Abit UL8, SATA, and 64-bit Windows 7

[GJL]

What do I need to do to get SATA working on an Abit UL8 motherboard in 64-bit Windows 7?

It's working fine in XP and in 32-bit Windows 7. I was finally able tonight to get Device Manager to seem to be happy with the driver (with the SATA drive detached), but it still didn't work -- if the SATA drive is attached, then 64-bit Windows 7 hangs on startup and restarts.

Abit has been no help, and their forums seem to be gone. Is there another place I should ask this question?


Thanks,

Greg

 

[vailr]

Does the bios setup have an "IDE mode" for the SATA port?
Other than upgrading to a newer motherboard & CPU, you may have to be satisfied with just running a 32-bit OS. Windows 7 64-bit chipset drivers may be hard to locate for that board, since both the motherboard maker and the chipset maker have gone out of business.

 

[GJL]

Thanks --

The bios setup calls them IDE drives; I have no idea why. It lists 6 IDE drives:
-- IDE Channel 1 Master
-- IDE Channel 1 Slave
-- IDE Channel 2 Master
-- IDE Channel 2 Slave
-- IDE Channel 3 Master
-- IDE Channel 4 Master

But 3 & 4 are for SATA ports. In their setup, it says:
-- IDE Auto Detection
----- Extended IDE Drive
-------- Auto (this is selected)
-------- None
----- Access Mode
-------- Auto (this is selected)
-------- Large

Also, under "Integrated Peripherals":
-- OnChip IDE Device | OnChip SATA
----- IDE (this is selected)
----- Disabled
----- RAID


BTW, I noticed that it will boot from a "Bootable Add-In Cards". What about something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Syba-Combo-SAT...=1E7CT9572W5VB

Would that allow booting to, and installing 64-bit Windows 7 to, the SATA drive?


Thanks,

Greg

 

[Meghan54]

Windows 7 64-bit chipset drivers may be hard to locate for that board, since both the motherboard maker and the chipset maker have gone out of business.

What he said.

Although you may be able to play around with other mb makers' drivers that match your mb's chipset until you find one that works for you.....might just get lucky, but probably not.


More likely it's time for a new motherboard from a company that's still in business.

 

[ihyagp]

http://http.download.nvidia.com/ULi/ULi_Integrated220.zip

Here are probably your best bet.

 

[vailr]

Do you have more than 4 Gb of memory installed?
If not, there's no real reason to bother trying to shoehorn in a 64-bit OS.
An add-in SATA controller card should work, but what would be the gain?
That motherboard isn't capable of running any CPU that could compete with something more up to date. Such as an Intel 45 nm Wolfdale CPU (or equivalent AMD CPU). I'd suggest donating the old motherboard/CPU to someone on freecycle.org, and spend some money on something more modern.
There should still be a few VIA chipset boards that have Intel socket 775 & can run both AGP & PCIe video cards, if you wanted to re-use the old AGP video card & the DDR memory.

 

[GJL]

http://http.download.nvidia.com/ULi/ULi_Integrated220.zip

Here are probably your best bet.

Thanks, but I've already tried that. That was what finally made Device Manager happy, but it still wouldn't boot with the SATA drive attached.

Greg

 

[vailr]

The ULi chipset probably requires a 64-bit driver during Windows 7 64-bit installation. At the very beginning where you press the F6 key to supply a driver. Maybe an earlier Windows 64-bit driver version would suffice...?
To simplify things, only have the SATA hard drive and a (preferably also SATA) optical drive attached during installation. No other hard drives.

 

[GJL]

Do you have more than 4 Gb of memory installed?
If not, there's no real reason to bother trying to shoehorn in a 64-bit OS.
An add-in SATA controller card should work, but what would be the gain?
That motherboard isn't capable of running any CPU that could compete with something more up to date. Such as an Intel 45 nm Wolfdale CPU (or equivalent AMD CPU). I'd suggest donating the old motherboard/CPU to someone on freecycle.org, and spend some money on something more modern.
There should still be a few VIA chipset boards that have Intel socket 775 & can run both AGP & PCIe video cards, if you wanted to re-use the old AGP video card & the DDR memory.

