need help installing raptor on my is7

[RIGorous1]

Hi Everyone,

I know this topic has been written about many times, but I spent the last 2 hours reading them and followed the directions to push f6 on xp install. I did that and I loaded the sata drivers that came with my Abit IS7, however, when i get to the installation part where they display the available drives I only see my old PATA drives and not the SATA raptor. Thanks for your help.

Also, I updated my bios to the latest 20 revision, which has a few options for SATA, but I'm not certain if that means that native SATA is supported.

Rig

 

[mechBgon]

If you want to install Windows on the SATA drive, start by unplugging the other drives so they don't steal drive letter C: from your SATA drive. Then go through the BIOS and set it up like this:

Under Integrated Peripherals -> OnChip IDE Device:
IDE Bus Master - Enabled
OnChip Serial ATA - enhanced
OnChip Serial ATA Mode - ide
SATA RAID ROM - Enabled

Advanced BIOS Features:
Hard Disk Boot Priority - 1. Bootable Add-in Device
Bootable Add-in Device - Onboard sata
Boot Other Device - Enabled

Once the BIOS is set up like that, try your routine again.

 

[RIGorous1]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If you want to install Windows on the SATA drive, start by unplugging the other drives so they don't steal drive letter C: from your SATA drive. Then go through the BIOS and set it up like this:

Under Integrated Peripherals -> OnChip IDE Device:
IDE Bus Master - Enabled
OnChip Serial ATA - enhanced
OnChip Serial ATA Mode - ide
SATA RAID ROM - Enabled

Advanced BIOS Features:
Hard Disk Boot Priority - 1. Bootable Add-in Device
Bootable Add-in Device - Onboard sata
Boot Other Device - Enabled

Once the BIOS is set up like that, try your routine again.

Ok I tried all the above and when I get to the installation part it says that there are no drives available to install windows XP, then it says restart. I double checked again for all of the settings and still no luck.

Hrm, why does it not even detect the raptor still?

Oh and the driver I'm using is the Silcon Image 3112

 

[mechBgon]

Which controller is the drive's SATA cable plugged into? Your board has native SATA in the southbridge and that is definitely the one you should use. The Intel SATA doesn't take Silicon Image drivers though, it takes Intel drivers Does your board have some Intel drivers on a floppy or can you go and get them?

edit: actually, depending on the southbridge's operating mode it may not even need drivers at all. So make sure the drive is plugged into an SATA jack that the southbridge controls and go from there.

 

[RIGorous1]

The drive is plugged into SATA 1 which is positioned less than an inch to the right of the South Bridge chip. Do you think I should try plugging into SATA2 (which is right above SATA1) ?

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, that's the right set of SATA jacks. Now take the floppy with the Silicon Image drivers on it, and cut it into little pieces. Don't need those here. The Intel SATA controller should list the drive when it detects drives, and if the OnChip SATA is set to IDE mode like the instructions say, then I think you don't need any drivers. The drive does have a power cable and is spinning up, correct?

The Abit i865/i875 boards are my showcase example of why SATA has a ways to go before it's ready to take the place of PATA. If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to read the whole owner's manual a couple times through so you have an overview of all the different places where you have to make setting changes related to SATA, particularly as a boot device.

 

[RIGorous1]

ok for the last couple of hours I've been tinkering with settings as mechBgon has recommended, but still the same result... no detection of the Raptor hd. No dectection natively during xp install and no dectection pressing f6 and including silicon image sil 3112 drivers.

I'm certain that the drive gets power because its spinning and the drive is getting hot. The wheels are turning, but no one's home

What should I do?

anyone have any ideas how I can get the SATA controller working, or how I can restart and try again?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1
ok for the last couple of hours I've been tinkering with settings as mechBgon has recommended, but still the same result... no detection of the Raptor hd. No dectection natively during xp install and no dectection pressing f6 and including silicon image sil 3112 drivers.

I'm certain that the drive gets power because its spinning and the drive is getting hot. The wheels are turning, but no one's home

What should I do?

anyone have any ideas how I can get the SATA controller working, or how I can restart and try again?

Guy. If your motherboard really is an Abit IS7, then you don't even HAVE a Silicon Image 3112 controller on it. That's a feature of the IS7-G and they might send the same mobo CD with both, just like they send the same owner's manual with both, but if you have a real IS7, there is no point in trying drivers for a device that ain't there.

I'm sorry you're having trouble with that combo, you must be very frustrated at it. I would be too. If I were there to tinker with it myself then I would keep working on this, but I know when a problem is too complex to troubleshoot over the Internet, and this is one of those. If you want another way out, consider a PCI SATA card.

 

[RIGorous1]

Guy. If your motherboard really is an Abit IS7, then you don't even HAVE a Silicon Image 3112 controller on it. That's a feature of the IS7-G and they might send the same mobo CD with both, just like they send the same owner's manual with both, but if you have a real IS7, there is no point in trying drivers for a device that ain't there.

whoa that statement kinda confuses me... I was starting to think the same that I don't have SATA RAID cause as you said that's for IS7-g boards, but then that makes me wonder what is the controller that has the SATA instructions? the south bridge?

Ok, so assuming that I'm not even supposed to use the f6 command during winXP install my board is supposed to natively detect the drive during installation? But as I've seen it doesn't... This leads me to believe that I don't even have a SATA controller, or my raptor is malfunctioning, or I am teh suxor at computer hardware.

Either way thanks for your help mechBgon. I know the problem is on my side and that your instructions are most likely correct.

Much appreciated,

Rig

(P.S. if anyone has any bright ideas for me to try I'm open)

 

[MDE]

Have you tried a different SATA cable, or unplugging the SATA cable from the drive and motherboard and plugging it back in? Is the drive recognized on a different PC?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1

Guy. If your motherboard really is an Abit IS7, then you don't even HAVE a Silicon Image 3112 controller on it. That's a feature of the IS7-G and they might send the same mobo CD with both, just like they send the same owner's manual with both, but if you have a real IS7, there is no point in trying drivers for a device that ain't there.

whoa that statement kinda confuses me... I was starting to think the same that I don't have SATA RAID cause as you said that's for IS7-g boards, but then that makes me wonder what is the controller that has the SATA instructions? the south bridge?

Ok, so assuming that I'm not even supposed to use the f6 command during winXP install my board is supposed to natively detect the drive during installation? But as I've seen it doesn't... This leads me to believe that I don't even have a SATA controller, or my raptor is malfunctioning, or I am teh suxor at computer hardware.

Either way thanks for your help mechBgon. I know the problem is on my side and that your instructions are most likely correct.

Much appreciated,

Rig

(P.S. if anyone has any bright ideas for me to try I'm open)

You're correct, the southbridge itself has native SATA functionality. Arranging all the settings on that particular family of motherboards is enough to make a guy wanna do something drastic I bet Abit is rueing the day they went with that arcane maze of settings on those boards.

 

[helpmeout]

RIGorous 1, I've been going through the same problem for the last couple of days with an IS7 on a new build. I found this thread, and decided to check with you to see if you had found the solution. Would appreciate details of what you did to get the SATA drivewrs to install. I bought a new XP, sp2 CD for this new build, and I think I've about worn it out. Thanks for any help you can provide.