Asrock Dual SATA2 freezes/hangs when loading Windows

[qsrk]

I did pay attention, but you may not have read my posts fully. With my latest attempt on SATAII, Windows setup was failing at the initial stages, not giving me an opportunity to get into the GUI to check for the drivers. In the past when I did manage to install on SATAII, providing drivers on floppy, Device Manager did show JMicron drivers.

My question was if the Windows CD already comes with an earlier version of the JMicron drivers. In the Microsoft link that you provided, Microsoft explains that earlier drivers on the CD could cause Windows setup to fail. Normally, after Windows setup copies files, but before the GUI setup, you can apparently go in via DOS, look for, and replace such files with the more recent ones on your floppy disk. But since my installation never got that far, I could not go check. I searched the CD, and found nothing, but maybe I need a more advanced tool than the built-in searcher.

 

[boake]

It seems xp contains only its own jmicron sata1 driver, not sata2(ahci).

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

boake do you have an Hitachi T7K250 250GB? I have the same hdd, but i ad BIG problems in installing it in sata2 mode. Now i'm using it in sata1 mode on sata1 controller IDE mode in bios, without any drivers...only in this way I got a stable config. What bios are u using? I tried 1.20, ocwb2 and 1.60....same problems with sata2 controller

 

[boake]

Originally posted by: Athlon64SSE3
boake do you have an Hitachi T7K250 250GB? I have the same hdd, but i ad BIG problems in installing it in sata2 mode. Now i'm using it in sata1 mode on sata1 controller IDE mode in bios, without any drivers...only in this way I got a stable config. What bios are u using? I tried 1.20, ocwb2 and 1.60....same problems with sata2 controller

Yes, I have t7k250 sata2 250gb.
Bios: 1.60
Follow instruction below

0) format your hdd clearly <= very important
1) connect to sata1 controller (hdd in sata2 mode, you know how to use feature tool)
2) install xp (you dont need to install any driver using fdd)
3) connect to sata2 controller (at this time change to ide operation mode in cmos)
4) install sata2 driver(jmicron 207) in xp
5) change to sata operation mode in cmos
6) enjoy with your t7k250

If you have any question, just ask.

http://img130.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1222sj.jpg

I got 250mb burst speed in HD tach.
This means my t7k250 is running in SATA2 mode.
And I have got no single problem ever since.

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

What do you want to say with format your hdd clearly? It's formatted and partitioned...i'm using XP from this hdd, but connected on the sata1 connector, bios in IDE mode. It's installed without drivers, but..sometimes i get blue screen "hardware machine exception 0x000009c" :-(. This is the second time i write this message....i had that error and my pc rebooted :-(. With that driver installed my previous installation was not working at all :-( on the sata2 controller. If i connect in IDE mode my hdd on the sata2 controller (this installation of XP too) my XP freeze! And sometimes hdd is not detected! When i have success in loading xp (entering bios, changing something, saving and exiting) XP is very fast and it's using sata2 mode. But....it's difficult to load. This is a clean installation of XP...i installed it not much time ago. Do you think I could install jmicron drivers and than change to sata2 controller?

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

boake, do you have MSN? My address is amdathlon@passport.com, so we can talk about this! Can you tell me your hd serial number and revision? You can see it with speedfan,maybe it's different! My drive is a Model: HDT722525DLA380 Firmware: V44OA91A

 

[boake]

I mean that you should format your hdd before installing xp.
My t7k250 was made in Janualy this year. I bought it about a week ago.

 

[qsrk]

Originally posted by: Athlon64SSE3
What do you want to say with format your hdd clearly? It's formatted and partitioned...i'm using XP from this hdd, but connected on the sata1 connector, bios in IDE mode. It's installed without drivers, but..sometimes i get blue screen "hardware machine exception 0x000009c" :-(. This is the second time i write this message....i had that error and my pc rebooted :-(. With that driver installed my previous installation was not working at all :-( on the sata2 controller. If i connect in IDE mode my hdd on the sata2 controller (this installation of XP too) my XP freeze! And sometimes hdd is not detected! When i have success in loading xp (entering bios, changing something, saving and exiting) XP is very fast and it's using sata2 mode. But....it's difficult to load. This is a clean installation of XP...i installed it not much time ago. Do you think I could install jmicron drivers and than change to sata2 controller?

I also have the same hard drive (same model and firmware - you can check in Device Manager) and have the exact same problems. Had the same BSOD yesterday when I connected a USB device to a port connected to the internal USB header on the motherboard. So do you have the cold boot problem too? No problem with HDD detection on the SATAII port, however. What do you mean IDE mode on the SATA1 connector? The IDE mode option is only for the SATAII connector.

boake, I got the same HD Tach results on my previous unstable SATAII installation. Right now, SATA1 gives me Average read 55.9 MB/s and Burst Speed of 128.5 MB/s.

