Migrating from Athlon XP+ to Athlon 64 ----SATA question

[RedHedStranger]

I'm on the verge of pulling my Athlon XP 2600/ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe (nVidia nForce2 chipset) mobo and replacing it with an MSI Neo-FSR (VIA K8T800) and an Athlon 64 3000+. Yes, I'm really pumped.

Now for my question:

I'm currently running a SATA hard drive with the nForce2 mobo (SATA on board), and the new MSI mobo I'm migrating my hardware to has built in SATA as well. Am I going to have to install a different SATA driver for new mobo to see my HD?? --My current ASUS board has the Silicon Image 3112 controller built in, wheras the new MSI board has the (VIA?) VT 8237 SATA controller. I kinda think it's not gonna make a difference who made the SATA guts - SATA is SATA, right? That's why it's a standard.
I don't want to take a chance here, tho.


thanks much,

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: RedHedStranger
I'm on the verge of pulling my Athlon XP 2600/ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe (nVidia nForce2 chipset) mobo and replacing it with an MSI Neo-FSR (VIA K8T800) and an Athlon 64 3000+. Yes, I'm really pumped.

Now for my question:

I'm currently running a SATA hard drive with the nForce2 mobo (SATA on board), and the new MSI mobo I'm migrating my hardware to has built in SATA as well. Am I going to have to install a different SATA driver for new mobo to see my HD?? --My current ASUS board has the Silicon Image 3112 controller built in, wheras the new MSI board has the (VIA?) VT 8237 SATA controller. I kinda think it's not gonna make a difference who made the SATA guts - SATA is SATA, right? That's why it's a standard.
I don't want to take a chance here, tho.


thanks much,

Just install the driver for the Via SATA controller while the system is in the SiS-based machine, and then move the drive.

Windows typically won't boot on new hardware (moves) for two reasons:

1. Different HAL type
2. Can't access hard disk

#1 is rare nowadays; #2 is easily fixed by having the driver in place BEFORE you move.

 

[RedHedStranger]

Thanks so much for the info, dclive... let me follow up, tho, with another coupla questions:

I had a slight change of plans, and am upgrading to a SOLTEK SL-K8AN2E-GR nForce3 mobo instead of the previously indicated MSI unit. This particular board has SATA support via 2 different controllers. -> 2 SATA connections are controlled by a Promise controller, and 2 are controlled by nForce3 (4 total). I am assuming that I just pick a port and install the appropriate drivers - but why have two distinct controllers, it seems like unnecessary excess.

I'm going through the procedure in my head here, and am having trouble envisioning exactly how this will work. Specifically, how do I install the new SATA driver before gutting the parts from my old machine?? If I go into Device Mgr, I will see SCSI/RAID controllers. Expanding that item, I will see my current SiS 3112 SATA driver. I do not think my existing setup will allow me to install the new driver file -will it? Will I have to update or uninstall my existing SATA driver, or can I simply parallel-install my newer (Promise or nForce3) SATA driver despite the fact that my HDD isn't connected to the new controller yet? Any wisdom is appreciated here...

Assuming I work out the driver situation, I should boot my new mobo/cpu (fingers crossed) and XP should load. Then it's just a matter of installing the mobo drivers, correct? If I recall, as the various (audo, Gb LAN, USB, etc) drivers load, they will show up in system tray. And that's that, right??

Oh, one other thingy - Is WinXP going to make me phone them up b/c of the hardware changes?? I really hate having to do this - it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong when in fact I am a legit user with an actual storebought copy.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: RedHedStranger
Thanks so much for the info, dclive... let me follow up, tho, with another coupla questions:

I had a slight change of plans, and am upgrading to a SOLTEK SL-K8AN2E-GR nForce3 mobo instead of the previously indicated MSI unit. This particular board has SATA support via 2 different controllers. -> 2 SATA connections are controlled by a Promise controller, and 2 are controlled by nForce3 (4 total). I am assuming that I just pick a port and install the appropriate drivers - but why have two distinct controllers, it seems like unnecessary excess.

