Installing SATA Hard Drives Help

[BH2]

Hi guys,
I could do with a bit of advice, this is my first build, I have got most of
the computer, just need the Ram and I will be ready, I have a good grasp of
building the Computer, jumpers setting et cetra. The only thing I am a
confused about is the installing of SATA hard drives. I have an Epox 9NDA3J
Mobo, and Western Digital Caviar SE 320Mb Sata drive. I have read info on
how to install them but it only confuses me more. Can some one tell me how
to install the Sata drive, because it will not have any operating system
installed(going to install WinXp when I have the drives setup) step by step
if you could, how do I partition them (what size partitions Win Xp) and
format them? I have only had a
go on already built Computers, for instance how do I format them, do I do it
using DOS, what software do I need to do it. Hey your help is really
appreciated, sorry for the basic questions, but I got to start somewhere,
thanx
Regards
Bob

 

[jer4202]

First off, good choice on the Epox mobo, I have built several in the
past years, especially recently, and Epox tends to have the least
problems and one of the easiest mobos to handle.I too had this
problem with my first SATA hdd install and took a while to figure
out but I now do it all the time.....
1. Plug up all cables (power and SATA)
2. After all hardware is installed and you can POST, insert
the Windows XP cd and make sure your boot
config is set to boot CD-ROM(or whatever optical drive you
have) first
3. Once computer has started, you will see a prompt that says
"Press any key to boot from cd" do just that.
4. As soon as the blue screen appears, the text at the bottom
of the screen will say soemthing like "press F6 to load
SATA drivers"
5. Press F6 as many times as you feel comfortable untill the
prompt leaves, you will not know if the install recognized
your command untill later in the install
6. Continue the installation like normal until you come to the
message that tells you that Windows could not find any
hard drive or storage device
7.Make sure your SATA drivers are loaded on to a floppy disk
from another computer (the file is found on the included
cd-rom with your motherboard, just extract the correct file
onto your floppy with a working computer)
8. I believe you press "S" to specify the correct driver to
windows during the install, but if I am wrong, the message
will tell you the correct letter.
9. There are usually 2 files that need to be extracted, once
you have accessed the floppy disk, you will see 2 files,
extract them both
10. Continue the install like normal, and you should be set.
I recommend keeping the floppy somewhere safe or
atleast the files because the mobo companies tend to
not make it very easy to find on the cd-rom.
* please note that there are usually different SATA drivers included
with your mobo. It depends which SATA connectors your plugged
into, there are Nvidia SATA and Silicon drivers, look to your mobo
manual to decide which one you want to use, and choose the
drivers accordingly.
* Some say that Windows XP Service Pack 2 does not need SATA drivers
installed like this, but in every case I have encountered, they must.

 

[BH2]

***************************************
Thanks for your help and advice,
with reference to point 7.Make sure your SATA drivers are loaded on to a
floppy disk
from another computer (the file is found
on the included
cd-rom with your motherboard, just
extract the correct file

I have checked the Epox CD Rom and it gives me the following choices:
Driver tab: Auto Install
Raid Tab : Creating SI3114 Raid Boot Floppy V 1.0.0.7 or
Creating NF3 Raid Boot Floppy for WinXp v.5.10.2600.446
or
Auto Creat Raid Driver Floppy for Window Installation
which should I select ?
thanks
Bob

************************************

 

[jer4202]

It depends on the ports in which your hard drives are okugged into. If
you look in your mobo manual, you will find a diagram that tells you
which raid controller each port is controlled by. The sl3114 is for the
silicon raid ports. I assume the NF3 raid is for nvidia raid, but im
not sure on that one. Go ahead and try the Auto Create Raid Driver
Floppy, cause it must automatically know which one you have. Hope this
helps, wrtie back if not.

 

[BH2]

Once again thanks for your help
Merry Christmas
Regards
Bob