XP / HDD / Sata Drivers

[themaster1]

So i just bought my new hdd and i'd like to have all the info before i install.
I got windows xp sp2.
I read that if wanna install it on a new hdd, i must install the sata drivers first before loading Xp otherwise it'll fail.
My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8TRC410MF problem is i don't find these drivers anywhere and i'm tryin to registrer at the Fujitsu/Siemens forums (my computer is a Scaleo P) but it requires an activation the which never come. Talk about luck...

I'm reading the new hdd's manual and i see a few things:
"If your computer supports IDE HDD auto detection the hard drive will be automatically detected"

What i know is that my current hdd is a Sata2 and connected with the sata cable indeed yet in the Bios it is listed under the label "IDE Master". Does that mean my motherboard support this IDE HDD auto detection mode thus i would not need these sata drivers (not to install xp at the very least) ? I don't know...i'm asking you


Then i read this:
If your computer does not support Auto detect, go to the Bios and User Define mode and set the correct settings for:
cylinder, head, sector and set HDD mode to LBA.

Question: How can i know the exact values for these parameters.


Thanks for your help

[redwudz]

Just plug it in and try it. Most new MBs have the SATA drivers already, so nothing to install. That is more common when using a PCI slot SATA controller for a boot drive.

If it's going to be your boot drive, then it becomes more important concerning drivers. Some older MBs may require driver installation. And I would disconnect all other HDDs when you install the OS from disc. If it's just a add on HDD, should not need any drivers installed in advance. But most times, for a OS install, if the Windows disc sees the new drive, easy. Partition and format, then install.

You can't hurt anything by trying as long as there are no other HDDs connected.

[Bjs]

If the mother board has in built sata connectors

If sata drive connected to sata0 then enter bios and set first bootable device to cd/dvdrom, and second to sata (sata0) ... some boards may say scsi

Then in bios locate sata (sata0) options and set to IDE

Place xp cd in cd/dvdrom

Save bios and let system reboot

In this case there is no need for drivers

Question: How can i know the exact values for these parameters.

These are written on the drives information label

[themaster1]

Ok i have gathered some major info.
It seems you're right, The IDE mode don't need Sata drivers however the IDE mode appears to be the weakest among the trio: IDE, AHCi, RAID.
Raid consume lots of Ram (that's what i read on the net) and as i only have 1Gb of Ram i will discard this possibility (for now).
That leaves me the AHCi mode which is not natively supported by windows Xp (Vista yes).The AHCi mode use the famous NCQ command which enhance performances of the drive (especially for multitasks)
This, is something i really wanna use.

In order to have this option fully working i need to have the drivers, put them on a floppy disk (not sure if it'll work for a usb stick) & press f6 (which load the said drivers) before installing Xp.Also i must use a software Intel Matrix Storage Manager

I just made a lil' search on my current Xp install, i've found the raid drivers it seems, that's 3 files: (nvraid.cat , sisraid.cat , viamraid.cat) and the AHCi (iaAHCI.inf, iaAHCI.PNF, iaAHCI.cat)


I think i'm on the right track

I you got tips, they're welcomed

[aedipuss]

this page has the drivers for that board. a simple google search turned it up.
http://support.ts.fujitsu.com/quicksearchresult.asp?lng=COM&strFTS=Treiber&SearchFor=GA-8TRC410MF

it let me download any of them i wanted.....

[aedipuss]

i wouldn't go using the intel inf., the fujitsu site says it's an ati chipset motherboard. you are really going to screw things up installing the wrong motherboard drivers. it most likely will just crash/not boot.

[themaster1]

this page has the drivers for that board. a simple google search turned it up.
http://support.ts.fujitsu.com/quicksearchresult.asp?lng=COM&strFTS=Treiber&SearchFor=GA-8TRC410MF

it let me download any of them i wanted.....

Yeah except there are not the drivers i need: AHCi & Raid (Sata) (player shoot again ^^)
All these drivers are included on the Xp cd

[aedipuss]

if they aren't listed separately then they are most likely built into the ati m.b. inf driver.

[themaster1]

Too bad i'm in the bios and i don't see the AHCi option, Raid & Ide only, it seems i can't use that mode :/

[victoriabears]

http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search?p=Gigabyte+GA-8TRC410MF+boot+from+sata&fr=freecause-...k=2&type=60179

is results I obtained when searching for your motherboard, myself I use a IDE to install the operating system then use sata hdd for storage, but mine is probably an older MB, it may be that your MB does not support boot from sata.

You can use gigabytes page to load drivers automatically but of course you have to have an xp install first !

I could not find your mb on the gigabyte site, so may be its specific to the pc maker.