Installing single SATA hard drive help with Asus K8V-Deluxe

[User5]

Okay, so I connected everything on my new rig. Everything is hooked up properly. I power on and it works , okay so I look through the BIOS a little and set the time, date, agp arpreature size up, enable cool n quiet mode, and check out the temps 35-38 averages for the cpu, and 30-32 for the mobo.

Specs:
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
AMD 64 3200+ (newcastle 2.2GHz)
Corsair XMS [1GB] PC3200 (2x 512s)
160GB Seagate Barracudda [SATA]
Windows XP
9600 PRO
etc...

Okay anyway, so I pop in the Windows XP cd and try to install it and it says that there is no hard drive detected. I know that I have to press F6 to fiddle with something, but when it promps to press F6 at the begninng of startup, I press it and nothign happens, so I let setup resume, and it eventually lets me press "S" to insert the floppy drive with "manufacture-supplied hardware support disk". I dont have one of these and I assume its what I have to create on a floppy disk correct? What in the world do they want on this thing? I tried a few random things for SATA/RAID on the disk copying them to floppys, but nothing works! It just says insert floppy and press enter key when ready. What are they looking for on this disk?

And yes, before anyone asks I have read the manual and looked over the forums a bit. Asus in their manual doesent mention a single, solitary WORD about setting up a single sata hard drive. Only RAID SATA configurations which are still poor, poor directions. The manual was very good and easy to understand up until this point where they start to jump around and not mention anything about single sata hard drives.

Any help is greatly appriciated! Thanks!

 

[Algere]

There's a utility labeled "makedisk.exe" within the motherboard installation CD. Click on it to create a driver disk for O/S detection of your SATA drive.

If your hard drive is connected to the Promise controller, You'll need the "ATA mode" driver & not the one for "RAID mode" & ATA mode for the Promise controller must be configured in the BIOS?

If connected to the VIA SATA controller, IIRC it's fine to use the RAID driver for use with a stand-alone drive.

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: Algere
There's a utility labeled "makedisk.exe" within the motherboard installation CD. Click on it to create a driver disk for O/S detection of your SATA drive.

If your hard drive is connected to the Promise controller, You'll need the "ATA mode" driver & not the one for "RAID mode" & ATA mode for the Promise controller must be configured in the BIOS?

If connected to the VIA SATA controller, IIRC it's fine to use the RAID driver for use with a stand-alone drive.

okay, tried the makedisk file in the viaraid driverdisk file. popped it in when it was asked for and nothing worked.

thanks anyway.. am i going to have to buy an ide harddrive?

 

[Manhole]

Are you using the Promise controller or the VIA one?

I had the same problem on my Asus A8V Deluxe until i realised i had to hit Ctrl+F7 after booting, when using the Promise SATA controller, or hit the Tab key if using the VIA controller. After thet you get into the RAID menu where you can set up your arrays. Then boot with the windows CD and hit F6 and use the drivers on the floppy, just use the right ones...VIA or Promise.

It was a pain in the ass because the manual was pretty lacking about setting up a single SATA drive.
I had to call ASUS and they sent me a set of instructions on how to do all this. I can send them to you if ya want.

hope this helps

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: Manhole
Are you using the Promise controller or the VIA one?

I had the same problem on my Asus A8V Deluxe until i realised i had to hit Ctrl+F7 after booting, when using the Promise SATA controller, or hit the Tab key if using the VIA controller. After thet you get into the RAID menu where you can set up your arrays. Then boot with the windows CD and hit F6 and use the drivers on the floppy, just use the right ones...VIA or Promise.

It was a pain in the ass because the manual was pretty lacking about setting up a single SATA drive.
I had to call ASUS and they sent me a set of instructions on how to do all this. I can send them to you if ya want.

hope this helps

hey thanks for the reply! I believe its the VIA. Im using SATA1, I think thats off the VIA (right next to it)

I will try what you said and see if anything works. And yeah, if youve got a sec I would truly appriciate it if you could maybe post here the instructions Asus gave you, or if its too long or something, let me know and ill PM you my email.

Yeah, and I just cant understand the absense of single sata instructions either. I thought I was just missing it, but i was looking all over and didnt find anything. Expecially for a first time builder this is a little frustrating.

Thanks a lot. Thanks 100000x if you can post the instructions

PS: what boot order do I use? Theres Floppy, NEC_cd drive, and then harddrive.

