Installing Windows on a SATA HDD

[Gamingphreek]

I know this thread has been answered time and again but what do i have to do to get XP to install on a SATA HDD. My HDD isn't here yet so i want to make sure i know exactly what imdoing.

I dont have install disks everything is on CD so therefore i cant hit F6 at the beginning at the installation. Or am i supposed to dld the install disks and put it on floppy.

-Kevin

 

[JBT]

You should probably download the latest drivers from the web, Also I would recommend getting a newer BIOS with your board that has enhanced SATA performance. You should be able to find both of these things from NforcersHQ in the Asus and drivers forums. Also when installing make sure you ONLY have your SATA drive and 1 CD rom drive plugged in or else you will have some screwy drive letters.

 

[Gamingphreek]

I am running the 1011 Uber bios, with that came the SATA firmware update. So both of those are installed.

Why only 1 Optical drive., cant i leave both opticals plugged in, because im not planning on using a 2nd HDD as my old one i so noisy.

Also should i dld the drivers from the web and put them on floppy, then when windows ssetup starts hit F6 and go from there?

-Kevin

 

[JBT]

Okay cool I didn't know if u knew about the UBERs some people don't. Ussually when you have more than just the optical drive and the SATA drive it screws up your drive letters. I wouldn't risk having yor system drive being D or E personally. Its not hard jut to unplug the 2nd optical for the install you can plug it back in fine once everything is installed.

Yes download the latest drives and put them on the floppy and use f6 during the install. I think the driver version is 42.0.50 or something like that.

If you have problems getting the system to boot to the SATA drive have your boot string like this

First boot device: cd rom
2nd boot device: floppy
3rd boot device: SCSI
boot from other devices: NO

Of course you can put SCSI highier in the chain if you want. SCSI = SATA in the A7N8X BIOS.

 

[Gamingphreek]

OH SCSI in the BIOS is the same as SATA. Ah that clears something up.

Ok... i guess i will unplug one of the optical drives.

Normally i dont use uber bios's or anythign but the A7N8X-E Deluxe is a special case as it doesn't OC a hair above 200FSB and the multipliers are all screwed up. Other than that its rock solid though.

Thanks for all the help. Cant wait till it gets here.... Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA 120gb.

Should be a big improvement over my wonderful *cough cough* WD 20Gig.

-Kevin

 

[JBT]

ouch a 20 GB WD??? I gave my parents one of those.. that thing is loud AND slow hehe. IF you have any more Q's feel free to ask. I usta have a A7N8X DLX if you were wondering hehe. It was a great board for me.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Thanks... benn a big help!

No doubt it is loud. I dont know about slow until i get this HDD.

Will Windows Install and startup and stuff be snappier.

Also since i will not have any IDE HDD shouldi move the optical drives to the primary channel and disable the secondary channel.

-Kevin

 

[JBT]

yes it should be snappier at least it was for me. I upgraded from a 40 GB 7200 RPM maxtor so a 74 GB Raptor was quite hte improvement hehe. You can change around the IDE channels if you like I don't think it will help out performance any but atleast YOU will know its set up as optimally as possible.