Thanks, but I'm happy with the performance of 64-bit Windows 7 on this hardware, and that's with only a single-core CPU (Athlon 64 3200+) and only 2GB RAM.

I do need to be able to use 64-bit Windows, because I sell Excel add-ins and Microsoft has recently released a 64-bit version of the Excel 2010 beta, so I need to be able to run that. I also do custom Excel programming, and there's a lot of noise from Excel users eager to move to 64-bit Excel, so I'll need to be able to run the Excel version my clients are running, whether they really need 64-bit or not. I've worked with the 64-bit Excel beta for several hours and the performance is fine for me, and the release versions of Excel are usually faster than their beta versions.

On the other hand, I do understand that this hardware is not much of a gaming platform by today's standards, but I'm not interested in games per se. Programming Excel is my favorite game.

Even if I was able to reuse the AGP video card and the 2GB DDR400 memory, I'd still probably be out around $200 going to a new motherboard and CPU, not to mention the time spent reinstalling everything on the four Windows versions I boot to. If the problem can be solved with the $11 add-in card I referenced, I would definately see that as a gain.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[GJL]

Quote: Originally Posted by ihyagp http://http.download.nvidia.com/ULi/...egrated220.zip Here are probably your best bet. Thanks, but I've already tried that. That was what finally made Device Manager happy, but it still wouldn't boot with the SATA drive attached. Greg

Come to think of it, doesn't that suggest that the problem might be a conflict, rather than the driver not working? Maybe I'll test installing 64-bit Win7 to another partition, and then do nothing else before installing that driver. Although I didn't do much before installing it this time.

Greg

 

[GJL]

The ULi chipset probably requires a 64-bit driver during Windows 7 64-bit installation. At the very beginning where you press the F6 key to supply a driver. Maybe an earlier Windows 64-bit driver version would suffice...?
To simplify things, only have the SATA hard drive and a (preferably also SATA) optical drive attached during installation. No other hard drives.

Thanks, but I tried that and Windows Setup wouldn't accept it.

But that wasn't with the integrated v2.20 driver setup that makes Device Manager happy. All I have for that is the setup EXE (same as the one ihyagp linked to in this thread); is it possible to extract the files from it that I'd need for Windows Setup to use it during Windows installation?


Thanks,

Greg

 

[vailr]

I think your problem may stem from mixing IDE & SATA devices.
Try migrating to SATA only hard drives & optical drive.
Put IDE hard drives in external USB housings.

 

[vailr]

is it possible to extract the files from it that I'd need for Windows Setup to use it during Windows installation?

Driver Max 5.4:
http://majorgeeks.com/DriverMax_d5260.html
Free registration required.

 

[GJL]

I think your problem may stem from mixing IDE & SATA devices.
Try migrating to SATA only hard drives & optical drive.
Put IDE hard drives in external USB housings.

Thanks, but mixing them is working fine in 32-bit Windows 7; also in 32-bit XP.

I think I'd rather go with an add-in SATA card than with 2 external USB housings and a new SATA DVD burner, unless I'm missing something?

Greg

 

[vailr]

Thanks, but mixing them is working fine in 32-bit Windows 7; also in 32-bit XP.

I think I'd rather go with an add-in SATA card than with 2 external USB housings and a new SATA DVD burner, unless I'm missing something?

It's just easier to troubleshoot a problem, when there's fewer variables. For example: you may have better luck installing Windows 7 64-bit on a SATA hard drive, as opposed to an IDE hard drive.

Especially considering that: you have an obsolete chipset.

 

[vailr]

Even if I was able to reuse the AGP video card and the 2GB DDR400 memory, I'd still probably be out around $200 going to a new motherboard and CPU, not to mention the time spent reinstalling everything on the four Windows versions I boot to.

