XP boot error with SATA and ATA hard drives

[Timothy Daniels]

"Henrik" skrev:

At the moment I am satisfied with it all working and the next
time I by a new disk it will be a SATA disk!

SATA will provide you with the most long-term usage.
As Anna wrote, the advent of the eSATA cable and
connectors opens up a new way to quickly archive
files to external media. In case your PC's back panel
lacks an eSATA connector, nuts 'n bolts web shops
now sell expansion strips for the back panel that have
one or more eSATA connectors on them. Then, with
one or two of the new eSATA external enclosures, you
can make your PC look like it's sending off shoots.

By the way are you Swedish or was that just something
you've picked up somewhere?

It was left over from a "phase" that I went thru in younger
years. I had friends in Sweden, and I took a year of Swedish
at the local university. I went so far as to get a job offer
from Stockholms Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, but I finally
opted to stay in Southern California. I sometimes wonder
about the path not taken.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Anna]

"Henrik" skrev:

SATA will provide you with the most long-term usage.
As Anna wrote, the advent of the eSATA cable and
connectors opens up a new way to quickly archive
files to external media. In case your PC's back panel
lacks an eSATA connector, nuts 'n bolts web shops
now sell expansion strips for the back panel that have
one or more eSATA connectors on them. Then, with
one or two of the new eSATA external enclosures, you
can make your PC look like it's sending off shoots. (SNIP)
*TimDaniels*

Tim:
Note that the OP previously indicated that his motherboard is an ASUS P5WD2,
so he's fortunate in that his motherboard *does* come equipped with an eSATA
port.

In case there are other users who might be interested in equipping their
desktop PC with eSATA capability, as Tim mentions there are devices that can
easily be installed on the computer case's I/O back panel that can provide
this capability - direct SATA-to-SATA connectivity.

One such device we've worked with is the SATAPOWPLAT1 device (see
http://www.provantage.com/scripts/cart.dll/x/0/rtspecs/STRT0HA which
Provantage sells for about $11 incl. shipping)


As previously indicated, this device is simply attached to the I/O bracket
on the computer case's backplane. It comes with two external connectors -
the SATA data connector and the 15-pin SATA power connector. Internally (the
other side of its slot plate) is, of course, the SATA data connector for a
connection to one of the motherboard's SATA connectors and the normal 4-pin
Molex power plug. So it's a simple matter to connect the device to one of
the power leads of your PS to power the "external" SATA HD.

Note that the SATA data connector on this SATAPOWPLAT1 device is a standard
SATA data connector; it is not an eSATA connector.

So by using this device, a user will be able to make a direct SATA-to-SATA
data connection between an external SATA HD, i.e., one that's physically
outside the computer's case - as well as provide power to the drive through
the computer's power supply. In theory, a bare SATA HD could be used in this
type of configuration, but we couldn't, of course, recommend that hardware
arrangement for most users. More & more external enclosures are becoming
increasingly available that can house a SATA HD and provide the appropriate
SATA data connector for direct SATA-to-SATA connectivity. These types of
enclosures will provide a separate power supply as well.
Anna

 

[Timothy Daniels]

On the other hand, here is a backplane expansion strip that
has an External SATA (eSATA) connector:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-internal-external-adapter.htm .

And here are goodies to go with it:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/external-sata-solutions.htm

Need cables?
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm

*TimDaniels*

 

[Timothy Daniels]

"Henrik" skrev:

1. I have checked the BIOS under the tab Boot. The first section
is called Boot Device Priority and here I have Floppy as number 1,
SATA as number 2 and DVD as number 3. Just for your information
it is not possible to select any of the PATA drives here. Below
there is another option called Hard Disk Drives. Under this section
I find first the SATA and then the two PATA disks.

For whatever it's worth, according to a screen shot of the BIOS menu
for the ASUS P5WD2 motherboard, it appears that the HD boot order
is setable in that "Hard Disk Drive" section regardless of SATA
or PATA:
http://img.neoseeker.com/v_image.php?articleid=1821&image=26


*TimDaniels*

 

[Anna]

On the other hand, here is a backplane expansion strip that
has an External SATA (eSATA) connector:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-internal-external-adapter.htm .

And here are goodies to go with it:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/external-sata-solutions.htm

Need cables?
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm

*TimDaniels*

Tim:
With respect to the first device you listed, note that it contains *only* an
eSATA data connector unlike the POWERPLAT1 device I mentioned that contains
*both* the eSATA data connector and a power connector as well. Now that's
fine if the user employs an enclosure with an auxiliary power supply
provided to the SATA HD, but it's a bit more flexible to have this sort of
device with a power connector that facilitates using the computer's internal
PS as a source of power. And the additional cost of the POWERPLAT1 device is
negligible.

But whatever fits...
Anna

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Tim:
With respect to the first device you listed, note that it contains *only*
an eSATA data connector unlike the POWERPLAT1 device I
mentioned that contains *both* the eSATA data connector and a
power connector as well. Now that's fine if the user employs an
enclosure with an auxiliary power supply provided to the SATA HD,
but it's a bit more flexible to have this sort of device with a power
connector that facilitates using the computer's internal PS as a
source of power. And the additional cost of the POWERPLAT1
device is negligible.

