Seagate SATA2 help needed

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vampirotoothus

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Hi all

I got a Seagate 250Gb SATA2 drive on Monday and sure as hell, I can't get it installed!

If works fine IN Windows, but I would like Windows installed ON it. After booting with the Windows CD and it going through all its things before the setup stars, it tells me it can't find any harddrives!

I've tried EVERYTHING and asked people I know, but still it doesn't work. So though maybe one of you clever people might be able to help me:p ? This is my first SATA based drive that I'm installing...

Please help

Thanks!
 
F6

F6?
Or am I missing something?

Windows SP1 and later should detect SATA drives unless they are in Raid?
I think?
Maybe even needs to be enabled in the Bios?
 
well you only press f6 is your running raid as far as i know or if you installing windowx with sp 1

get a sp2 cd from a friend

also look for a setting in the bios that says raid or sata make sure its on sata
 
Not all SATA controllers require drivers during the Windows install (e.g. NForce4).

What motherboard do you have ?
 
Last edited:
depends what board you have. Ie my board has 4 Sata ports. Two which are hot swappable,and the other two that emulates with the IDE ports.

It would be helpful if you could supply us with your motherboard name and model so we can look it up and advize you on bios settings (which i think is likely all it is)
 
Yup...need mobo model. I have an Asus K8V mobo with 4 SATA ports, all of which require F6 to install SATA drivers for windows.
 
dualmeister said:
Not all SATA controllers require drivers during the Windows install (e.g. NForce4).

What motherboard do you have ?
Click to expand...

I have a Asus A8N32SLI Deluxe mobo (NForce4)... It works IN windows, but I would like to make it my primary drive and install Windows on it, but during the installation, where you chose on which partition you would like to install Windows, it doesn't show the SATA drive. Only the 2 IDE drives...:eek:
 
Thanks!

I got the problem fixed! YAY! Was a BIOS setting...it was set to RAID and not SATA! I think thats what solved the problem. I did a whole lot of things in one sweep, so it mighty have been something else:confused:

O well! Its working! Thanks for the help:D
 
I thought that perhaps you needed to start the XP installation by loading SATA drivers first.

I recently installed a Seagate SATA300 in my PC too. Not wanting to reinstall all my software, I downloaded Seagate's DiscWizard tool. I used this to allocate new partitions and then copy my current C: to the new drive (into a larger partition too). The software is very easy to use and did everything I needed, including setting the new C: to active and everything.

Since I'd installed SATA drivers in order to prepare the drive, I had no problems at all. The easiest hard-disk replacement that I've done in ages!
:D
 
vampirotoothus said:
I have a Asus A8N32SLI Deluxe mobo (NForce4)... It works IN windows, but I would like to make it my primary drive and install Windows on it, but during the installation, where you chose on which partition you would like to install Windows, it doesn't show the SATA drive. Only the 2 IDE drives...:eek:
Click to expand...

I have the same motherboard and WindowsXP with SP2 installs no problem without needing any additional drivers. So does WindowsXP 64 Bit and Windows Vista Beta 2. If you use the Silicon Image SATA ports then you will need drivers.
 
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dualmeister said:
I have the same motherboard and WindowsXP with SP2 installs no problem without needing any additional drivers. So does WindowsXP 64 Bit and Windows Vista Beta 2. If you use the Silicon Image SATA ports then you will need drivers.
Click to expand...

Ok so I got it working, BUT the problem is it will ONLY worl if I have an IDE drive in??? How can you explain that? Before installation I need the IDE haddrive in and after...this is becoming a headache!I've tried the DiskWizard as well, but even THAT can't detect the the drive.

Very, very weird!
 
vampirotoothus said:
Ok so I got it working, BUT the problem is it will ONLY worl if I have an IDE drive in??? How can you explain that? Before installation I need the IDE haddrive in and after...this is becoming a headache!I've tried the DiskWizard as well, but even THAT can't detect the the drive.

Very, very weird!
Click to expand...

Hmmm... have you tried disabling the IDE drives and drive-controllers in your BIOS? Why waste time autodetecting drives that aren't there?

Just don't disable the controller and detection for any CD or DVD-ROM drives!
 
flarkit said:
Hmmm... have you tried disabling the IDE drives and drive-controllers in your BIOS? Why waste time autodetecting drives that aren't there?

Just don't disable the controller and detection for any CD or DVD-ROM drives!
Click to expand...

Nice idea! I'll try that one...;)
 
Successsssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

Working at last! Was a BIOS setting...Now I can enjoy it!:D
 
What BIOS setting was it vampiro? We'd love to know for future reference :)
 
It was the IDE configuration...SATA was not enabled, but the Windows I had also did not pick the HDD up by its self...new version of Win XP SP2 (2005) worked just fine!

SATA is always master Dualmeister...
 
Hey.

What M/Board are u using? I use an Intel D955XBK motherboard, and using SATA1 and SATA2. I am running a 3rd Party RAID controller (from Intel).

Try the following:

--> Check ur BIOS settings to c if your SATA settings comply with the SATA2 standards (Try updating the BIOS)
--> When installing Windows, hit F6 when the first screen of the setup starts (The RAID drivers MUST be on a 1.44MB stiffy disk)
--> After installing the RAID drivers, you will be able to install Windows XP on the SATA2 HDD.

What u can also check is to run the SATA2 HDD only on the selected SATA2 ports (if not using the SATA2 ports with a SATA2 HDD, then u may experience problems). Theres usually (in my case) 4x SATA1 & 4x SATA2 ports. You can only run 4x ports at a time according to the BIOS (in Legacy mode)

Hope this info works & good luck!
 
Like I said, its working now. I've got the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo. The setting in the BIOS under IDE config. Resolved it at least and I'm enjoying every moment of it! Having a Windows XP with SP2 also helped...had a old one with NO service packs!

Thanks anyways!;)

Cheers!
 
vampirotoothus said:
Like I said, its working now. I've got the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo. The setting in the BIOS under IDE config. Resolved it at least and I'm enjoying every moment of it! Having a Windows XP with SP2 also helped...had a old one with NO service packs!

Thanks anyways!;)

Cheers!
Click to expand...


Ironically, i found that winxp with no service pack worked the best. No hassles except that it does not support USB2.0

:rolleyes: N7.1 (version upgrade)
 
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