G
Guest
i would normally use the search tool, but Windows + SATA is a JOKE, i wont
get into that so dont bother flaming, i just want some simple questions
answered from PROFESSIONALS.
--IF YOU REPLY, PREFERABLY READ EVERYTHING FIRST--
my current question will always be on the bottom of the post for everyone else
this will avoid double posts of silly questions ie. 'what SATA controller'
i am trying to make this post as searchable, thorough, and useful as possible!
--BACKGROUND--
Soltek made some p4-able mini ATX systems called Qbic
- Soltek SL-B8E-F mainboard
- Intel Chipset Intel 865G + ICH5
- Includes the standard SATA, DDR, IDE, Floppy, USB 2.0
- Samsung CD-RW drive in top, Samsung DVD-ROM in bottom drawer in ours
- Maxtor 80GB SATA 150 dual power (using 4-pin molex due to PSU) in ours
Great system, but windows 98 is the only windows i have found to FRESH
INSTALL onto the SATA HDD
- win2k wont identify boot CD (multiple disks tried)
- winXP wont load CD once u hit boot from disk
- WinVista installer will load, identify disks and copy/extract files; but
will not find install on restart...
--THE STORY--
Originally when putting XP on there i had to initially install 98 and then
start the upgrade from within windows so it didnt have to try to boot off the
CD. This was discovered after trying to boot off XP Pro(+/-SP2), XP
Home(+/-SP2), 2003 server , 2000 corp, 2000 pro, ME & 98SE all variants of
OEM, Retail, and streamlined installer CDs i had made)
The PC is now virus infested, poorly organised (NEVER install XP over 98!!)
and in bad shape, and i was informed the disc drives wouldnt open on button
press
-Time for a reformat, "hey, obviously M$ will have the right drivers in
Vista".
-Press the release catch on bottom drawer - nothing "okay the button on the
case probably doesnt relay the button press - maybe thats what Dad was
referring to"
-Press release on top drawer - Bingo! DVD-ROM! As i close the tray i realise
that the bottom drawer was the one that opened
**THE OPEN BUTTON ON THE CD-RW OPENS THE DVD-ROM DRIVE!!**
-Boot off Vista CD (FINALLY!)
**VISTA SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED THE SATA HDD AND FORMATTED
-Vista copies files necessary, extracts, updates (WTF is that!?) and restarts
**AFTER POST NEW SCREEN SHOWS BLINKING CURSOR INDEFINATELY**
-Boot of Vista CD and hit recover
**VISTA IDENTIFIES THE INSTALL WITH NO PROBLEMS TO REPAIR**
-later when testing for the cause THE BOOT LOADER AROSE, CHOSE AND INSTALL
AND LOOPED ON THE GREEN BAR INDEFINATELY once ever
-it has not yet since found the boot loader
okay, the blinking cursor suggests it cant find a windows OS so (in order):
-The logical File System is wrong (CHS or Boot priority or HDD Master in BIOS)
-The physical File System is wrong (RAID error, Bad sectors, wrong formatting)
-The files are wrong (no boot sector, no windows directory, no loader etc)
--SOLVING THE PROBLEM--
1/ PC layout
............all plugs are OK & its not worth changing the SATA power yet
............the case definately just doesnt relay the open button press to
the DVD
............the open buttons on the DVD-ROM and CD-RW BOTH OPEN THE DVD!
............there is no Floppy Drive but there is a FDD controller
2/ Logic
............No IDE HDD (only the optical's)
............BIOS identifies HDD and is set to boot off it
............The BIOS does warn 'current S-ATA config for XP/2000 ONLY'
3/ Software
............BIOS is vers AX1.4F latest is AX1.8F with one fix = DVD
compatibility
............We can likely assume it copied files correctly
-I feel a BIOS flash is first, because regardless, the optical drives are
conflicting. -I will then later consider options such as copying install
files & boot loader onto HDD via another PC or even installing on another PC
then transferring/rebuilding
......My FDD is old and keeps corrupting, so a boot CD is preferable (i dont
think USB boot disks are supported with this chipset)
--CURRENT QUESTION-- (easy!)
