System/boot disk error in BIOS

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Hi, all. I run a setup where my Windows installation is on a SATA disk and I have extra data on an IDE disk. For reasons which would take too long to keep readers interested, I booted a new Windows installation on my IDE disk, with the SATA disk physically unplugged. Then I erased the IDE installation, plugged back in my SATA disk, and tried booting again.

Unfortunately, I got some kind of a system disk failure on my boot screen. I forget exactly what the message was, but essentially my motherboard was trying to boot off the IDE drive (which was empty), and wasn't noticing the Windows installation on my SATA drive. So, to boot Windows I have to press ESC to enter the boot menu, choose "hard disk," then the correct drive. Only then will it boot to Windows.

Now, strictly speaking I know one way to correct this problem. All I have to do is unplug the IDE drive, boot Windows, then plug it back in. However, this requires a whole bunch of time and energy, and I'd have to tinker inside my case no less than twice. I'd rather simply keep using the ESC boot menu than do all that.

But isn't there a way to fix this without opening the case? My motherboard is an Epox EP-8KDA3J.

Thanks in advance!
--Ben

 

[briin79]

something simple but did u make usre the pin settings are set to slave?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

The IDE is a master, and set to such.

I'm not sure what setting my SATA drive is on. Do SATA drives even have jumpers? It's been months...

 

[Navid]

You should be able to enter the BIOS and set the boot priority order so that the SATA drive comes before the IDE drive. That should be all you need to do.

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: Navid
You should be able to enter the BIOS and set the boot priority order so that the SATA drive comes before the IDE drive. That should be all you need to do.

He got your answer... try it

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I've tried that, but there doesn't seem to be any boot priority option other than the very generic "hard disk" setting.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
I've tried that, but there doesn't seem to be any boot priority option other than the very generic "hard disk" setting.

Don't say that!

This is the user's manual.
http://www.epox.com/USA/article.asp?ID=1731

Look on page 39, section 4-2.
You can select hard disk to have priority over CD-ROM or floppy using the "First Boot Device" item on the menu.

Then, using "Hard Disk Boot Priority" menu item, you can select which hard drive has priority over the other hard drives.

Overall, that gives you full control.

 

[bendixG15]

Gee Navid he didn't even acknowledge your post.

I thought a little "Thank You" would have been appropriate