Is there a good reason for MS not including SATA drivers with XP Pro X64?

[timswim78]

For fun, I downloaded the trial version of XP X64 and tried to install it on my Suse box, which is an Ahtlon 64 box with an Nforce3 Chipset and an SATA harddrive. I was disappointed when the XP installation menu told me that it could not install Windows because it could not find a hard drive. Now, this is a compact SFF PC, and there is no room for a floppy in it, and I think that it is ridiculous to have to purchase one of the most antiquated pieces of computer technology to run what is supposed to be one of the most cutting-edge OS's out there.

Is there a valid reason, such as some major technical hurdle, that is preventing MS from including SATA drivers for one of the most popular chipsets?

To me it seems ridiculous that I have been able to install multiple open-source OS's on this system without a floppy and that XP X64 requires a floppy.

 

[mechBgon]

I installed WinXP Pro x64 Edition on an nForce3 system's native SATA controller (in non-RAID mode) with no additional drivers needed. What SFF is it, and is its SATA controller native nF3 in non-RAID mode, or is it some add-on Promise or Silicon Image one? Some mobos, such as my K8N-E Deluxe, have one of each, at which point it matters which plugs you use.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I installed WinXP Pro x64 Edition on an nForce3 system's native SATA controller (in non-RAID mode) with no additional drivers needed. What SFF is it, and is its SATA controller native nF3 in non-RAID mode, or is it some add-on Promise or Silicon Image one? Some mobos, such as my K8N-E Deluxe, have one of each, at which point it matters which plugs you use.

It is an Ideq 200P. The SATA is based on the VIA VT6420 chipset. So, I'm guessing that the SATA is not native NF3?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: timswim78

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I installed WinXP Pro x64 Edition on an nForce3 system's native SATA controller (in non-RAID mode) with no additional drivers needed. What SFF is it, and is its SATA controller native nF3 in non-RAID mode, or is it some add-on Promise or Silicon Image one? Some mobos, such as my K8N-E Deluxe, have one of each, at which point it matters which plugs you use.

It is an Ideq 200P. The SATA is based on the VIA VT6420 chipset. So, I'm guessing that the SATA is not native NF3?

If it were native nF3 then you wouldn't have needed to post this thread Let me see if I can scrounge up some documentation on it. But I see your point about how it would've been nice to add more 3rd-party storage drivers to x64 edition.

 

[mechBgon]

You searched for : ( ideq 200p )
This Search found 0 result.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

You searched for : ( ideq 200p )
This Search found 0 result.

Thanks for looking into this mechbgon.

Here is a screenshot of my Bios. Does this give you any useful information?
http://bibo.us/bios-sata.jpg

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: timswim78

Originally posted by: mechBgon

You searched for : ( ideq 200p )
This Search found 0 result.

Thanks for looking into this mechbgon.

Here is a screenshot of my Bios. Does this give you any useful information?
http://bibo.us/bios-sata.jpg

I was hoping to get the owner's manual in .PDF format, but Biostar seems to have disowned the 200P or something. What I'm after is something like this pic from a Gigabyte manual: http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mechBgon/Gigabyte939.gif

 

[timswim78]

The manual is on this page:
http://www.biostar-usa.com/mbdownloads.asp?model=IDEQ%20200P

Just a few lines down....

 

[mechBgon]

Cool, /me downloads it. What I was thinking might be revealed is whether the VIA chiplet is the actual controller, or just a PHY that is used by the nForce3 controller. In the Gigabyte pic I linked above, you see the two gigabit LAN's for example. One's a full PCI network interface in its own right (the diagram shows it hung on the PCI bus) while the other is just the physical interface that the native nF3 network controller uses (not PCI).

Peter would be a much better resource to ask but I'll scope out the manual and see what it says. Not that it'll get you past the floppy impasse

 

[mechBgon]

I don't see anything helpful in the manual. If I had a dime for every hour I've spent trying (in vain) to help people get Windows Setup to work on VIA SATA controllers, I could be having pizza right now. Since replacing the mobo isn't an option for you, maybe you have an ATA/100 drive you could throw in there?

 

[timswim78]

Thanks for the help. I guess that I'll just hold off on trying out Windows for now. Maybe there will be some better support with future releases... Or maybe I'll come across a decent deal on a USB floppy drive

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Can't find the particular mag right at the moment, But i remember MaximumPC doing an article on how to slipstream your SATA drivers into your WinXP disc. Granted, it was for the 32 bit version, but should still work the same for this purpose..

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Aha...Here it is..

 

[hclarkjr]

here is a litte easiar method for you to try link!!