Installing Windows XP SP2 to SATA Drive

[webjunkie]

Hello, I have a Mach Speed MK8-939A motherboard with a AMD Sempron 3.0g, VIA chip set and two Serial ATA Connectors. The motherboard spec. says it has a PCI to SATA controller with 2 channels SATA interface that satisfies the SATA 1.0 spec and with a transfer rate of 1.5Gb/s. I have heard that some people have had trouble installing Windows XP to thier SATA drive. Can anyone give me some advice on how to load my OS the easy way?

[Syd]

My understanding is that XP requires Sata drivers before it can recognise a sata HD, these are loaded in the first windows setup process, however you can create an XP install that includes the Sata drivers on CD.

[gman1981]

You need to press F6 when prompted and provide the Win XP install with a driver floppy disk for the SATA drive.

[charleski]

If you have another XP box up and running you could try creating a slipstreamed install CD that carries the SATA drivers along with the rest of XP. Here's a walkthrough on how to do that, though nlite is an easier method.

[PanzerKnight]

You need to press F6 when prompted and provide the Win XP install with a driver floppy disk for the SATA drive.

This is what I do, works fine. If you don't you will get an error during the install

[maverick77_uk]

Hi,

Usually, the CD-ROM that came with your MoBo with the drivers etc on will also have your SATA drivers. Quite often, you need to boot from the CD (by selecting the CD drive as your boot device) and it will then ask you for a floppy disk for it to format and put the SATA drivers on. This floppy is then what you need to give WinXP when prompted, as it does not have any of its own SATA drivers. VISTA apparently does though, so HOPEFULLY, this process won't be needed with that....

[johnny02004976]

i used nlite to pre-install the drivers to my Windows installation and boot the drivers that way

[webjunkie]

Yes i know about the F6 button, I just thought there maybe an easier way. I don't understand why it is so hard to install windows to a sata drive, you would think by now they would come up with a drive that you don't need to fight to install windows on. If anyone comes up with a step-by-step please private message me. Thanks.

[Taz]

I've never needed to install any SATA drivers to get XP onto my WD Raptors. My BIOS has two modes for the SATA interface: IDE and RAID. When set to IDE, XP just detects the drives as IDE drives. Of course, if using the 2 Raptors in RAID mode, I would have to install the RAID drivers by pressing F6 udring the XP install.

[Waka]

I've never needed to hit F6 or have special sata drivers ready if I install XP from the windows CD that already has SP2 included.

W.

[nvening]

Alot of motherboards will just work as windows has some sata support (mabe added in a service pack)

[webjunkie]

Thanks Waka and nvening. My Window XP Pro. does come with SP2. I also have a CD that came with my MOBO and it should have all the drives and controllers i need, at least i hope so. I'am in the process of building a new pc, I'am installing a SATA drive because it is the next gen. of drivers. Wish my luck...........