ASRock 775V88+ Socket 775 533/800FSB Pentium 4 Motherboard w/ AGP 8x: $22:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130358318293
Paired with an Intel E5200: OEM version - $56:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=E_5...4d634d98f960f0
Retail version (with cooling fan) - $64.50:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name...sor-E5200-2-5GHz-800MHz-2MB-LGA775-CPU-Retail

Other similar boards:
http://www.google.com/products?q=VIA+chipset+AGP+motherboard&scoring=p

Re-installing Windows shouldn't be necessary, if: before swapping boards, go to Device Manager and change the IDE controller to "Standard IDE Controller". If boot failure occurs somewhere, just boot from the install CD/DVD, and do a "repair install".

Edit: you'd also need to double-check the specific board's support for the E5200 CPU, or whatever socket 775 CPU is selected.

Edit2: Intel 865 chipset boards would also work, in order to re-use the AGP video + DDR memory:
ASRock 775I65PE Socket 775 533/800/1066FSB Pentium D Motherboard w/ AGP 8x, DDR400, and SATA - Refurbished - $20.49:
http://3btech.net/as77so77553p1.html

 

[GJL]

Driver Max 5.4:
http://majorgeeks.com/DriverMax_d5260.html
Free registration required.

Thanks, I installed that and used it to create a backup of the driver files. Then I booted to the 64-bit Win7 Setup CD and when it came to the screen prompted for where to install it, I clicked Install Driver (or whatever it was named), and pointed to the driver.

It refused to install it, saying that it was unsigned. So apparently that's only allowed with signed drivers, at least with 64-bit Windows 7.

Greg

 

[GJL]

I was finally able tonight to get Device Manager to seem to be happy with the driver (with the SATA drive detached)

Correction on this -- Device Manager wasn't happy with it after all. I must have absent-mindedly looked before rebooting.

After rebooting, Device Manager says it can't start.

Greg

 

[GJL]

It's just easier to troubleshoot a problem, when there's fewer variables. For example: you may have better luck installing Windows 7 64-bit on a SATA hard drive, as opposed to an IDE hard drive.

Thanks, but even if it turned out that it worked if I migrated all IDE devices to SATA or USB, it would still be simpler and cheaper to get the SATA add-in card.

Or maybe an adapter that made the SATA drive interface as an IDE drive:

http://www.amazon.com/SATA-PATA-Driv...=1E7CT9572W5VB
(I'm concerned that this one has no jumper to set master vs. slave; might that mean it needs an IDE channel to itself?)

http://www.amazon.com/Ide-Sata-Drive...=1E7CT9572W5VB
(This one allows setting master vs. slave etc. but is more expensive.)

With one of those adapters, I suppose there would be a theoretical performance hit that I'd probably never notice.

Although I'd like to be able to boot to and install Windows on the SATA drive, I can live without it.

Greg

 

[GJL]

ASRock 775V88+ Socket 775 533/800FSB Pentium 4 Motherboard w/ AGP 8x: $22:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130358318293
Paired with an Intel E5200: OEM version - $56:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=E_5...4d634d98f960f0
Retail version (with cooling fan) - $64.50:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=...775-CPU-Retail

Other similar boards:
http://www.google.com/products?q=VIA+chipset+AGP+motherboard&scoring=p

Re-installing Windows shouldn't be necessary, if: before swapping boards, go to Device Manager and change the IDE controller to "Standard IDE Controller". If boot failure occurs somewhere, just boot from the install CD/DVD, and do a "repair install".

Edit: you'd also need to double-check the specific board's support for the E5200 CPU, or whatever socket 775 CPU is selected.

Edit2: Intel 865 chipset boards would also work, in order to re-use the AGP video + DDR memory:
ASRock 775I65PE Socket 775 533/800/1066FSB Pentium D Motherboard w/ AGP 8x, DDR400, and SATA - Refurbished - $20.49:
http://3btech.net/as77so77553p1.html

Thanks, I'm surprised at how cheap those motherboards are.