 

[mcveigh]

I set one up recently...you have to use the asus utility. try it again
setup the drive on the via port 0, go into the boot menu of the bios and make sure for hard drive it says something like via first hard drive.

 

[Manhole]

Hey,


I use the Promise controller but i quess it doesnt matter wich one you use. just make sure wich one your cables are connected to so you wont install the wrong driver

Ill just paste the instruction here, theres instructions for both VIA&Promise.


for boot order i use CD-floppy-HD


Im not an expert on this but i went thru some unneccesary aggrevation because of the weak manual so this should help you out.



copy/paste from the instruction e-mail i got from ASUS:





"Here are the directions for Installing Windows 2k/XP on the Promise RAID controller.

DRIVERS

Download:

We recommend using the latest available drivers when configuring your RAID controller. You can find the latest Promise RAID drivers on the ASUS download site:

http://www.asus.com/support/download/download.aspx

If this site is slow, or is having problems, you can also use our download mirror site:

http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/download.aspx

Download and unzip the file, then extract the contents to a newly created folder. There should be 3 files and 5 folders in this directory. Ignore the readme file, and copy the other two files to a blank, formatted floppy disk. Then, find the folder that corresponds to your operating system and copy it to that floppy disk, as well.

Support CD:

If you do not have access to the Internet, then start by browsing the support CD included with the motherboard. Look for the DRIVERS directory. Inside that is a directory called PROMISE. There should be 3 files and 5 folders in this directory. Ignore the readme file, and copy the other two files to a blank, formatted floppy disk. Then, find the folder that corresponds to your operating system and copy it to that floppy disk, as well.

INSTALLATION

1. Start with clean, blank hard drives connected to the PROMISE Controller. These drives will not show up on the motherboard's BIOS screen.

For a STRIPE array: THIS PROCEDURE WILL DESTORY ALL DATA ON THE DRIVES!
For a MIRROR: If you want to mirror a drive with existing information you will be asked to copy that information to the new drive. PLEASE BE CERTAIN WHICH DRIVE HAS YOUR DATA. We recommend setting the drive with DATA on it as the primary MASTER, but it will also work on the secondary. We also recommend backing up any information you do not want to lose. If you copy the wrong drive, you will lose your information!!

2. Set up your Array:
Upon first boot, the Promise BIOS should tell you that there are an equal number of RAID arrays defined as there are hard drives connected to the Promise controller. Press [CTRL-F] to enter setup, then delete all of the existing arrays. This will not remove any data from your drives. Choose between the defaults, which should be Security (Mirror) or Performance (Stripe).

3. Boot to your 2K/XP CD & start the installation. As Windows is first setting up, at the first blue screen hit the [F6] key to load a third party mass storage driver. If you miss this, you will be warned that there are no hard drives attached. If this happens, restart the machine and tap the ?F6? Key a few times as the CD spins up. Windows will go through its install routine, then prompt you for an OEM disk for your MASS STORAGE CONTROLLER. Insert the floppy disk you created earlier, and load the first driver on the list. This will allow you to use your RAID. LEAVE THIS FLOPPY IN THE DRIVE!

4. Let Windows setup the partition and install:
Choose install to the empty disk & choose NTFS FULL format, not quick. If you don't have any other hard disks on your regular IDE channels, there may be a LONG pause after the format; be patient.

5. If your system paused during the install, it will do so again when booting into Windows. Once the install is completely finished, enter the BIOS Setup, go to the MAIN tab, then change "Auto" to "None" for all channels where no drives are connected. NOTE: This applies to your regular IDE channels, NOT your RAID Array.

6. Let Windows run through all of its setup routines and updates.

7. You will now be able to use your RAID disk as a storage device!

....................................................

Here are the directions for Installing Windows 2k/XP on the Via RAID controller.

DRIVERS

Download:

We recommend using the latest available drivers when configuring your RAID controller. You can find the latest Via RAID drivers on the ASUS download site:

http://www.asus.com/support/download/download.aspx

If this site is slow, or is having problems, you can also use our download mirror site:

http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/download.aspx

Place a disk in your floppy drive. Download and unzip the file, then extract the contents to a newly created folder. Double-click on the MakeDisk file, and it will transfer the necessary files to your floppy disk.

Support CD:

If you do not have access to the Internet, then start by browsing the support CD included with the motherboard. Look for the DRIVERS directory. Inside that is a directory called VIARAID. Open the DRIVER directory that is inside. Make sure to insert a disk in your floppy drive, then double-click on the MakeDisk file in the DRIVER directory. It will transfer the necessary files to your floppy disk.

