System can't see SATA HDD please help!

onlyoneman · Aug 18, 2010, 04:44 PM

***Moving this over from another post. I think this is a more appropriate place for this question.***

I have downloaded several different driver packages from VIA for the kt600 chipset specifically for the
VIA VT8237 south bridge, and none of the SATA/RAID pre-install drivers seem to be working. They all seem to install fine,
just the system still fails to see the drive afterwords.
I was wondering if there might be something I'm missing in BIOS as I have never installed a new SATA HDD in a system that didnt already have one set up.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I have attached some shots of CPU-Z and DXDIAG results so you guys can see what I'm working with.
Also, if someone could help me find an updated BIOS that would probably be a good thing. I have been looking and fount nada so far.

IvanV · Aug 18, 2010, 04:54 PM

That southbridge has a flaw which makes it incompatible with SATA II hardware. The original SATA standard was designed to be forward compatible, but VT8237 was one of the few southbridges that can't do it.

There is usually a way to make a SATA II HDD work at old SATA speed, can you tell us the exact model of your HDD, or at least the manufacturer? If it's Maxtor, there's a jumper on the HDD for this, for other makes I'd have to google it.

onlyoneman · Aug 18, 2010, 05:01 PM

I was just about to jumper the drive to 1.5 when i decided to check here to see if anyone had anything to say...funny thing...ill let you know how it works out. thanks.

onlyoneman · Aug 18, 2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanV

That southbridge has a flaw which makes it incompatible with SATA II hardware. The original SATA standard was designed to be forward compatible, but VT8237 was one of the few southbridges that can't do it.

There is usually a way to make a SATA II HDD work at old SATA speed, can you tell us the exact model of your HDD, or at least the manufacturer? If it's Maxtor, there's a jumper on the HDD for this, for other makes I'd have to google it.

The plan worked!. The system now sees the drive THANK GOD, but Windows fails to start when I boot from that drive...I get as far as the Windows XP logo screen, and then the system just reboots. I'm thinking maybe it's because I don't have a RAID setup yet? I don't know, I haven't ever dealt with these things before so I really have no idea how to proceed from here.

EDIT* I disconnected the IDE drive, and still can't start windows from the SATA. Any ideas?!

OldBuzzard · Aug 19, 2010, 04:25 AM

hmmmm...if it's seeing the HDD, and TRYING to boot from it, I'd suspect the Windows install itself.

I'd try reinstalling Windows on the drive and see what happens.

I've never setup a RAID array, so I can't help in that area. I'd set it up as a non-raid drive first, get it booting, and then go from there.

EDIT:

If your system wouldn't even see the HDD, where did the Windows install on the drive come from? If it was from some other system, then that would explain why it's failing to boot, because each Windows install is dependent on that system's hardware. If that's the case, then you DEFINITELY need to format the drive and install a fresh version of Windows on it.

onlyoneman · Aug 19, 2010, 01:29 PM

You still got it, Buzzard! Spot on, as always

Thanks so much.

Aug 18, 2010, 04:44 PM	#1
onlyoneman HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	System can't see SATA HDD please help! *Moving this over from another post. I think this is a more appropriate place for this question.* I have downloaded several different driver packages from VIA for the kt600 chipset specifically for the VIA VT8237 south bridge, and none of the SATA/RAID pre-install drivers seem to be working. They all seem to install fine, just the system still fails to see the drive afterwords. I was wondering if there might be something I'm missing in BIOS as I have never installed a new SATA HDD in a system that didnt already have one set up. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. I have attached some shots of CPU-Z and DXDIAG results so you guys can see what I'm working with. Also, if someone could help me find an updated BIOS that would probably be a good thing. I have been looking and fount nada so far.

Aug 18, 2010, 04:54 PM	#2
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,914 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: System can't see SATA HDD please help! That southbridge has a flaw which makes it incompatible with SATA II hardware. The original SATA standard was designed to be forward compatible, but VT8237 was one of the few southbridges that can't do it. There is usually a way to make a SATA II HDD work at old SATA speed, can you tell us the exact model of your HDD, or at least the manufacturer? If it's Maxtor, there's a jumper on the HDD for this, for other makes I'd have to google it. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Aug 18, 2010, 05:01 PM	Thread Starter #3
onlyoneman HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Re: System can't see SATA HDD please help! I was just about to jumper the drive to 1.5 when i decided to check here to see if anyone had anything to say...funny thing...ill let you know how it works out. thanks.

Aug 19, 2010, 04:25 AM	#5
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	Re: System can't see SATA HDD please help! hmmmm...if it's seeing the HDD, and TRYING to boot from it, I'd suspect the Windows install itself. I'd try reinstalling Windows on the drive and see what happens. I've never setup a RAID array, so I can't help in that area. I'd set it up as a non-raid drive first, get it booting, and then go from there. EDIT: If your system wouldn't even see the HDD, where did the Windows install on the drive come from? If it was from some other system, then that would explain why it's failing to boot, because each Windows install is dependent on that system's hardware. If that's the case, then you DEFINITELY need to format the drive and install a fresh version of Windows on it. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY Last edited by OldBuzzard; Aug 19, 2010 at 04:31 AM.

Aug 19, 2010, 01:29 PM	Thread Starter #6
onlyoneman HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Re: System can't see SATA HDD please help! You still got it, Buzzard! Spot on, as always Thanks so much.