XP not detecting SATA HDD

[Farmer]

I've never installed a SATA hard disk, and XP installation doesn't seem to be detecting the SATA drive (connected to SATA channel 1 on the VIA southbridge).

Should I try doing a low-level format via a Hitachi boot disk?

 

[NFS4]

You have to install the VIA SATA drivers from a floppy bootdisk. Get the files from here:

http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=310

http://downloads.viaarena.com/drivers/RAID/VIA_VT6420VT8237_SerialATA_V220d.zip

2. Install Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP, or Server 2003

* Copy all files and directories of DriverDisk\SATA folder to a floppy disk. Make sure
following directories and files are copied into floppy disk.

A:\
\2003IA32
VIAsraid.inf
VIAsraid.sys
VIAsraid.cat
\Win2000
VIAsraid.inf
VIAsraid.sys
VIAsraid.cat
\Winnt40
VIAsraid.inf
VIAsraid.sys
\WinXP
VIAsraid.inf
VIAsraid.sys
VIAsraid.cat
Txtsetup.oem
VT8237


* Boot system from OS installing CD-ROM.

* Make sure VT6420 BIOS is executed by the system BIOS when POST.

* Press "F6" when OS installer starts running.

* Insert floppy disk.

* Choose the OS device driver wanted for loading.

* Install OS.

* Run setup.exe after OS is installed.

 

[Farmer]

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[Farmer]

Hmm, this is interesting.

I created a disk as per the instructions you quoted. However, XP install keeps asking me for the disk "Labeled: Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk." I do have the disk I created inserted. I have already tried two different disks and two different floppy drives, still the same problem.

 

[Viper96720]

If you download the driver NFS4 linked to the V220d ones. Open the driver folder and look for a folder called driver disk. Open it and run the makedisk program. It'll make the floppy for you to install with.

 

[Farmer]

Viper,

Strange, I don't see any executables in the drivers folder.

Well, stupid me. The driver disk was included with the mobo package. Now why didn't I think of that beforehand? 🙂 Thanks for the help anyway.

 

[Farmer]

Well, the mobo disk doesn't seem to work either. I am totally stumped.

EDIT: Turns out the floppy connector was loose on the mobo. Geez, I'm really slipping.

 

[Viper96720]

Does your floppy drive work. When I installed XP I pressed F6 when it said to install add on drivers or something like that. Then put the floppy in and followed the instructions on screen.

 

[Farmer]

Viper:

Yeah, I figured. Turns out it was the connection.