Cannot Install XP Pro on Single SATA Drive

[Perfection]

Hi,

I'm having a huge amount of trouble in attempting to install Windows XP on my new 250GB Seagate SATA HD. I currently have an Asus a7v8x Deluxe Mobo.

Anyways, I go through the whole process fine....F6 and everything. However, when I go to attempt to load the SATA drivers off of my disk...which I made myself...I'm at college and don't have the real one...it pretty much does nothing. When it asks to insert the install diskette and hit enter I do...only to be prompted by the same screen again. Maybe my files are bad, but I've roamed the internet and seem to be doing the right things.


What could be my issue? Could it be some sort of jumper settings on the SATA...Currently, I have 2 SATA HD's in there...one on each channel, as well as an IDE HD (which has stuff on it so I don't want to reformat), a dvd rom and a cd burner (both ide).

Please help. Does anyone have any idea as to what I might be doing wrong?

Thank you so much in advance.


- Perfection

 

[dclive]

It should prompt you for the driver you wish to install from the disk - if you aren't further prompted, you don't have the disk set up correctly. Try putting all the driver files for XP into the root directory, plus any INF or other files that were in the ZIP file or CD from Asus.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I have the same mobo.

The only reason Windows would keep prompting for the driver floppy is if it can't find the correct files on it.

You need the Silicon Image SiI 3112 SATARaid Controller driver which you can download from Asus' website.
The download is probably a ZIP archive. You need to extract the files to a floppy. The files should be:

si3112r.cat
Si3112r.inf
Si3112r.sys
SiiSupp.vxd
SilSupp.cpl
SIWinAcc.sys
TxtSetup.oem

All files need to be in the root directory of the floppy.

Hope this helps...

 

[Perfection]

That's exactly what I did...hmm, I'll try using a different computer, as the one I'm on is sorta wierd (Sony desktop).

Strange though that it isn't working correctly.

 

[rise]

are you configuring raid? if not there is no reason to hit f6, just use the windows sata drivers.

 

[Perfection]

In fact, I just put those files onto two different floppies with two different computers...to avoid any weird bad disks or anything like that. However, I continue to get the propt all of the time.

Something I just noticed, however, is that the LED for the floppy is now alwasy on...from the moment I turn the computer on until I turn it off (while just playing around in Windows Setup). I don't remember it necessarily doing this before....and while installing my hard drive I did disconnect and reconnect a bunch of my devices to help make the cables in my case neater.

Anyways, does anyone have any ideas. I played around in the bios for a while, but still don't have any idea why I keep getting the same prompt over and over again.


Thanks so much.

 

[rise]

well, your floppy cable is upside down, thats why your light is on.

also, are you still hitting f6? am i missing something? xp has sata drivers, typically you only need the flooy for raid configs.

 

[Perfection]

I'm hitting f6 and then get to the next menu where it asks me to hit s and supply a floppy for the drivers for the mass storage.

I know that windows sees the hard drive as it is displayed when the computer boots up (before the windows install starts)....

I'll try to do something with the floppy...if anyone has more suggestions...I'm at a loss and need this computer up soon!

Thanks.

 

[Perfection]

Well I think the floppy was part of it. I flipped the cable and then got further then before. The prompt didn't repeat and in fact I started to load the drivers...however then I got a dark blue screen with white text....an error like a nonpaged....i don't know....

Anyways, i'll see what I can do...ideas?

thx.

 

[Perfection]

Well....I just got the part where I can select which hard drive I want to install on. However, there were no options. In the area where the drives are normally listed, all that was there was "unknown disk setup cannot access". or something of that nature. Is that a jumper problem or what.

If you have any thoughts then I'd really appreciate it

thanks,

Mr. Totally Confused.

 

[rise]

just junk the install, try again and DO NOT hit F6. why are you loading drivers you don't need?

 

[kuritadelta]

JFYI, I was trying to use SATA and PATA drives together on a new install and it gave me problems.
I was using my new SATA as primary to load new XP on it.
I was really baffeled why it wouldn't work.
I decided to take off the IDE drive(secondary) during the Windows installation and everything worked.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

RISE he does need the drivers. There are no native drivers for that SATA RAID chipset in Windows XP.

All I can suggest is try a different sata cable.

 

[helpmeout]

If you want to do a clean install of XP on the SATA drive, do as Kuritadelta mentioned, and remove the IDE drive first. Don't put it back in until XP is installed on the SATA. And, as Penguin said, you do need the drivers at the F6 prompt.