 

[boake]

To t7k250 users.( qrsk, Athlon64SSE3 )
This is an off-topic question.
Isn't t7k250 a little noisy?
I hear, if not loud, something like "drr drr drr" even while surfing internet.
It's getting on my nerves. :|

 

[professor1942]

Just an update... perfectly stable 3 weeks now with the machine on the floor. I did try it up on the desk again for a day to confirm that the location was the problem, and it crashed 0x0000009c within half an hour (and again a couple hours later). On the floor, it's 100% stable. Weirdest problem ever.

 

[boake]

Originally posted by: professor1942
Just an update... perfectly stable 3 weeks now with the machine on the floor. I did try it up on the desk again for a day to confirm that the location was the problem, and it crashed 0x0000009c within half an hour (and again a couple hours later). On the floor, it's 100% stable. Weirdest problem ever.

It's mysterious!
Mine is on my desk.
I suppose that your sata cable connection might have been loosened by some reason on your desk.

 

[professor1942]

Yeah but this is in 2 different cases and 3 builds-from-scratch, same problem whenever it's up on the desk next to my monitor. It has never once crashed while on the floor.

I'm convinced it's some sort of radio/magnetic interference (wireless router maybe?)

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: professor1942
Yeah but this is in 2 different cases and 3 builds-from-scratch, same problem whenever it's up on the desk next to my monitor. It has never once crashed while on the floor.

I'm convinced it's some sort of radio/magnetic interference (wireless router maybe?)

What if you turn on spread spectrum?
have you tried that?

 

[professor1942]

Originally posted by: designit

What if you turn on spread spectrum?
have you tried that?

No, to be honest I had no idea what it meant until I googled it just now!

Well I learned a new thing today, even though I'm drinking...

 

[qsrk]

Originally posted by: boake
To t7k250 users.( qrsk, Athlon64SSE3 )
This is an off-topic question.
Isn't t7k250 a little noisy?
I hear, if not loud, something like "drr drr drr" even while surfing internet.
It's getting on my nerves. :|

I almost never hear my drive, but I have it on silicone mounts in a quiet case (Antec P180). Besides, the video card fan would drown it out I specifically selected the T7K250 since it was reputed to be fast, quiet, and cool running. Have you tried adjusting acoustic management using the Feature Tool?

professor, I think your hard drive has to support Spread Spectrum Clocking (SSC). If you do turn it on in your hard drive, make sure that the BIOS is set to AUTO, not Disabled - otherwise you may encounter new problems.

 

[boake]

No I didnt, I prefer the performance than the silence.
But I'm a little sensitive to sounds.
So I'm considering to buy a expensive, cool and silent case.

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

Originally posted by: qsrk
I also have the same hard drive (same model and firmware - you can check in Device Manager) and have the exact same problems. Had the same BSOD yesterday when I connected a USB device to a port connected to the internal USB header on the motherboard. So do you have the cold boot problem too? No problem with HDD detection on the SATAII port, however. What do you mean IDE mode on the SATA1 connector? The IDE mode option is only for the SATAII connector.

boake, I got the same HD Tach results on my previous unstable SATAII installation. Right now, SATA1 gives me Average read 55.9 MB/s and Burst Speed of 128.5 MB/s.

No, now i have no cold boot problem (i had cold boot problem on sata2 connector) but it's connected on SATA1 connector (i mean NON-RAID mode-> in bios...it work as an ide hdd). I'm getting random machine check exception errors. Sometime when i plug in something usb, other times when i simpy do nothing! For today still no problems. It's very strange the problem of professor1942! Maybe it's only happening random for him too?!? For the firmware question...mine is named in this way:
IDE\DISKHDT722525DLA380____________________V440A91A\5&347490b4&0&0.0.0

Same HD Tach results Average read 55.8 MB/s Burst 127 MB/s. In SATAII installation it was faster, i was getting about 250MB/s in burst mode, the same in average read. It was faster in loading XP and in the daily use.

@boake
my drive is quiet...but i have many fan in the case. Sometimes when writing i can hear it but it's still much quiet

 

[designit]

I have found SataII drivers on the new Asrock 939SLI e-Sata, works on this mobo.
It is a window installation and installs the drivers without going thru the "F6" method.
Just make sure you click on the icon for winxp or winxp64 version you are using.
Link to download site

 

[boake]

Originally posted by: Athlon64SSE3

Originally posted by: qsrk
I also have the same hard drive (same model and firmware - you can check in Device Manager) and have the exact same problems. Had the same BSOD yesterday when I connected a USB device to a port connected to the internal USB header on the motherboard. So do you have the cold boot problem too? No problem with HDD detection on the SATAII port, however. What do you mean IDE mode on the SATA1 connector? The IDE mode option is only for the SATAII connector.

boake, I got the same HD Tach results on my previous unstable SATAII installation. Right now, SATA1 gives me Average read 55.9 MB/s and Burst Speed of 128.5 MB/s.