INSTALLATION

1. Start with clean, blank hard drives connected to the RAID Controller. These drives will not show up on the motherboard's BIOS screen.

For a STRIPE array: THIS PROCEDURE WILL DESTORY ALL DATA ON THE DRIVES!
For a SPAN array: THIS PROCEDURE WILL DESTORY ALL DATA ON THE DRIVES!
For a MIRROR: If you want to mirror a drive with existing information you will be asked to copy that information to the new drive. PLEASE BE CERTAIN WHICH DRIVE HAS YOUR DATA. We recommend setting the drive with DATA on it as the primary MASTER, but it will also work on the secondary. We also recommend backing up any information you do not want to lose. If you copy the wrong drive, you will lose your information!!

2. Set up your Array:
Upon first boot, the Promise BIOS should tell you that there are an equal number of RAID arrays defined as there are hard drives connected to the Promise controller. Press [Tab] to enter setup, then delete all of the existing arrays. This will not remove any data from your drives. Choose between the defaults, which should be Performance (Stripe), Data Security (Mirror), Safety and Performance (Stripe and Mirror) or Capacity (Spanning).

3. Boot to your 2K/XP CD & start the installation. As Windows is first setting up, at the first blue screen hit the [F6] key to load a third party mass storage driver. If you miss this, you will be warned that there are no hard drives attached. If this happens, restart the machine and tap the ?F6? Key a few times as the CD spins up. Windows will go through its install routine, then prompt you for an OEM disk for your MASS STORAGE CONTROLLER. Insert the floppy disk you created earlier, and load the first driver on the list. This will allow you to use your RAID. LEAVE THIS FLOPPY IN THE DRIVE!

4. Let Windows setup the partition and install:
Choose install to the empty disk & choose NTFS FULL format, not quick. If you don't have any other hard disks on your regular IDE channels, there may be a LONG pause after the format; be patient.

5. If your system paused during the install, it will do so again when booting into Windows. Once the install is completely finished, enter the BIOS Setup, go to the MAIN tab, then change "Auto" to "None" for all channels where no drives are connected. NOTE: This applies to your regular IDE channels, NOT your RAID Array.

6. Let Windows run through all of its setup routines and updates.

7. You will now be able to use your RAID disk as a storage device!

Please do not respond to this email. If you need further assistance please have your case number ready, then contact Technical Support at 502-995-0883 (M-F 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM EST).



Lee Broughton
Lead Tech/Reseller"

 

[User5]

wow! thank you so much! i really apriciate that. unfortunatley,they still are referring to a raid serup which i am not using, but ill try nd figure something out, or maybe call asus.

thanks again!!

 

[Manhole]

Thats what i thought since i only had one SATA drive too, but according to ASUS that is still RAID.

just read the instructions. If your using the VIA controller hit TAB ( or ctrl-f for promise depending wich one your HD cables are actually connected to VIA or Promise) after booting and follow the instructions in my post.

 

[User5]

Dont know how to follow those directions, since it says something about deleting the arrays. I press TAB and get into the raid thing, it shows my one hard drive model there, but the Delete Array and all other options are greyed out and it doesent look like I can select them. Also, this isnt my first boot, I tried millions of things to get this working. I tried the download there and put it on the disk and put it in when it was asked for, and its just not recognized I guess and doesent work. Just says "Please insert the disk labeled manufacturer supplied hardware support disk"

This is just really, really frustrating. Do I have to reset something so that I can start from scratch since I have tried this so many times installing the little blue screen thing. When it says to press F6, I do and nothing happens. I have to wait until it asks me if I want to specify after saying that no hard drive is found, and then doesent recognize whats on the floppy or whatever.

Ill try the promise controller now, then maybe call Asus. After that, Ill probably end up selling the hard drive and getting an IDE hard drive. With my luck, probably some part is damaged as well and which is why this isnt working.. Just really upset over this

Thanks for the help though, I really appriciate it!

 

[User5]

Tried the Promise instructions. That doesent work.. Dont really understand what to do for it anyway, since the instructions are talknig about setting up Arrays, and I have no idea what to do for that for only one drive. I tried its "auto" thing and the system just hangs after booting it, so i delete that array. Asus tech support didnt know anything.. I have absolutely NO clue what to do. If anyone can solve my problem I will send you 10 bucks via paypal!