I think the links that we both gave were for SATA taken to the exterior,
as opposed to External SATA (i.e. eSATA) Here is the link you gave:
http://www.provantage.com/scripts/cart.dll/x/0/rtspecs/STRT0HA .
Nowhere does the summary mention External SATA or eSATA.

This product's description, though, does mention "eSATA":
http://www.firewire-1394.com/internal-sata-single-esata-bracket.htm ,
as does this:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/internal-sata-esata-bracket.htm .
And yes, both don't include a power connector. It implies that
power must be provided by the external enclosure. Since the
eSATA standard allows for cables up to 2 meters long, though,
NOT running power over cables that long might be a good thing,
especially if several hard drives are involved.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Anna]

I think the links that we both gave were for SATA taken to the
exterior,
as opposed to External SATA (i.e. eSATA) Here is the link you gave:
http://www.provantage.com/scripts/cart.dll/x/0/rtspecs/STRT0HA .
Nowhere does the summary mention External SATA or eSATA.

This product's description, though, does mention "eSATA":
http://www.firewire-1394.com/internal-sata-single-esata-bracket.htm ,
as does this:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/internal-sata-esata-bracket.htm .
And yes, both don't include a power connector. It implies that
power must be provided by the external enclosure. Since the
eSATA standard allows for cables up to 2 meters long, though,
NOT running power over cables that long might be a good thing,
especially if several hard drives are involved.

*TimDaniels*

Tim:
Yes, you are correct in that the POWERPLAT1 device I mentioned contains a
"normal" SATA data connector and not an eSATA connector. Like all these
similar devices, as you know, it still can be used effectively as the
"bridge" to an external SATA HD and facilitate a direct SATA-to-SATA
connection between the SATA HD and the computer. Presumably there is an
advantage to an eSATA connector in that it's a more secure connection and
(according to specifications) a shielded data cable is to be used for the
connection.

Based on our experience to date with this device and similar ones, we really
haven't encountered any signal-type problems that we could attribute to
using a standard SATA data cable as opposed to using a shielded SATA data
cable with eSATA connectors. It's very possible I suppose that if the
computer and related equipment was located in some kind of unusual
environment where various types of equipment generated conflicting signals
of one type or another, the shielded cable together with its eSATA
connector(s) might prevent signal problems in this area. But as I've
indicated we've not run into this situation.

The advantage of the POWERPLAT1 device is, in our view, as I previously
mentioned, i.e., it contains a power connector. We find this addition useful
although it may be of little or no importance to others. Since there's no
additional cost of any consequence with this device as compared with similar
devices not so equipped, we simply prefer it.

I might mention that all the SATA data cables we've been using to date (both
standard & eSATA) have not been longer than 1 meter.
Anna

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Yes, you are correct in that the POWERPLAT1 device I mentioned
contains a "normal" SATA data connector and not an eSATA
connector. Like all these similar devices, as you know, it still can
be used effectively as the "bridge" to an external SATA HD and
facilitate a direct SATA-to-SATA connection between the SATA
HD and the computer. Presumably there is an advantage to an
eSATA connector in that it's a more secure connection and
(according to specifications) a shielded data cable is to be used
for the connection.

Yes, and those shielded eSATA cables aren't cheap:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm

Based on our experience to date with this device and similar ones,
we really haven't encountered any signal-type problems that we could
attribute to using a standard SATA data cable as opposed to using
a shielded SATA data cable with eSATA connectors.

The shielding is for keeping the EMI (electromagnetic interference)
IN as well as keeping it OUT. With the SATA specs pushing up the
clock rate and doubling the maximum length of the cable and leading
outside the PC's case, interference TO other equipment as well as
interference FROM other equipment is taken into account.

The advantage of the POWERPLAT1 device is, in our view, as I previously
mentioned, i.e., it contains a power connector.

What kind of cable do you use externally for the power?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Anna]

Yes, and those shielded eSATA cables aren't cheap:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm





The shielding is for keeping the EMI (electromagnetic interference)
IN as well as keeping it OUT. With the SATA specs pushing up the
clock rate and doubling the maximum length of the cable and leading
outside the PC's case, interference TO other equipment as well as
interference FROM other equipment is taken into account.

What kind of cable do you use externally for the power?

*TimDaniels*

We've used two basic types...
1. We've had custom-made power cables made up for us that have the 15-pin
SATA power connectors on each end. Custom-made because we were unable to
find this type of cable readily available. (I don't know the source of this
type of cable).
2. The ordinary SATA power cable having a 15-pin SATA connector on one end
and a Molex plug on the other end. In many instances we connect a
Molex-to-15-pin SATA connector adapter to the Molex end.

I have to add that with more & more external SATA enclosures coming onto the
market - many of which are combo units providing both direct SATA-to-SATA
capability as well as USB connectivity - and with these units providing an
auxiliary power supply - it's probably more practical for the average user
to use that type of device to house his/her external SATA HD.
Anna