No, now i have no cold boot problem (i had cold boot problem on sata2 connector) but it's connected on SATA1 connector (i mean NON-RAID mode-> in bios...it work as an ide hdd). I'm getting random machine check exception errors. Sometime when i plug in something usb, other times when i simpy do nothing! For today still no problems. It's very strange the problem of professor1942! Maybe it's only happening random for him too?!? For the firmware question...mine is named in this way:
IDE\DISKHDT722525DLA380____________________V440A91A\5&347490b4&0&0.0.0

Same HD Tach results Average read 55.8 MB/s Burst 127 MB/s. In SATAII installation it was faster, i was getting about 250MB/s in burst mode, the same in average read. It was faster in loading XP and in the daily use.

@boake
my drive is quiet...but i have many fan in the case. Sometimes when writing i can hear it but it's still much quiet

MY question.
Is your t7k250 in sata1 mode or in sata2 mode?
I mean " did you change to sata2 mode using feature tool?"
If your hdd is in sata2 mode now, connect it to the sata2 controller and change to ide operation mode in cmos.
Then install sata2 driver.
Then change to sata operation mode in cmos.
That walkaround worked for me.
It has been a week since I bought my hdd. No problem ever since.

ps. I think firmware has nothing to do with this issue.

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

my drive is working in sata1 mode. I tried in the past with sata2 mode on sata2 controller but it didn't work. I can change it in sata2 mode again with hitachi feature tool and then I would try this:
1) enable SATAII controller in bios
2) install driver for sata2 (wich driver? Now designit is telling that the 939DualSLI driver is working too...maybe it's newer...?)
3) connect hd to sata2 controller
4) change sata operation to sata mode.

Or maybe it's better to enable controller in bios
then attach hdd to sata2 controller (my XP will be connected to a controller that previously was disabled.....maybe it can get damaged ?!)
then install sata2 driver and then change to sata operation mode and reboot?

Do you think I can get my XP installation damaged doing so (if it begins to freeze in boot?) My XP is working good now.....but for that machine check excpetion :-( and a sata2 drive used as an ide drive..

 

[boake]

Originally posted by: Athlon64SSE3
my drive is working in sata1 mode. I tried in the past with sata2 mode on sata2 controller but it didn't work. I can change it in sata2 mode again with hitachi feature tool and then I would try this:
1) enable SATAII controller in bios
2) install driver for sata2 (wich driver? Now designit is telling that the 939DualSLI driver is working too...maybe it's newer...?)
3) connect hd to sata2 controller
4) change sata operation to sata mode.

Or maybe it's better to enable controller in bios
then attach hdd to sata2 controller (my XP will be connected to a controller that previously was disabled.....maybe it can get damaged ?!)
then install sata2 driver and then change to sata operation mode and reboot?

I recommend you to fresh install xp in sata1 mode, then change to sata2 mode.

Do you think I can get my XP installation damaged doing so (if it begins to freeze in boot?) My XP is working good now.....but for that machine check excpetion :-( and a sata2 drive used as an ide drive..

This is from other forum.(http://www.ocworkbench.com/)

" I use a Hitachi sata2 drive without problems. I had to enable sata2 on the drive using hitachi software (default sata1).

Bios 1.6 sata/strong
Driver v.207 (integrated into wxp setup cd using http://www.nliteos.com/index.html)"

This guy doesn't give us specific procedures, but there is a possibility that he installed xp in sata1 mode and after that, changed to sata2 mode using feature tool.

I recommend you to fresh install xp in sata1 mode, after that, change to sata2 mode.

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

no, he installed XP from the XP cd made with nliteos. For me, installing xp in sata1 mode is the only way to install xp. My XP freeze if I try to install it using driver read from floppy

 

[imported_Imp]

@Athlon64SSE3, just wondering, how often your Machine Check Exceptions occur? Mines got out of hand with the SATA drive in either SATAI or SATAII channels (stopped getting to XP welcome screen completely a lot). Good luck to you on that, the exceptions started slow, but became constant after a few days.

professor, I think it's time you called some professionals. Sounds like a haunting:Q. And how close are the speakers to your case on the desk? That and how old are said speakers?

Also, update: 3 weeks no problem. Not one BSOD or boot problem. I see my future paved with IDE HDDs and rounded cables. Now if only Lite-On(it's progressing, just takes a week to get a reply) would send me a black bezel I'd put my case back together.

 

[Athlon64SSE3]

mmmh still random bsod....i can't tell you the frequency. Some days are perfect (today still no bsod), some days begins with a bsod after a few minutes, then problem with usb until the next day. It's a rare event...for now...
This problem is caused from sata hdd on this mobo, i'm sure. If I begin using again an IDE drive, it will disapper! But I want to use this drive!
I think the next try will be to do as boake suggests

 

[imported_Imp]

That's exactly how it was with my SATAI drive; perfect days and then totally screwed over the rest. Having and IDE and SATA drive plugged, I was still crashing. Take out SATA, wham, three good weeks. If you must use that drive(you payed for it, why shouldn't you?), check out PCI SATA cards if all else fails.