 

[Ricericebaby]

Hey User5,

I believe I know the problem. Okay if your drive is connected to the Via Sata controller, go to the www.via.com.tw website and download the drivers for it first. I believe the file name is via_raid_v310E.zip

Extract it into a 3.5inch floppy..ahh..wait i found the answers in the readme. here you go.

Install Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP, or Server 2003

* Copy all files and directories from the DriverDisk folder to a floppy disk.
Make sure the following directories and files are copied into the floppy disk.


A:\

\PIDE
\2003IA32
VIApide.inf
VIApdsk.sys
VIApdsk.cat

\Win2000
VIApide.inf
VIApdsk.sys
VIApdsk.cat

\Winnt40
VIApide.inf
VIApdsk.sys

\WinXP
VIApide.inf
VIApdsk.cat
VIApdsk.sys

\RAID
\2003IA32
VIAmraid.inf
VIAmraid.sys
VIAmraid.cat

\Win2000
VIAmraid.inf
VIAmraid.sys
VIAmraid.cat

\Winnt40
VIAmraid.inf
VIAmraid.sys

\WinXP
VIAmraid.inf
VIAmraid.sys
VIAmraid.cat

Txtsetup.oem


* Boot system from OS installing CD-ROM.

* Make sure VIA RAID BIOS is executed by the system BIOS when POST.

* Press "F6" when OS installer starts running.

* Insert floppy disk.

* Choose the OS device driver wanted for loading.

* Install OS.

* Run setup.exe after OS is installed.

Okay the one about making sure the via raid bios is executed just means that when you post you should see something that says via raid bios initializing and all that.
Yeah so I think this will work, because it's what I did for my own rig. Cheers!

 

[So]

I had the same prob, I ended up switching the Promise SATA into non-raid mode (option in the bios) and then I used the non-raid drivers on the CD.

 

[imported_Bunter]

This is a real shot in the dark, but I once installed a single SATA drive in an A7N8X, and makedisk misnamed the file for the setup floppy. Windows XP could not recognize the name of the file so it said there was no driver. Someone can correct me on the file name, but Windows is looking for a "oemsetup.inf" I think (the misnamed file had the correct extension, it was the name that was wrong). Windows will tell you the name of the file it is looking for. Make sure your floppy has the right file name or it might as well be blank.

Also, when you say pressing F6 does nothing, do you have one of those keyboards that has a Function Key lock? If so, the F6 key is not be a function key unless the lock is on (similar to a Num Lock).

 

[User5]

Hey thanks a lot anyways. I tried those files and same thing happens. Just stays at the screen "please insert the disk"

So, would you mind elaborating a bit on what you did? Im not quite sure what you mean.

thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Go into the VIA RAID BIOS and configure the drive as an array. See Section 5 of your manual, it covers the whole thing

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: Bunter
Also, when you say pressing F6 does nothing, do you have one of those keyboards that has a Function Key lock? If so, the F6 key is not be a function key unless the lock is on (similar to a Num Lock).

No idea. I grabbed a Dell keyboard to work with because Im not going to set up my wireless one until I get it up and running.

But I dont think thats the issue, because "press f3 to exit" works.

------

The manual doesent explain anything at all.

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Go into the VIA RAID BIOS and configure the drive as an array. See Section 5 of your manual, it covers the whole thing

The manual doesent even mention hooking up a single SATA hard drive!

How do I configure it as an array? I press TAB and all the options are gridded/grayed out

this is what i see when i press tab..

tab

 

[mechBgon]

edit: never mind, your screenshot answers my first couple questions What if you press F1 at that screen?

 

[mechBgon]

Ooops, dp :Q

 

[mechBgon]

New idea: since the controller knows the drive is there, go into the motherboard's own BIOS now, and go to the BOOT menu. There will be several sub-menus, and one of them allows you to select the primary hard drive, if memory serves me correctly. See if the drive is now available in that sub-menu, and if it is, select it and see if that gets you any further in the Windows Setup process. If you happen to have a PATA drive hooked up too, disconnect it until Windows is all set up.

 

[User5]

as w/ pressing f11, it just doesent do anything

okay i will try that right now. thanks a ton for the help!!

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
New idea: since the controller knows the drive is there, go into the motherboard's own BIOS now, and go to the BOOT menu. There will be several sub-menus, and one of them allows you to select the primary hard drive, if memory serves me correctly. See if the drive is now available in that sub-menu, and if it is, select it and see if that gets you any further in the Windows Setup process. If you happen to have a PATA drive hooked up too, disconnect it until Windows is all set up.

