Just ordered $800 worth of new parts *SOLVED*

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
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I ordered some parts from NewEgg (these parts) and put everything together last night.

I put my XP CD and boot from that which then went through the setup program. It was sort of slow but I didn't think too much for it. I got Windows installed and started installing drivers when the computer started acting slow and at points locking up for a bit while a driver package unzipped.

Anyway, I try re-installing Windows again because I thought maybe I had installed a wrong chipset driver and when it got to the format partition option in Windows setup it ended by saying it can't read the partition and that it might be damaged or check the connections.

Connections are fine and I switched SATA ports. There was a jumper on the drive that limits the transfer to 1.5GB/s, I tried it with that on or off. Tried switching between SATA IDE/Native and Legacy in BIOS, still no dice.

I also checked CPU temps to make sure it wasn't overheating for some reason (wasn't overclocked) and they were fine.

Needless to say I'm pissed. Should I just send the drive back?

Seagate drive in question
 

dfuze

Lifer
Feb 15, 2006
11,953
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Sounds like you might have gotten a bad drive. I've only had to RMA once to Newegg, but it was a very easy,pleasant and fast experience.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
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403
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Originally posted by: dph1077
Sounds like you might have gotten a bad drive. I've only had to RMA once to Newegg, but it was a very easy,pleasant and fast experience.

Yeah I hoped that wasn't the case but it seems like it. This is my first experience with SATA... there isn't anything special you have to do/install/setup is there? Seems like the drive is bad because it worked (slowly) at first and now doesn't work at all.

I submitted an RMA request, hopefully will get this out today.

Now I'm going to have to mess around with the 4 IDE devices I have and 1 IDE connector on the motherboard so I can at least use the computer for the time being. ;)
 

ZappDogg

Senior member
Jul 18, 2005
761
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You do know that you have to use SATA drivers to install XP onto a SATA drive, right?

It's not as easy as just using IDE drives.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: ZappDogg
You do know that you have to use SATA drivers to install XP onto a SATA drive, right?

It's not as easy as just using IDE drives.

No I didn't... that's what I was talking about with the "do you have to do anything special". I don't believe I saw otherwise when I was putting the parts together (I read through a few manuals/instructions that came with it cause I was wondering about this).

Anyway I did a quick Google search and found some info. I'll try that out after work tonight. Thank you ZappDogg.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
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Well I got the SATA drivers on a floppy finally and got into Windows Setup and now it's asking me to choose between these options:

GIGABYTE GBB363 RAID Controller
GIGABYTE GBB363 AHCI Controller
GIGABYTE GBB360 RAID Controller
GIGABYTE GBB360 AHCI Controller

I have no clue what one to pick. I don't have any RAID stuff or anything, I just wanna get this fvcking thing working.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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First of all, if you happen to be installing a version of Windows prior to WinXP Service Pack 2, then it is a worm magnet requiring isolation or protection right from the get-go.

Even if you're installing WinXP that has SP2 already built-in, you should install stuff in the proper order. more info. In your case,

1) go into your motherboard's BIOS and switch off the AHCI mode for the SATA controller, if it is presently on AHCI. In non-AHCI mode, you do not need to supply drivers during Windows Setup.

2) now plug the drive's cable into one of the first two SATA jacks on the motherboard

3) ensure that all network and wireless and dial-up connections are unplugged and follow the order I gave in the page I linked to above.

4) Important: Do not install video or motherboard drivers until you've already got Service Pack 2 installed and rebooted (this is straight from Intel's own advice).


Alternately, if you want to use AHCI mode, you can use the AHCI driver from the floppy. It allows for NCQ and stuff.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
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Thanks for the help mech. I actually did get it working though, I'm posting from the computer now. I got it working by plugging the drive into one of the Gigabyte SATA2 ports as opposed to the regular ones. Then switched a setting in BIOS and for that Windows Setup question I just chose the first option. Works great now. :D
 
Jun 16, 2004
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Originally posted by: clamum
Well I got the SATA drivers on a floppy finally and got into Windows Setup and now it's asking me to choose between these options:

GIGABYTE GBB363 RAID Controller
GIGABYTE GBB363 AHCI Controller
GIGABYTE GBB360 RAID Controller
GIGABYTE GBB360 AHCI Controller

I have no clue what one to pick. I don't have any RAID stuff or anything, I just wanna get this fvcking thing working.

Edited to change the fact that I got this completely wrong the first time. :disgust: Changed the text below to say it's the JM363. I think I have it right now.

I believe the Gigabyte S3/DS3 use the JMB363. Here's the reasoning (The idea is actually from "wusy" over on Tom's forumz). If you go to the JMicron product descriptions and look at the individual product descriptions, you'll see something like

JMB360: PCI Express to 1 SATA II port
JMB361: PCI Express to 1 SATA II port and 1 PATA port Host Controller
JMB363: PCI Express to 2 SATA II port and 1 PATA port Host Controller
JMB365: PCI Express to 1 SATA II port and 2 PATA port Host Controller
JMB366: PCI Express to 2 SATA II port and 2 PATA port Host Controller

Since the Gigabyte S3 and DS3 support 2 SATA and 1 PATA port with their JMicron, they must be using the JMB363.

Furthermore, if you look in the product brief PDF docs for the JM363 and the JM366, on the second page is a bullet point stating how many "storage devices" are supported. The JM363 supports up to 4 devices and the JM366 supports up to 6. Since clearly two of those devices are SATA that means the JM363 supports 2 PATA devices (1 connector) and the JM366 supports 4 PATA devices (2 connectors).

Don't know if any of the above matters since the exact same driver files are installed no matter which entry you pick ... but what the heck.

-john, the ostensibly clueless redundant legacy-in-transition dinosaur