Single SATA drive...need VIA VT823x driver to be able to i..

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
and using a single SATA hard-drive.

The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
appears fine
in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.

The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)

When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
the hard disk.
(So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to give
it a driver,
by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)

[As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
confirmed that the
PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
(MEPIS/Debian) installation
CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor did
I leave any Linux
partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
before quitting the
Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
is:
"Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]

But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
conclude that there MUST be
some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy. But,
the question
becomes WHICH DRIVER?

Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?

The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
Technologies website.
It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
already had
Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver onto
your
hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.

So, where do I get the needed driver?

TIA and regards...

Dave

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Thanks to all who replied. Yes, I found the 'viaarena' and after that,
it was straight-forward. Here are a couple of extra pieces of info
for the next person who happens down this road:

o One key thing (especially if I had not done the 'Linux experimenting') is
to look on the motherboard and locate the SATA chip. On mine, the
chip is a VIA VT8237 as mentioned before. Thus, one is conceptually
looking for a driver for THAT chip. So, in most cases, it would be THAT
company that would be the author of the driver (rather than ASUS, tho
ASUS might certainly distribute the driver on their CDROM as someone
mentioned.) However, I much prefer using a driver from a website rather
than from the motherboard CDROM, mostly because the website driver
is apt to be newer.

o During the Win-XP installation, it asks you to 'Hit f6' if you want to
load such a driver. Make sure you do that very QUICKLY after that msg
appears
(even tho they don't acknowledge that you've hit it for quite a while...a
minute or
two). Otherwise, you will get dumped out with the fatal msg about not
finding
any hard-drive.

o Much later during the Win-XP installation, it will ask you to insert a
floppy
containing the SATA driver-support stuff AGAIN! That surprised me...and
it sounded like they wanted something different. But, luckily, they were
totally happy with reading that same SATA-driver floppy.

Hope this helps the next person.

Thanks again to the repliers.

Cheers...

Dave [poster of the base note]



"David Cook" <someone@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:qZSdnR-K58C6GdHfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
>I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
> appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)
>
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
> the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to
> give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
> (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor
> did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
> before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
> is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
> already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver
> onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.
>
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Thanks to all who replied. Yes, I found the 'viaarena' and after that,
it was straight-forward. Here are a couple of extra pieces of info
for the next person who happens down this road:

o One key thing (especially if I had not done the 'Linux experimenting') is
to look on the motherboard and locate the SATA chip. On mine, the
chip is a VIA VT8237 as mentioned before. Thus, one is conceptually
looking for a driver for THAT chip. So, in most cases, it would be THAT
company that would be the author of the driver (rather than ASUS, tho
ASUS might certainly distribute the driver on their CDROM as someone
mentioned.) However, I much prefer using a driver from a website rather
than from the motherboard CDROM, mostly because the website driver
is apt to be newer.

o During the Win-XP installation, it asks you to 'Hit f6' if you want to
load such a driver. Make sure you do that very QUICKLY after that msg
appears
(even tho they don't acknowledge that you've hit it for quite a while...a
minute or
two). Otherwise, you will get dumped out with the fatal msg about not
finding
any hard-drive.

o Much later during the Win-XP installation, it will ask you to insert a
floppy
containing the SATA driver-support stuff AGAIN! That surprised me...and
it sounded like they wanted something different. But, luckily, they were
totally happy with reading that same SATA-driver floppy.

Hope this helps the next person.

Thanks again to the repliers.

Cheers...