Tried that. Dont exactly know what you mean. Under BOOT in the BIOS, I dont see anything where it lets me select any type of hard drive.

Dont even know what a PATA drive is

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: User5

Originally posted by: mechBgon
New idea: since the controller knows the drive is there, go into the motherboard's own BIOS now, and go to the BOOT menu. There will be several sub-menus, and one of them allows you to select the primary hard drive, if memory serves me correctly. See if the drive is now available in that sub-menu, and if it is, select it and see if that gets you any further in the Windows Setup process. If you happen to have a PATA drive hooked up too, disconnect it until Windows is all set up.

Tried that. Dont exactly know what you mean. Under BOOT in the BIOS, I dont see anything where it lets me select any type of hard drive.

Dont even know what a PATA drive is

PATA means Parallel ATA, the "normal" type of hard drive that costs less, performs the same, and doesn't put you through this baloney :evil: ( / rant )

I had a K8V Deluxe myself and it had sub-menus within the BOOT menu where I could select what I wanted the primary hard disk to be. For example, I had a SCSI drive but also a PATA drive at one point, and the system decided "hey, he has a PATA drive, I'm going to assume that's what he wants for the primary drive and I'll try to boot from it." And of course that's NOT what I wanted, so I had to go to the BOOT menu, then into the sub-menu, and tell it "no, DIMMwit, I want the Cheetah 15k.3 on the LSI Logic U160 card to be the primary disk drive " and then it would resume booting from SCSI like before.

I haven't had an SATA drive, boot or otherwise, so I haven't been able to try the VIA SATA controller with a single drive myself. I don't really know what it wants you to do here. You could set the Promise SATA controller to its straight non-RAID mode (IDE mode) and use the proper Makedisk.exe utility to make its driver floppy for that role, and I think that would work. You would put the hard drive on one of the other SATA jacks that the Promise controls, naturally.

Just out of curiosity, what made you pick an SATA drive instead of PATA? I'm starting to get curious about what attracts people to them.

 

[User5]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: User5

Originally posted by: mechBgon
New idea: since the controller knows the drive is there, go into the motherboard's own BIOS now, and go to the BOOT menu. There will be several sub-menus, and one of them allows you to select the primary hard drive, if memory serves me correctly. See if the drive is now available in that sub-menu, and if it is, select it and see if that gets you any further in the Windows Setup process. If you happen to have a PATA drive hooked up too, disconnect it until Windows is all set up.

Tried that. Dont exactly know what you mean. Under BOOT in the BIOS, I dont see anything where it lets me select any type of hard drive.

Dont even know what a PATA drive is

PATA means Parallel ATA, the "normal" type of hard drive that costs less, performs the same, and doesn't put you through this baloney :evil: ( / rant )

I had a K8V Deluxe myself and it had sub-menus within the BOOT menu where I could select what I wanted the primary hard disk to be. For example, I had a SCSI drive but also a PATA drive at one point, and the system decided "hey, he has a PATA drive, I'm going to assume that's what he wants for the primary drive and I'll try to boot from it." And of course that's NOT what I wanted, so I had to go to the BOOT menu, then into the sub-menu, and tell it "no, DIMMwit, I want the Cheetah 15k.3 on the LSI Logic U160 card to be the primary disk drive " and then it would resume booting from SCSI like before.

I haven't had an SATA drive, boot or otherwise, so I haven't been able to try the VIA SATA controller with a single drive myself. I don't really know what it wants you to do here. You could set the Promise SATA controller to its straight non-RAID mode (IDE mode) and use the proper Makedisk.exe utility to make its driver floppy for that role, and I think that would work. You would put the hard drive on one of the other SATA jacks that the Promise controls, naturally.

Just out of curiosity, what made you pick an SATA drive instead of PATA? I'm starting to get curious about what attracts people to them.

Hah

Anyways, I dont really know. I heard some things that it was "faster" but I was deffinetly unaware of how hard it was to set up. Ive been searching google on setting up a single SATA hard drive with this mobo, and it seems like hardly anyone has got their problem solved. I really wish I would have known about this beforehand so that I would have bought a regular hard drive

Should I put the drive on this forums classified section and/or ebay and sell it for a regular hard drive? It just seems really tempting to buy a new harddrive, just plug it in and have it work without spending the entire day trying to figure this thing out

Thanks a lot