But the last time I tried doing a repair install of Windows after swapping out the motherboard, it didn't work and I had to reinstall.

Greg

 

[vailr]

Just so you're aware: booting from an external USB hard drive is not supported by any offical Windows install disc. There do exist specially hacked install discs that can install XP on such external USB drives, however.

 

[GJL]

Thanks for all the help!

I've decided to go with a MassCool XWT-RC040:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815280003

As far as I can tell, the Silicon Image chips works better than Via. I have a SATA 3.0Gb/s drive with no jumper to throttle it to 1.5Gb/s (Hitachi HDS721075KLA330), which seems to rule out at least some of the Via chips. Also it looks like at least some of the Via chips don't like 1TB drives and larger. The Silicon Image chips don't seem to have either problem.

It looks like the bad reviews at newegg for the MassCool XWT-RC040 are mostly about it being a pain to install, but some of the reviewers there provide detailed instructions, so I expect to be able get through it.

It will be nice to have the 4 internal SATA ports; that will let me add another, larger drive, and a SATA blu-ray drive, and more, all internal.

I looked at SATA II (3.0Gb/s) cards too, but that would have been substantially more expensive, and I doubt I'd notice the difference.


Thanks again,

Greg

 

[tcsenter]

ASRock 775V88+ Socket 775 533/800FSB Pentium 4 Motherboard w/ AGP 8x:

Bad idea. Not only does it not support the E5200 or any newer C2D based processors (it doesn't even support the old Pentium D), but the latest BIOS is just as old as the ABIT board's. This is just as likely to be an out-dated BIOS and option ROM issue because it was never been fully vetted for use with 64-bit OS. Old motherboards + old BIOS + NEW OS and addressing model = shit problems galore.

 

[vailr]

This is just as likely to be an out-dated BIOS and option ROM issue because it was never been fully vetted for use with 64-bit OS.

Agreed.
But: would still be (marginally) more useful than trying to run Windows 7 64-bit on a defunct ULi chipset board. The 1066 MHz FSB support of the Intel 865/875 chipset would definitely be a better choice than the VIA chipset board.
The ASRock Conroe865PE (hard to find) or the ASRock 775i65G Rev2.0 - $25.99 (Refurbished):
http://3btech.net/as77recoduo7.html
DO support the E5200 CPU.

Official CPU Support Lists:
ASRock 775i65G Rev2.0:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=775i65G%20R2.0
ASRock 775i65PE:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=775i65PE

Discussion for allowing E5200 CPU:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=3073&page=2&highlight=775i65g

The ASRock 775i65G Rev2.0 most recent Bios version: 3.30 (12/3/2009).
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=775i65G&o=All

 

[VirtualLarry]

Thanks for all the help!

I've decided to go with a MassCool XWT-RC040:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815280003

As far as I can tell, the Silicon Image chips works better than Via. I have a SATA 3.0Gb/s drive with no jumper to throttle it to 1.5Gb/s (Hitachi HDS721075KLA330), which seems to rule out at least some of the Via chips. Also it looks like at least some of the Via chips don't like 1TB drives and larger. The Silicon Image chips don't seem to have either problem.

It looks like the bad reviews at newegg for the MassCool XWT-RC040 are mostly about it being a pain to install, but some of the reviewers there provide detailed instructions, so I expect to be able get through it.

It will be nice to have the 4 internal SATA ports; that will let me add another, larger drive, and a SATA blu-ray drive, and more, all internal.

I looked at SATA II (3.0Gb/s) cards too, but that would have been substantially more expensive, and I doubt I'd notice the difference.


Thanks again,

Greg

Interesting card. How did you find it? It looks like the same card as this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815124020
But cheaper. I couldn't find your card on the list when I search for PCI SATA controller cards. Perhaps Newegg's search is broken?

Edit: Masscool isn't even listed as a mfg of controller cards. How DID you find that card?