SATA Format and Partition

[Zak33]

Hi guys

New build going on here, with Asus SLI mobo and SATA drive.

I was expecting to have to hit F8 and use a floppy to add SATA drivers for XP to recognise the HDD.

But this brand new XP SP2 version seems to have them already built in as we're straight into a format after the partition.

Should we stop it and create a floppy with Asus SATA drivers on it, (have the CD) or just let it carry on? Basically: Are the ASUS SATA drivers likely to be better than the XP version?

Bearing in mind this is prior to XP install and obviously Mobo drivers will go on later.

Cheers peeps

[directhex]

i've had no problems with the built-in support for my Via K8T890's SATA (on XPSP2 or XP64SP1)

[Zak33]

well it installed ok but the Hard Drive showed as a Removable Drive (like a USB drive) in the bottom right of the screen.

It wouldn't let us disconnect it (naturally) but none the less it wasnt right, so we're formatting using the driver floppy.

Under hard drive properties it also showed options such as auto play (like a CD or USB drive).

[directhex]

how odd O_o

presumably that board has multiple SATA controllers (usually an Nvidia and a Silicon Image) - which are you using?

[Zak33]

i think its only nvidia, though it supports RAID and also RAID on IDE.

we pmade the floppy using the Asus CD rom and its formatting right now. But it is odd. I thought I'd got away lightly but it wasnt right! so its being done again.

[directhex]

i think its only nvidia, though it supports RAID and also RAID on IDE.

we pmade the floppy using the Asus CD rom and its formatting right now. But it is odd. I thought I'd got away lightly but it wasnt right! so its being done again.

it'd be fine on linux, y'know

[mike_w]

I thought SATA drives sometimes show up because they are removable? i.e. hotpluggable.

[Zak33]

they do but I'd rather it didnt show like that.

Part two: We installed using the SATA drive AND the RAID driver...and after another hour, and Windows is in, it wont boot to the fist Windows stage.

Looks like we should'nt have put the RAID driver in as well as the SATA driver.

ANyone else think I'm right or wrong before we do this again?

[theuncharmed]

I had plenty of fun with the same mobo some weeks ago.

I installed the correct drivers and still have the hot plug icon at the bottom.

Also any SATA drive is treated as an IDE drive until you get the drivers sorted with the F6 floppy job.

oh and I hope you've set the drive to Large and not LBA (presuming its over 120gb) in the BIOS.

[RavenNight]

I am using the Deluxe so it may be diff but before i was RAIDed up i used the drives seperately, I didn't bother with any drivers or anything just installed windows all the way through.

[Paul Adams]

they do but I'd rather it didnt show like that.

Part two: We installed using the SATA drive AND the RAID driver...and after another hour, and Windows is in, it wont boot to the fist Windows stage.

Looks like we should'nt have put the RAID driver in as well as the SATA driver.

ANyone else think I'm right or wrong before we do this again?

Windows queries buses and the BIOS and enumerates attached devices, the devices (via the drivers) report their capabilities (e.g. caching, offloading, power saving, hot-plugability, etc.)
I would guess that the controller presents the information which appears to indicate a removable device.

I have an Asus A8N-SLI Premium system but my Raptors are RAID0 (on nVidia) - they also appear in the "Safely Remove Hardware" dialogue box.

I only use the F6 method for installing 3rd party drivers that are required during installation - you can always install the vendor-specific drivers once Windows is installed, which sometimes add features not available in the built-in driver support (such as write-behind caching).

Sometimes installing 3rd party drivers causes issues such as bugchecks due to firmware dependencies - might be worth checking you are on the latest BIOS and have the latest chipset drivers installed before going ahead with SATA driver updates.

[Agent]

Zak, that’s fine, its how it should be
SATA is hot-swappable. Windows will probably insist that it tells you that.
There is probably a reg hack to change it for that drive though. Ill have a look around tomorrow, time allowing.

[Zak33]

cheers guys

this thing FLIES

[badass]

they do but I'd rather it didnt show like that.

Part two: We installed using the SATA drive AND the RAID driver...and after another hour, and Windows is in, it wont boot to the fist Windows stage.

Looks like we should'nt have put the RAID driver in as well as the SATA driver.

ANyone else think I'm right or wrong before we do this again?

You either install the SATA driver or the RAID driver. Or you get what's just happeed to you

[Zak33]

nope....tried just the SATA driver this time around. It still shows the "remove" icon, bottom right

We're getting used to it...it doesnt show in Q4

[Zak33]

badass...just realised you were commenting on the second error I had...and you're right