Apparently you cannot use recovery console to flash you BIOS; is this
correct? also is it safe to use the CD img off bootdisk.com?
get into that so dont bother flaming, i just want some simple questions
answered from PROFESSIONALS.
--IF YOU REPLY, PREFERABLY READ EVERYTHING FIRST--
my current question will always be on the bottom of the post for everyone else
this will avoid double posts of silly questions ie. 'what SATA controller'
i am trying to make this post as searchable, thorough, and useful as possible!
--BACKGROUND--
Soltek made some p4-able mini ATX systems called Qbic
- Soltek SL-B8E-F mainboard
- Intel Chipset Intel 865G + ICH5
- Includes the standard SATA, DDR, IDE, Floppy, USB 2.0
- Samsung CD-RW drive in top, Samsung DVD-ROM in bottom drawer in ours
- Maxtor 80GB SATA 150 dual power (using 4-pin molex due to PSU) in ours
Great system, but windows 98 is the only windows i have found to FRESH
INSTALL onto the SATA HDD
- win2k wont identify boot CD (multiple disks tried)
- winXP wont load CD once u hit boot from disk
- WinVista installer will load, identify disks and copy/extract files; but
will not find install on restart...
--THE STORY--
Originally when putting XP on there i had to initially install 98 and then
start the upgrade from within windows so it didnt have to try to boot off the
CD. This was discovered after trying to boot off XP Pro(+/-SP2), XP
Home(+/-SP2), 2003 server , 2000 corp, 2000 pro, ME & 98SE all variants of
OEM, Retail, and streamlined installer CDs i had made)
The PC is now virus infested, poorly organised (NEVER install XP over 98!!)
and in bad shape, and i was informed the disc drives wouldnt open on button
press
-Time for a reformat, "hey, obviously M$ will have the right drivers in
Vista".
-Press the release catch on bottom drawer - nothing "okay the button on the
case probably doesnt relay the button press - maybe thats what Dad was
referring to"
-Press release on top drawer - Bingo! DVD-ROM! As i close the tray i realise
that the bottom drawer was the one that opened
**THE OPEN BUTTON ON THE CD-RW OPENS THE DVD-ROM DRIVE!!**
-Boot off Vista CD (FINALLY!)
**VISTA SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED THE SATA HDD AND FORMATTED
-Vista copies files necessary, extracts, updates (WTF is that!?) and restarts
**AFTER POST NEW SCREEN SHOWS BLINKING CURSOR INDEFINATELY**
-Boot of Vista CD and hit recover
**VISTA IDENTIFIES THE INSTALL WITH NO PROBLEMS TO REPAIR**
-later when testing for the cause THE BOOT LOADER AROSE, CHOSE AND INSTALL
AND LOOPED ON THE GREEN BAR INDEFINATELY once ever
-it has not yet since found the boot loader
okay, the blinking cursor suggests it cant find a windows OS so (in order):
-The logical File System is wrong (CHS or Boot priority or HDD Master in BIOS)
-The physical File System is wrong (RAID error, Bad sectors, wrong formatting)
-The files are wrong (no boot sector, no windows directory, no loader etc)
--SOLVING THE PROBLEM--
1/ PC layout
............all plugs are OK & its not worth changing the SATA power yet
............the case definately just doesnt relay the open button press to
the DVD
............the open buttons on the DVD-ROM and CD-RW BOTH OPEN THE DVD!
............there is no Floppy Drive but there is a FDD controller
2/ Logic
............No IDE HDD (only the optical's)
............BIOS identifies HDD and is set to boot off it
............The BIOS does warn 'current S-ATA config for XP/2000 ONLY'
3/ Software
............BIOS is vers AX1.4F latest is AX1.8F with one fix = DVD
compatibility
............We can likely assume it copied files correctly
-I feel a BIOS flash is first, because regardless, the optical drives are
conflicting. -I will then later consider options such as copying install
files & boot loader onto HDD via another PC or even installing on another PC
then transferring/rebuilding
......My FDD is old and keeps corrupting, so a boot CD is preferable (i dont
think USB boot disks are supported with this chipset)
--CURRENT QUESTION-- (easy!)
Apparently you cannot use recovery console to flash you BIOS; is this
correct? also is it safe to use the CD img off bootdisk.com?