SATA drivers/Windows install/ AMD 939 NF4

[Zakman3]

Here's the new comp config:

AMD 3200+
Asus A8N-E
Seagate 160GB SATA
1 GB Corsair VS
MSI Radeon X800XL
LG 52x CDRW
Windows XP Pro

Trying to install Windows. Setup hangs with the message "Setup is starting Windows". Tried making SATA driver disk with supplied Asus CD as described in FAQ, and pressing F6 to load SATA drivers. No good: Windows CD can't see the HDD no matter what I do. I've tried several sets of SATA disks: the Sil114 NV 32 bit, 64 bit, and the "Make a Disk" function in Windows that loads a Raid and Sil driver.

Also tried partitioning my HDD with Seagate's utility to make it less than 137 GB.

Setup tells me it can't find any disk drives. The drive does show up in BIOS though. Would do a BIOS update but the Asus website seems to only have the "release" BIOS for this board. Do you guys have any suggestions? Thanks!

Zak

 

[ohnnyj]

If you are not doing RAID you do not need to make a disk.

 

[Zakman3]

I understand that, and I've read that having a single HDD automatically disables the RAID controller anyway, so why does Windows refuse to see the drive?

 

[mechBgon]

1) what service-pack level is your WinXP Pro, out of curiosity?

2) in the BIOS under ADVANCED > NVRAID CONFIGURATION, is it set to Disabled there?

 

[Zakman3]

1/ The disc I'm using is SP1

2/ Yes, it is disabled.

 

[Zakman3]

mechBgon,

Having just read your hilarious SATA page, I remain virtually convinced I'm doing something wrong with those SATA diskettes, so I'm off to give it another try. Thanks!

EDIT: Here are exact details of what I've tried with no luck so far. While the manual doesn't seem to mention any SATA setup (beyond the standard "plug in and it shalt work" type), the Asus site does have the following information:

http://www.asus.com/support/faq/qanda.aspx?KB_ID=100091769

I've made and tried the disks for both 32 and 64 bit Sil3114 controllers, with no success.

 

[Zakman3]

Anyone?

 

[ohnnyj]

So when you do not load the SATA drivers and let the setup go through does anything show up after you hig F8 to agree to the EULA?

 

[Zakman3]

When I do not load the SATA drivers, it hangs on "Setup is starting windows" and never gets to the EULA screen.

When I load the SATA drivers, it also hangs up on that screen. Tried the Sil3114 64 and 32 bit drivers, the Asus "Make Disk" utility in the chipset folder, and the NVRAID Nvidia storage controller diskette made from booting to the motherboard CD. All hang at that point.

 

[genius99]

I am having a similar problem too

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=32&threadid=1560623&enterthread=y

 

[helpmeout]

I believe you need the drivers for SATA on this mobo. It's my understanding that only the Intel chip is recognized by XP, and that the others require the drivers.

 

[Zakman3]

Genius99,

I'm not trying to use RAID, just a single drive connected to SATA-1.

Regarding your steps, I have:

1/Disabled Raid
2/Formatted my drive, cleared MBR, etc
3/Not configured the RAID utility because I only have the single drive
4/Tried loading every storage driver I can find with no luck

Helpmeout: Fair enough. Any idea on how to find SATA drivers? The ones on the disk all keep hanging in Setup. I'm at a loss here

 

[helpmeout]

I think it should be the drivers for the NForce chip that you need. Try this site for Asus mobo spt: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=87

I have an ASUS P4P800E which has an Intel chip, so it set up right out of the box. Bought this to replace an Abit IS7 which I never could set up to run SATA.

 

[Zakman3]

Thanks for the heads-up on the site. Will try there.

Regards,
Zak

 

[ohnnyj]

I have an nForce 4 based A8N and never had to install SATA drivers, I did however have to install RAID drivers. One thing I do have, though, is an XP SP2 CD.

 

[mechBgon]

Besides the thought of the SP2 CD, also is your memory getting enough voltage and is your PSU a decent brand, with adequate wattage (particularly on the 12V rail) and the ATX12V auxiliary plug hooked up (and the plug for your video card if it takes one too)?

 

[Zakman3]

mechBgon,

I am waiting on a copy of Nero that will allow me to slipstream SP2.

My case is an Antec Sonata with a 380W PSU, I think it says it's providing 11.64 on the 12v rail? I'm filling zeroes on the seagate drive on that rig at the moment and can't check.

Yes, the ATX12V connector is plugged in. The video card is an X800XL and requires no additional connectors.

 

[helpmeout]

Go to Google and find Auto Streamer (I think by Neowin). Free, very simple, fast. I've slipstreamed several XP disks with it now, and they're fine.