Windows not reading my raptor HD

I just built a system with a WD raptor 10,000 rmp HD, SATA... I built everything successfully and it runs beautifully until I try to install windows. It loads everything up until it tries to actually install it to the hard drive, and it says there is no Hard disk to be found. I downloaded and created a boot disk with the Data lifeguard tools, and formatted the disk(meaning the computer reads the disk) but the problem with windows reading it after the format persists... I'm not sure what the problem is or what I need to do to solve it. Any help will be appreciated. thanks.

 

Hi and welcome to the BBS,

Windows does not have drivers for the SATA controller. When you are booting to the Windows CD watch the loading information at the bottom of the screen. There will be a section "Press F6 to install drivers for SCSI controllers... ". When you press F6 it will ask you put the (SATA) drivers floppy in the floppy drive. It should "see" the drive then.

Matt

 

I'll try that. Thanks. I thought I'd tried that already, but it's all a jumble at the moment since as I said, I always have to relearn everything.



Well, I've got 2 disks that I think came with the board... the one that it reads when I go into the F6 option is the intel matrix storage technology RAID Driver for intel desktop boards.

It gives me the option of selecting a 82801GR/GH SATA RAID or AHCI controller
Also a 82801FR SATA RAID or AHCI controller...

None of them seem to work. again, thanks for your help.

 

I found your motherboard model number on a reply you did in another thread.
Here is your motherboard's webpage:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/d975xbx/index.htm

Here is the drivers page:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...ng+Systems&lang=eng&strOSs=All&submit=Go!#UTL

Information on installing Windows on a SATA drive:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/serialATA_FAQ.mspx

All HDD related drivers are termed "RAID ", some are termed "F6 drivers ".

Are you trying to run x64, because the drivers are different to Win Home or Pro?

The specifications for the motherboard should tell you the model of the SATA controller (RAID controller?).

Matt

 

I'll check all this out. It's XP home edition.

 

man... this is sensory overload at the moment. I guess I'll continue reading up tomorrow... but so far I'm not sure where I should begin. Should I try and update the bios?

 

This appears to be generalized information. Your solution may be here:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-020811.htm#notseen

Make sure you see the difference between SATA and a RAID array. The problem may be that you have installed "a RAID array" and it is looking for 2 or more drives.

You may need to uninstall any RAID setup information.

Matt

 

is there a way to actually uninstall the raid settings? or do I just change them? should I restore the bios to it's original settings? I know I put it on AHCI rather than RAID, but I don't know if I have to completely reset something. I'm gonna head to bed and pick this up tomorrow night. Thanks for the help so far.

 

Have a good sleep on it (and read further before making any serious changes).

From what I have seen I wish there was a "I have one SATA drive and I want to set it up" set of steps in the instructions. "Hot swap ", these are business setup instructions!

Email Intel Support if you cannot get much further.

Matt
Edit: If the BIOS has settings for what controller to boot to, that is, SATA or maybe SCSI, it may help. You should run on "standard" BIOS settings until you get the system set up and stable. After you have Windows running and all your drivers installed, then go into the BIOS and select "Optimum Settings" or other modifications.

 

One of the things that I'm confused about is how I'm supposed to determine wich one of these applies to my HD

also, the cable that the HD came with goes from a sata cable on the board to an sata connector on the HD, but the one on the HD has stabilizers and connects to the sata power jack. The instructions say that this won't supply the HD with power, so I have to plug the legacy power cable in as well... I would assume, without reading the directions that the sata cable that didn't plug into the sata power jack would be the one without power. would that have anything to do with it? Again it still is able to format, windows just doesn't want to write to the drive.

I also updated the Bios, and that didn't work either.

Edit: *sigh* went to WD's support site and got the same answers...
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc...XJjaF90ZXh0PWluc3RhbGwreHA*&p_li=&p_topview=1
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc...XJjaF90ZXh0PWluc3RhbGwreHA*&p_li=&p_topview=1

Edit 2.0: you know... It's probably as simple as using WD's Data lifeguard tools on a diskette... wich I have no way of creating a diskette at the moment.

 

*cough*

Um... well, I figured it out. The MoBo manual didn't say anything about their being 2 sets of 4 sata connectors....... It only highlighted the 4 blue ones all together. My best friend back in Chicago, who I've not been able to contact in a few days looked at the manual online and asked me wich SATA connectors I was using. there are 2 sets of 2 black connectors on the MoBo... I plugged it into that one, and it works... *sigh* thanks for all the help...

 

Great. A win is a win I suppose
Thanks for letting us know. Let's hope it helps someone else.

Matt

 

Another datum for the next guy banging his head.

I know it won't help the original "instance ", but I've used plenty of old stuff.

I've found, the hard way, if your install CD includes SP2, at least in my case Windows installed directly to a SATA with no F6. And once I figured it out, it was a lot easier than digging out a 3 1/2" foppy drive to install for 2-3 boots.

Hope SOMEONE'S life is easier with this.