP has been installed.. up to
that
point second on the list will be fine.

Follow the instructions for pressing F6 to specify third-party drivers
when
prompted.. that's the Silicon Image drivers.. they'll be available on the
Asus CD or download them from the Asus website. And you'll need them
available on a floppy disk for this part. It may take a while for the XP
install to respond but don't worry it'll work through.

Only additional suggestions would be to make sure you have the latest
system
BIOS from Asus for your mainboard.

hope that helps
Pete
-----------------------

"flycat" wrote in message
...
I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly

Hi Chris

Well I didn't say it wouldn't work... it makes perfect sense that it
should... but, since 'flycat' has previously described attempting to install
XP after a mainboard swap using a burned copy of, hopefully, his original XP
install disk, I thought it best to state a step-by-step procedure to try to
eliminate the risk of any other short-cuts being attempted.

Pete
------------------------------

"Chris C" wrote in message
...
Hi, whenever I have installed windows on a Asus Sata motherboard I have
always set the first drive as the SCSI one, works fine....
Chris
"Pete Baker" petebkrAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message
...
Hi flycat

Nothing is too weird when it comes to Asus implementation of SATA... ;o)

Ed's instructions just about cover it... although setting 'SCSI' as
first
boot device will only be necessary after XP has been installed.. up to
that
point second on the list will be fine.

Follow the instructions for pressing F6 to specify third-party drivers
when
prompted.. that's the Silicon Image drivers.. they'll be available on
the
Asus CD or download them from the Asus website. And you'll need them
available on a floppy disk for this part. It may take a while for the
XP
install to respond but don't worry it'll work through.

Only additional suggestions would be to make sure you have the latest
system
BIOS from Asus for your mainboard.

hope that helps
Pete
-----------------------

"flycat" wrote in message
...
I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly

In article , "Pete says...

Hi Chris

Well I didn't say it wouldn't work... it makes perfect sense that it
should... but, since 'flycat' has previously described attempting to install
XP after a mainboard swap using a burned copy of, hopefully, his original XP
install disk, I thought it best to state a step-by-step procedure to try to
eliminate the risk of any other short-cuts being attempted.

Pete
------------------------------

"Chris C" wrote in message
...
Hi, whenever I have installed windows on a Asus Sata motherboard I have
always set the first drive as the SCSI one, works fine....
Chris
"Pete Baker" petebkrAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message
...
Hi flycat

Nothing is too weird when it comes to Asus implementation of SATA... ;o)

Ed's instructions just about cover it... although setting 'SCSI' as
first
boot device will only be necessary after XP has been installed.. up to
that
point second on the list will be fine.

Follow the instructions for pressing F6 to specify third-party drivers
when
prompted.. that's the Silicon Image drivers.. they'll be available on
the
Asus CD or download them from the Asus website. And you'll need them
available on a floppy disk for this part. It may take a while for the
XP
install to respond but don't worry it'll work through.

Only additional suggestions would be to make sure you have the latest
system
BIOS from Asus for your mainboard.

hope that helps
Pete
-----------------------

"flycat" wrote in message
...
I've been trying to get my Serial ATA Western Digital 36GB
hard drive to install windows but my trouble is that BIOS
does not detect the SATA HD. I think it's because it's
SATA and not IDE and therefore does not detect it. My MB
is a Asus A7n8x Deluse and supports SATA so it's kinda
weird I can't find any SATA options in BIOS right?

Anyway I'd like to ask if anyone know's where one is, or
can make a dummies guide to installing and loading windows
XP pro on a SATA drive.

I've been doing a little reading and I've read about a
controller, is it like SCSI? Do I need a special PCI card
for the SATA Hard drive or is the SATA drive, a data
cable, and power cable for SATA enough? I have the jumps
enable for SATA support.

TO use SATA is it much like an IDE HD or do I have to have
2 SATA drives and enable RAID stuff?

Do I have to put a dos dics in my floppy and load dos so I
can FDISK and make partitions and format? I thought
windows setup did this but when I use my XP CD for
installing it doesn't let me install or use the recovery
console because it says there is not a hard disc.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fly




Thanks for the assist, gentlemen. Like I said, I posted this late and wasn't
sure I remembered everything, especially the boot order. I think that you
prolly should go with cd first for the install and then change after
installation to SCSI but I'm not sure that matters. I would think it could be
either way as along as SCSI is 1 or 2 in the boot sequence.

What usually creates havoc for most people is not loading the drivers at the
prompt. The other point of confusion is the use of the term SCSI by XP.
The OP shouldn't feel bad about asking though, it's been a point of confusion
since the board was introduced.

Ed

"Ed_" wrote in message ...

edit
Thanks for the assist, gentlemen. Like I said, I posted this late and
wasn't
sure I remembered everything, especially the boot order. I think that you
prolly should go with cd first for the install and then change after
installation to SCSI but I'm not sure that matters. I would think it
could be
either way as along as SCSI is 1 or 2 in the boot sequence.

What usually creates havoc for most people is not loading the drivers at
the
prompt. The other point of confusion is the use of the term SCSI by XP.
The OP shouldn't feel bad about asking though, it's been a point of
confusion
since the board was introduced.

Ed


As I said to begin with, Ed, you had it pretty well covered anyway. You're
right that putting the SATA drive as 1 or 2 in the boot order shouldn't
really matter, after all in the initial install XP won't see the SATA drive
without the SATA drivers until after the CD kicks in.

The only other point I'd make is that, despite the fact that XP does regard
SATA as a certain breed of SCSI connection, it's really down to the
mainboard manufacturer to identify it correctly. Many do, my own Intel
board being one.

Asus are extremely idiosyncratic, to be polite about it, when it comes to
SATA. I've helped posters here who have reported Asus insisting on Silicon
Image SATA Raid controllers being used when a single SATA drive is
installed - even though SI's SATALink was available.

Anyway, we'll find out if 'flycat' gets it sorted eventually.

Cheers
Pete
------------