Dave (poster of the base note)

"David Cook" <someone@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:qZSdnR-K58C6GdHfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
>I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
> appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)
>
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
> the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to
> give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
> (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor
> did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
> before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
> is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
> already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver
> onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.
>
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

David Cook wrote:
> I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA
> drive appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with
> SP2.)
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver
> for the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need
> to give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a
> Linux (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux,
> nor did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no
> partitions' before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux
> uses is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that
> you already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED
> driver onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for
> Windows.
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave

The motherboard CD. It should be on there somewhere. Simply copy it to a
floppy and use that when it prompts you to hit F6. Incidentally, what was
the address of the VIA site you visited? www.via.com is nothing to do with
VIA - you need www.viaarena.com. This is why you're confused, I reckon - you
went to the wrong site. The VIA Arena site is pretty simple to navigate. The
drivers link is at the top of the screen and from there it's three simple
clicks to the driver you need (because I'm feeling benevolent, I've done it
for you it can be downloaded here
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2).

You will need to extract the file to a folder, and then locate the
'DriverDisk' folder. The rest should be self-explanatory. Copy the contents
of the relevant folder to a freshly formatted floppy (it does *NOT* need to
be DOS formatted) and stick it in when you hit F6 (make sure you have your
keyboard's F Lock on, if it has one - the number of times I've forgotten to
hit it before hitting F6). Select the correct driver from the menu (2000 and
XP have the same driver) and you should be good to go.

If not, post back.


--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[xfile]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Hi,

For your reference,

Start from this page: http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2

Select OS (XP) and IDE, RAID & SATA.

On the next page, select VT8237 or any appropriate one for your system, and
read related information on the new page.

Hope this helps.


"David Cook" <someone@nowhere.net>
???????:qZSdnR-K58C6GdHfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
>I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
> appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)
>
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
> the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to
> give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
> (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor
> did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
> before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
> is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
> already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver
> onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.
>
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>

 

[xfile]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

One additional note, turn off RAID controller if you are not using it.

Hope this helps.

"David Cook" <someone@nowhere.net>
???????:qZSdnR-K58C6GdHfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
>I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
> appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)
>
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
> the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to
> give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
> (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor
> did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
> before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
> is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
> already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver
> onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.
>
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>

 

[xfile]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

One final note - I just read your earlier post and many comments from others
are true and that is you are not likely to use any drivers if you are not
going to use RAID function and turned it off.

Hope this helps.


"David Cook" <someone@nowhere.net>
???????:qZSdnR-K58C6GdHfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
>I am building a new system, using an ASUS A7V800 motherboard
> and using a single SATA hard-drive.
>
> The SATA BIOS chip is a VIA chip...a VT8237 to be exact. The SATA drive
> appears fine
> in the BIOS, and is on channel 0, as it should be.
>
> The goal is to install WinXP Pro. (I have a slip-streamed kit with SP2.)
>
> When I try doing the WIN-XP install, the kit fails to find any driver for
> the hard disk.
> (So, as other similar posts have mentioned, it is clear that I need to
> give it a driver,
> by doing the 'Hit F6' thing during installation.)
>
> [As an aside, after a few failed attempts at installing Win-XP, I then
> confirmed that the
> PHYSICAL hookups and BIOS enabling is all working fine, by using a Linux
> (MEPIS/Debian) installation
> CDROM, and its disk-partitioner sees the SATA drive and can create
> and destroy partitions just fine. I did NOT actually install Linux, nor
> did I leave any Linux
> partitions out there...I put the disk partitioning back to 'no partitions'
> before quitting the
> Linux-installer-CDROM. I did notice that the driver-name that Linux uses
> is:
> "Via Technologies...VT823x Bus Master IDE".]
>
> But, Win-XP installation still says it cannot see any hard-drives. So, I
> conclude that there MUST be
> some Win-SATA-driver out there that will make Win-XP-installer happy.
> But, the question
> becomes WHICH DRIVER?
>
> Or, maybe I need a BIOS update?
>
> The Asus website get very confusing fast. So, I wandered over to VIA
> Technologies website.
> It was even MORE confusing there, as everything I read ASSUMED that you
> already had
> Windows installed and running and could thus easily copy UPDATED driver
> onto your
> hard-drive. But, no sign of an actual SATA driver for VT823x for Windows.
>
> So, where do I get the needed driver?
>
> TIA and regards...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>