Installing SATA devices

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paolo Pignatelli
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Paolo Pignatelli

In preparation for my first build-it-yourself computer, I have been reading
up on SATA devices. I intend to use a ASUS P5AD2-E Premium and some SATA
Drives, (looking at (2)WD 250's). In going to the Asus site, and looking at
the manual, I come by the instruction: "You must install Windows 2000
Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Service pack 1 before using Serial ATA Hard
Drives. .."

Question: I have the CDROM for XP, but naturally, it does not have the
Service pack.
Is the update downloaded done during install? How does one load the OS boot
for the first time if one can not use the HD?

TIA,

Paolo
 
Paolo Pignatelli said:
In preparation for my first build-it-yourself computer, I have been
reading
up on SATA devices. I intend to use a ASUS P5AD2-E Premium and some SATA
Drives, (looking at (2)WD 250's). In going to the Asus site, and looking
at
the manual, I come by the instruction: "You must install Windows 2000
Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Service pack 1 before using Serial ATA Hard
Drives. .."

Question: I have the CDROM for XP, but naturally, it does not have the
Service pack.
Is the update downloaded done during install? How does one load the OS
boot
for the first time if one can not use the HD?
Click to expand...

Using another computer, take your XP disk and either an SP2 upgrade disk or
downloaded file from M$, then slipstream SP2 into your original install
disk. Here are some instructions on this process:

http://www.neowin.net/articles.php?action=more&id=94
 
Thanks there, by the time I read this, I had already produced the bootable
CD, but the product looks good.

Paolo
 
You have to copy the motherboard's SATA driver off of the motherboard
installation CD onto a Floppy disk. Then during XP's setup off of XP's
installation CD you will be prompted to hit F6 if you need to install any
3rd Party drivers from Floppy. Do so.
 
Can I download the drivers and put them on the CD? I was not planning on
adding a floppy drive to this computer. (If so, where would I put them- in
what directory, or off the root?)

Paolo
 
Can I download the drivers and put them on the CD? I was not planning on
adding a floppy drive to this computer. (If so, where would I put them-
in
what directory, or off the root?)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if you can or not, but you could try. A few minutes after you
hit f6 at the beginning of the install process you'll be prompted to insert
the disk and provide a path. If it lists the CD drive you're in business.
If not, simply start over after connecting a floppy drive to the computer
temporarily, after powering down of course, just long enough to do the
transfer. You can buy these for $14 at CompUSA, so it wouldn't hurt to have
one around for these purposes even if you don't intend to install it
permanently.

Personally, I wouldn't be without one. Memtest86 and some (most?) other
memory testers run only on a floppy, as does my older version of Norton
Ghost, which I use weekly.
 
Thank you. What would I need Memtest86 for? Is it needed even if I only
build one or two computers for myself? (

(I am **obviously** a total neophyte at building PCs... .)

Paolo
 
|
|Personally, I wouldn't be without one. Memtest86 and some (most?) other
|memory testers run only on a floppy,

Memtest86 is available as a self-booting CD image.

Phil
 
Thank you. What would I need Memtest86 for? Is it needed even if I only
build one or two computers for myself? (

(I am **obviously** a total neophyte at building PCs... .)
Click to expand...

Memtest86 is a comprehensive memory tester, for those times you need to
verify your memory is working properly. I thought it was a floppy-only app,
but Phil reports that it can be run via bootable CD.

That said, I still think that a PC should be equipped with a floppy drive
for those rare occasions when you need it. They only cost $15 and are easy
to install in a 3½" slot.
 
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