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Asus A7V600-X mobo and WD 640 GB?

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owim   10-16-2008 at 07:20:32 PM

I have Asus A7V600-X mobo (SATA1) and would like to install HDD WD 640 GB (SATA2). Would that work?

I've tried, but my BIOS doesn't recognize this HDD. However, it works fine with HDD WD 120 GB (SATA1).

Should I set some jumpers, or my mobo is just too old to be working with this advanced HDD?

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ghmage   10-16-2008 at 07:33:12 PM
- 1 +

Usually there's a jumper on a SATA 2.0 drive so it will place nice in SATA 1.0 mode. There should be a sticker on the top of the drive with jumper information.

Reply to ghmage
owim   10-17-2008 at 03:43:58 AM
- 0 +

Thanks. Label only says:
"Master/Slave jumper not required for SATA. Jumpered pins 3 and 4 enable Power In Standby (PUIS)"

Not a word on setting the HDD in SATA1 mode.

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ghmage   10-17-2008 at 03:56:48 AM
- 0 +

The following isn't for your exact model but the pictures will explain - (See OPT1)
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wd [...] ed=#jumper
You can find your precise model for better information.


Message edited by ghmage on 10-17-2008 at 03:57:36 AM
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owim   10-17-2008 at 04:03:36 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the pic -- it clearly explains everything! I didn't get a jumper with my HDD, so I'll acquire one tomorrow and let you know how did OPT1 setting work.

Thank you very much for extremely fast and informative guideline!

Reply to owim
owim   10-17-2008 at 04:16:48 AM
- 0 +

Just one more thing: my previous HDD WD 120 GB (SATA1) required SATA driver to be loaded from the floppy drive while installing WinXP. Sould I expect the same with this model (SATA2 working as SATA1 on a SATA1 mobo)?

However, I did not get any SATA drivers with WD 640 GB. Should I try downloading them from the WD, or hope & pray? :-)

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ghmage   10-17-2008 at 04:20:00 AM
- 0 +

XP doesn't know about SATA, so you'll have to feed it the drivers on a floppy, yes. Use the same drivers you used for the other drive - for the controller on your motherboard. The drivers are for the controller, not the hard drive.

Reply to ghmage
owim   10-17-2008 at 04:26:46 AM
- 0 +

Once again, you're right, this is from the WD site:

"During the initial installation of Windows, you will need to press F6 almost immediately when "Setup is inspecting your hardware..." appears on the screen. You will then be asked to provide any mass storage controller drivers you may have. At this point, use the drivers supplied by your controller manufacturer (or motherboard manufacturer). After performing the steps above, the drive will be recognized and the install should continue without problems."

Thanks!

Reply to owim
owim   10-17-2008 at 04:47:02 AM
- 0 +

Now I checked my BIOS, boot-up sequence is set to "On Board ATA device" (which is ok I guess). Also checked my VIA RAID controller tech details -- it requires these SATA drivers to be loaded from a floppy disk during XP installation. So the SATA drivers came with VIA RAID controller.

(Grrr, I don't have a floppy drive any more.)


Message edited by owim on 10-17-2008 at 05:49:56 AM
Reply to owim
owim   10-17-2008 at 06:15:11 AM
- 0 +

@ghmage -- help me with this one, if you know.

I'd like to make WD 640 GB a primary HDD device and to install XP on it. Is there any way to avoid installing those SATA drivers from a floppy?

I guess my new WD 640 GB will work after setting the jumper, as you helped me. Then, I'll have WD 120 GB with an XP already on it and an empty WD 640 GB.

My "master plan": I connect both drives, boot up from the existing XP from WD 120GB. Then I start XP installation from a CD, select a WD 640 GB drive, format it, and install new XP on it. (I should not need any SATA drivers then, since they're already loaded from WD 120 GB XP.) To be extra sure, I would install VIA RAID SATA drivers then, as explained on their website.

The only question is, when I turn off the PC and switch the SATA cables, making WD 640GB primary and WD 120GB secondary -- would it boot up?

(I guess the only way to choose which SATA HDD is the first and which one the second is by managing cables on the mobo, as explained in the mobo manual.)

Thank you a lot! :bounce:

Reply to owim
ghmage   10-17-2008 at 08:06:18 AM
- 0 +

1. Without using a floppy you would need to put the initial drivers on some other media such as a CD - and the process required for doing this is ABSURDLY complex. You're better off ignoring this option.

2. You probably cannot run the WinXP install from an existing install, because the installed version will be a newer version than the WinXP install CD, due to previous use of Windows Update. (I just tried slopping a WinXP pre-SP1 install CD in my SP3 XP machine for masochistic reasons and found this out.)

3. You can set boot device priority in the BIOS and boot off of whatever you choose.

In short, to the best of my Windows XP knowledge, you have to use a floppy or cdrom for the initial SATA drivers, and the CDROM method is a joke.

You are over thinking your problem.

Reply to ghmage
owim   10-17-2008 at 08:43:30 AM
- 0 +

Thank you once again for your time & input.

Regarding point 2., I don't think it would be a problem. I already have two instances of XP running on this WD 120GB. One has been installed from the another, using the same CD (one year after - for test purposes). I would do the same now, install XP on a new WD 620 GB drive, then run SETUP for VIA RAID SATA supports. However, I'm not a pro as you are, and I value your judgment.

It's just I don't have a floppy drive any more and can not find a store that still sells it! :cry:

Reply to owim
owim   10-17-2008 at 10:53:29 AM
- 0 +

You were right, there is no way to avoid use of floppy and initial SATA drivers. :-(

Jumpers worked, XP recognized the WD 640GB, but didn't let me format it, even though it was running on XP that has those drivers. Plus, following the VIA controller instructions I did Setup of new SATA RAID drivers. That was strange. So, I can not use the WD 640GB when I boot up from XP (WD 120 GB), even though "the device is working properly" but is "inaccessible".

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Bronze Motherboards badge o1die   10-17-2008 at 12:57:32 PM
- 0 +

I had a similar problem with my new p45 board; no sata driver for windows 2k. I had to use maxtor's maxblast software to make an exact copy and set up the new drive. The jmicron driver used on many sata II boards isn't easily recognized by win 2k or xp. Fortunately, my setup didn't bluescreen, and I was able to install the new board drivers. Western digital should have a similar option on it's setup cd.

Reply to o1die
owim   10-17-2008 at 01:16:38 PM
- 0 +

There is no setup CD for WD. Plug & pray! :)

I booted XP from a WD 120GB SATA1 HDD, using SATA drivers for the controller. So, SATA drivers were there, booted up, and HDD worked normally. Then I've downloaded new SATA drivers for my controller, following the instructions. Restarted. I attached WD 640GB SATA2 (in SATA1 mode) HDD, booted XP again from the WD 120GB - and the WD 640GB was there, "the device is working properly" but is "inaccessible". I couldn't format it (from Computer Management -> Disk Management). I just don't get this.

Forget what I wrote before about making new HDD bootble, let's say I just wanted to add another HDD. Not possible the way I see it now.

The list I followed is on: http://www.viaarena.com/default.as [...] ticleID=93 ("Option Two" ).

Still need help. :(


Message edited by owim on 10-17-2008 at 01:20:56 PM
Reply to owim
owim   10-18-2008 at 06:30:02 AM
- 0 +

FYI: I've started XP setup on a new WD 640GB, used a floppy (SATA drivers), everything works. I guess I was over thinking, but still don't get it. :(

Reply to owim
ghmage   10-18-2008 at 06:35:03 AM
- 0 +

Don't worry about it; chalk it up to experience. A fresh install is always nice, anyways.

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