New Computer - installing SATA II Drives

[BH2]

Hi Guys,
Building a new computer using MS Win Xp SP2. Going to use SATA 2 drives.
Other than the connection, does windows Xp instal/recognise the SATA Drives,
or doI have to instal drivers first. IF I do have to instal drivers do they
normally come wih the Mobo ?
Regards
Bob H

 

[Conor]

Hi Guys,
Building a new computer using MS Win Xp SP2. Going to use SATA 2 drives.
Other than the connection, does windows Xp instal/recognise the SATA Drives,
or doI have to instal drivers first. IF I do have to instal drivers do they
normally come wih the Mobo ?
Regards
Bob H

You can run the SATA controller in IDE emulation mode. This allows you
to install Windows as per normal then install the SATA drivers, pop
back into BIOS and reset it to SATA mode then run from that.

IME though, there's no speed differential between running it in IDE
emulation mode and SATA.

 

[Trimble Bracegirdle]

The most usual routine involves getting the SATA drivers from the M.Boards
supplied utility CD onto a floppy
Then when installing Windows XP (any version SP2 or not)
at the very start of install the XP CD ask you if you want to install RAID.
YES folks XP & also I think Vista calls your SATA drivers RAID.
you then continue the install...
The method given in this thread from Conor is clearly far better / less hard
work.
But I'm not certain it will work in every M.Board situation.
SATA is bit better performance than IDE ..particularly as you will likely
have the latest SATA II 300 drive which is faster when the disk is fuller.
Mouse
@@@

 

[BH2]

Thanks for your help Guys, much appreciated
Regards
Bob