XP - Single SATA - VIA

[randmo]

I know this is an old issue but I'm trying to do a clean install on a new WD1600AAJS sata II drive as a single drive (not raid). OS is XP pro SP1. Mobo is Abit AV8 third eye w/ VT8237 chipset. Athlon 64 3200 cpu.
The obvious problem is that the drive is not recognized during set up.
I have discovered already that I need to jumper the drive to emulate a sata 1 drive. I've also discovered that I should create a floppy with the VIA sata drivers to use when the installation says to hit F6. I'm going to try this tonight but I then I read the following post on another forum. Is this post true?


"Also, I'm curious about those SATA's. It would appear that, like all non-Intel SATA chipsets I'm aware of-- the VIA VT8237 chipset only supports SATA when used in RAID mode. "

[Midknyte]

many motherboards have an IDE compatibility mode for SATA. I don't see that option in your bios. in that case you would need to use the f6/floppy option during setup.

make sure to set the boot order to make the sata raid card the first boot device. or at least before IDE.


"Also, I'm curious about those SATA's. It would appear that, like all non-Intel SATA chipsets I'm aware of-- the VIA VT8237 chipset only supports SATA when used in RAID mode. "

Some boards can run single drives (JBOD) or RAID arrays. Is that what you are asking?

[Sterling_Aug]

I would suggest that you slipstream SP2 or SP3 into your install disk. It isn't a good idea to install XP using an SP1 CD anymore.

While you are at it, you can also slipstream the SATA drivers into the XP CD as well so there is no reason to make a floppy disk.

[randmo]

Midknyte - thanks for the reply. Yes the quote I found concerned me that it wasn't possible to install a single sata drive on this board:

Quote:
"Also, I'm curious about those SATA's. It would appear that, like all non-Intel SATA chipsets I'm aware of-- the VIA VT8237 chipset only supports SATA when used in RAID mode. "

Sterling, thanks for the slipstream suggestion. I'll give this a shot tonight hopefully.

[Midknyte]

try this for the slipstream with drivers:
http://www.nliteos.com/

[Lgbpop]

The computer I built for our family room uses the AV8 with an X2 4400. Hard drive is Maxtor 300GB SATA drive (1.5). You don't need to do an IDE emulation (there isn't one anyway). If you're only using one hard drive, you MUST disable RAID in the BIOS - its default setting is Enabled. You DO need to F6 the SATA drivers, and it's best to use the floppy that Abit provided with the mobo. I installed XP with SP1 and added SP2 from a separate CD (never got around to making a slipstreamed disk).

[randmo]

Always fun to help someone long distance. My son finally got this done. Thanks for all the help. After I told him he had to jump the WD1600AAJS SATA II drive back to a SATA I, he didn't have a jumper (another day delayed). Then he informed me that he had an original XP cd so when it did recognize the drive it showed it to be 131gb. (he created a 21 gb partition with the balance of the drive after xp installed).
He obviously didn't bother to slipstream a XP w/ SP2 cd.
He did disable Raid in BIOS.
He did update board to latest BIOS (28) before XP installation.
He did not have to use F6 - XP recognized the drive (at 131gb) and installed without a hitch.
He now has a 131gb C drive on the 160gb SATA - a 21gb F drive partion on the 160gb SATA - an 80gb D ide drive (this one has the Win 2k system on it and is still bootable by changing the boot priority in BIOS) - and a 40gb E ide drive (slaved to the 80).
Just wanted to let those interested know how it worked out.

[Lgbpop]

He did not have to use F6 - XP recognized the drive (at 131gb) and installed without a hitch.His solution was one way to do it, I guess, but by simply using the proper drivers when prompted - it's NOT terribly difficult - my 300GB HDD was recognized as 300GB (279 or whatever, actually).

Anyhow, he got it going and that's the main thing; and he didn't lose too much of the hard drive either. :)

[randmo]

After my son advised me of the 131gb limitation, I checked the internet and found it stated that XP without service packs had that issue - that the original XP did not support LBA48 and therefore would not recognize a 160 gb drive as a 160gb. As you said, he got it done and it's workable.

[Midknyte]

48bit LBA is really old news, as in pre-SP1. You need to have a slipstreamed xp disc with the same service pack level as the one currently installed in order to do a proper repair install.

[randmo]

Exactly. You advised me to slipstream a cd (esp if one had the original XP) and I advised my son. He chose not to. I will confess, I wasn't aware of the LBA48 issue until I checked it out after the 131gb issue came up. He's happy with it (or at least tired of messing with it) so I've dropped the subject with him. Again, appreciate the help. Now he at least does have a working system with XP and a SATA drive along with the existing ide drives so his situation is better than it was.

[randmo]

Lgbpop - Even though I am done with my involvement with this project, I would like to ask a question just for my general knowledge. As I instructed, my son had made a floppy with the current VT8237 SATA drivers for his board. This was in preparation for the F6 step. His thinking was that you only had to do that (F6) if the XP cd didn't recognize the drive during install. When it did recognize the drive, he simply passed that step thinking it was unnecessary.
I'm gathering from your message that had he done the F6 step (even though he was using an original XP cd) his drive would have been recognized in full. Please confirm. Thanks again

[Midknyte]

I'm gathering from your message that had he done the F6 step (even though he was using an original XP cd) his drive would have been recognized in full

Wrong. The F6 option determines if the system will see the drive at all. It would not correct the LBA issue. I only use the F6 option if it is absolutely necessary.

[Lgbpop]

I'm not sure, tell you the truth; I was just sharing my experience with the setup I did. I thought it was so, but apparently not.