I'm going through the procedure in my head here, and am having trouble envisioning exactly how this will work. Specifically, how do I install the new SATA driver before gutting the parts from my old machine?? If I go into Device Mgr, I will see SCSI/RAID controllers. Expanding that item, I will see my current SiS 3112 SATA driver. I do not think my existing setup will allow me to install the new driver file -will it? Will I have to update or uninstall my existing SATA driver, or can I simply parallel-install my newer (Promise or nForce3) SATA driver despite the fact that my HDD isn't connected to the new controller yet? Any wisdom is appreciated here...

Assuming I work out the driver situation, I should boot my new mobo/cpu (fingers crossed) and XP should load. Then it's just a matter of installing the mobo drivers, correct? If I recall, as the various (audo, Gb LAN, USB, etc) drivers load, they will show up in system tray. And that's that, right??

Oh, one other thingy - Is WinXP going to make me phone them up b/c of the hardware changes?? I really hate having to do this - it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong when in fact I am a legit user with an actual storebought copy.

The easy way: Buy a PCI IDE card. Put it in your existing machine. Boot up (with your HDD still attached to the motherboard). Install the drivers for the PCI IDE card. Reboot. Confirm Device Manager sees the PCI IDE card successfully. Move the PCI IDE card + your hard drive into the new machine, with the IDE HDD attached to the PCI IDE card. Boot. Install all motherboard drivers.

You're done.

Easy, eh?

 

[GregANDTCH]

Buy a PCI IDE card

How's that going to help?
He's got a SATA drive.
Maybe if he bought a PCI SATA controller card.
That's just more money though.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: GregANDTCH

Buy a PCI IDE card

How's that going to help?
He's got a SATA drive.
Maybe if he bought a PCI SATA controller card.
That's just more money though.

It will help because his registry will then have information on the PCI IDE (SATA IDE) card, and so it will then be able to boot his box on the new motherboard. Then, after he's booted his box on the new motherboard, he can install his new motherboard's SATA drivers, and then move the hard drive to the motherboard's SATA controller.

 

[RedHedStranger]

Thanks for the input, folks. I've done a bit of reading on this, and here's what I'm gonna do:

1. Swap in my new mobo and reconnect everything.

2. Boot with the WinXP CD in my CD drive (making sure via BIOS that the machine can boot by CD)

3. Perform a Windows "repair install". During this process, I should be prompted to insert a floppy with third party SCSI drivers. WinXP basically installs over itself, in theory leaving all my files and software as-is. We'll see...I'm backing files up on a few DVDs regardless.

Anyhow, the new gear arrives Monday from newegg...

Any potential problems being missed here?

THX

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: RedHedStranger
Thanks for the input, folks. I've done a bit of reading on this, and here's what I'm gonna do:

1. Swap in my new mobo and reconnect everything.

2. Boot with the WinXP CD in my CD drive (making sure via BIOS that the machine can boot by CD)

3. Perform a Windows "repair install". During this process, I should be prompted to insert a floppy with third party SCSI drivers. WinXP basically installs over itself, in theory leaving all my files and software as-is. We'll see...I'm backing files up on a few DVDs regardless.

Anyhow, the new gear arrives Monday from newegg...

Any potential problems being missed here?

THX

There is always a risk in doing that, but if you're OK with the risk, that will resolve this particular problem. (Issue being it may open up other problems, but that's a decision for you to make.) If you had a PCI SATA IDE card I'd say to use that, as that's far easier and simpler.

 

[RedHedStranger]

I am happy to report that, after backing up tons of files and moving my SATA HDD from AthlonXP to Athlon64 mobo, everything booted just fine - with no drivers installed whatsoever.

Of note: the nForce3 chipset on my new Soltek mobo has built in SATA controller, not a third party chip. I believe this is why no SATA driver install had to occur.

Once I booted, I simply installed my new nForce3 all in one driver, and that was that - new PC, minimal hassle. Everything was exactly as it was on my last PC. Performance is just faster ;-)

WinXP asked me to reactivate Windows due to hardware change. A 10 minute fonecall took care of that.

The only (tiny) hiccup concerned the ethernet driver. I was having a tough time getting the new one to install. I did a WinXP add/remove and removed nVidia drivers. I was presented with a checklist of all the various drivers to uninstall, and selected ethernet. After the existing (old) driver was removed, it was a matter of simply installing the new.

Everything is up and running...sooo nicely.

Thx,