Sata Hard drive...

[casey]

I recently installed my first Sata hard drive in a AMD Opteron 146 running XP Home and in preperation of getting my new Monitor I was changing a CRT to a LCD and when I started the computer I got an error message that said to continue press F2 to set defaults. I forgot that this computer has XP on the Sata drive. I figure by setting the defaults in my bios I changed something in the boot sequence and now I get NTLDR is missing press ctrl-Alt-Del to restart. Instead of me looking around for an hour to get this to work again I thought I'd ask here first and save myself a lot of headaches. How do I get the bios to see the Sata drive and use it to boot again?

[casey]

Never Mind guys. I went in and found the default settings had swapped the Sata drive and the IDE drive and the computer was trying to boot from the IDE drive. I swapped them back around and it started right up.
Learn something new every day..

[mylanta]

That gets easier in time Larry with newer chipsets and OS with Sp2 on them.
It was a nightmare 2 years ago.

[casey]

I'm getting ready to install my second sata hard drive and by what I'm reading and my limited understanding I'm assuming that since the XP that I'm installing already has SP2 on it that I shouldn't need a floppy with the Sata drivers on it. Do I still press F6 or just let it install on it's own. They could have made this easier to understand..

[dbarrow]

It all depends on the mobo mnfr and the most recent update THEY made to the software.

XP ... and SP2 contain GENERIC drivers that are the WHQL certified version supplied by the mnfr., ie: mnfr updates some driver and sends it to Microsoft for certification, MS certifies it (WHQL) and includes it in a service pack or on their download site.

The mnfr version may contain additional or optional items not included in the WHQL version.

Yes, the Windows install will include an acceptable driver version that works.
But ... sometimes the mnfr (specific) version has additional functions or add-ons that are not in the Windows version.

And, sometimes there is a more recent mnfr version update that is still undergoing WHQL testing and has not been included in a Windows update.

My practice has always been to download the most current mnfr version from their site, and if necessary, f6 install it or replace the Windows version with it after.

Always check the mnfr. site and downloads as there are times they tell you NOT to use the MS version as there has been a revision.

[mylanta]

I'm getting ready to install my second sata hard drive and by what I'm reading and my limited understanding I'm assuming that since the XP that I'm installing already has SP2 on it that I shouldn't need a floppy with the Sata drivers on it. Do I still press F6 or just let it install on it's own. They could have made this easier to understand..

Larry,
Nvidia nforce4 drivers will work fine without sata driver input, then no F6 and just install as normal. If you are using Via or Sis chipset you will need F6 and sata driver.

[casey]

I just started installing XP Home and I had already made the floppy disk so when it asked, I pressed F6 but I didn't put the floppy in and right now it is formatting the hard drive. I don't know if it will ask later on but so far I haven't had to install the drivers. It is a Nvidia chipset.
I think I'm getting to old for this as things are changing so fast or either my mind is slowing down. It took me a while to figure out that 24 pin power to the motherboard
and this case does have a cable just for PCI e although I didn't need it. I guess I shouldn't complain as it is going together. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope I don't have any problems.

[mylanta]

Larry,
Relax as far as you got, you are past the problem...